Why do they call Australia Down Under?

australia comes from the latin name 'terra australis', meaning unknown southern land. I guess because 'down under' is generally south, it has transferred from that.

Not sure of the history of the phrase though.

Down Under Answers

BASICALLY AUSTRALIA IS UNDERNEATH THE REST OF THE WORLD GEOGRAPHICALLY AND ALTHOUGH WE AREN'T THE CLOSEST LAND MASS TOO ANTARCTICA (I THINK ITS CAPE HORNE CHILLIE/ARGENTINA)THE PHRASE LAND DOWN UNDER HAS STUCK TO US,

there is also an Aussie song by (men at work) called down under.

it is because Australia is on the down area in Map. that's why they call it down there.

Australia is far from most countries, especially Europea or the state. Can you imagine you take direct flight 24 hours from L.A. to Sydney? it is very far, but they have a nice weather and good nature resources.

we are down the bottom of all maps, below the equator. the only inhabitable continent that is completely below the equator. Antarctica is down here aswell, but it is a little too cold to live there

not just because we are at the bottom of the globe, but because we are under, The Southern Cross, which is a star formation.

I think its because its below the equator, if not I know it has something to do with location. But im pretty sure its that

Because it is if you use you use the U.S as a reference point. Look at a globe.

.Because they are south of the equator