Australia, sometimes slangily called Oz from a colloquial pronunciation of "Aus", or the Land Down Under for its position on a globe, is the smallest known continent, located between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Since 1901, the entire continent, plus a few nearby islands, has been federated as an autonomous nation within the British Empire/Commonwealth. Its status as a continent is a cultural consensus; some 18th- and 19th-century writings refer to it as the largest island.
The custom of calling Australia "Oz" does not appear to predate 1939. It may be that The Wizard of Oz (1939 film), which is quite popular in Australia since its release in April 1940, is responsible for this phenomenon.
Australia in Oz canon[]
After rebuilding his Kansas farm following a devastating tornado, Henry Gale took a trip to Australia with his niece Dorothy to visit some cousins and have a good rest. During the voyage, a terrible storm washed Dorothy overboard and she soon found herself landing on the shores of the Land of Ev on the continent of Nonestica.
After many adventures, Dorothy was transported to her uncle in Australia by Princess Ozma of Oz, using the Magic Belt. (Ozma of Oz)
After her Australian trauma, Dorothy was sent to the port of San Francisco, with her new cat Eureka in tow. A new disaster, namely an earthquake, transported her once again to Nonestica. (Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz)
Background[]
Baum does not make clear whether Eureka was acquired by Dorothy in Australia, California, or on the ship sailing between the two lands. A readers' consensus since the 1960s favors an Australian origin for the cat, which has been the premise of numerous pastiches including David Hulan's Eureka in Oz.
The etymological connection between Australia and Oz is exploited by the film 20th Century Oz (1976), which retells the story of The Wizard of Oz in an Australian setting with no supernatural elements.
The 2008 period film Australia, directed by Baz Luhrmann, has a scene where some characters watch the 1939 film, and clips are shown.