Has anything ever been invented by an Australian?

[barneysdad]

Has anything that is instantly recognisable on a daily basis ever been invented by an Australian?

[Drusilla]

The bionic ear for deaf children and the black box flight recorder in aircraft. They also introduced the secret ballot in elections, but I accept that's not exactly an invention.

[Robert G]

So we may be more likely to name 8 famous Australian inventions than 8 famous Belgians! Come to think of it ... there's a new question!

[NORMANTHEDOG]

Are you sure about the black box recorder,drusilla

[NORMANTHEDOG]

after some research i have found that you are totally right drusilla,accept my apologies

[sammd]

Boomerangs - they were once Aboriginal hunting weapons i believe.

They've also invented lots of words which are instantly recognisable as Aussie-English :)

[jno]

and didgeridoos

[Clanad]

Actually, three musical instruments are Australian in origin. Along with jno's didgeridoo (digeridju), there's the bull-roarer is a simple wooden slat whirled in a circle on the end of a cord so that it rotates about its axis and produces a pulsating low-pitched roar. As well as the gum-leaf, as the name suggests, is a tree leaf, held against the lips and blown so as to act as a vibrating valve with "blown-open" configuration. Originally intended to imitate bird-calls, the gum-leaf can also be used to play tunes...

And... the Woomera...a spear throwing holder that acts as an extension of the arm thus allowing greater power and range for the spear. "Woomera" was adopted as an appropriate name for the rocket launching range and associated settlement in outback South Australia. One of the most significant inventions found in archaeology...

[Clanad]

On a somewhat less whimiscial note, Australians also invented latex gloves and variable ratio rack and pinion steering!

[Grunty]

And they invented the verbal statement that rises at the end, making it sound like a question.

[tigga]

xxxx

[dotjhawkes]

veggiemite

[Robert G]

Did they invent the words 'Pom' & 'Pommie'? And what about "Cobber" and "Barbie", not forgetting the "Amber nectar", of course!

[jno]

lots here - including, er, football

[stevep]

Ralph Sarish invented the orbital engine in Perth Western Australia and has since focussed on the Orbital Combustion Process - OPC http://www.orbeng.com.au/orbital/aboutOrbital/history.ht m

[johnlambert]

Neighbours, home and away!!!!!!!!!!!!

[undercovers]

they certainly didn't invent football rules - this was started by the headmaster of Rugby public school in england in the 1820's i think (only remember because it was rugby that invented modern football!)

[mightyWBA]

Aluminium cricket bat - Dennis Lillee

[sammd]

Antivenim for their poisonous spider bites.

[ronnor]

xxxx,aspro,flying doctors and the heart pacemaker,in that! order lol.

[MissB]

The Koolgardie safe a.k.a the eski, the infamous hills hoist and foetal ultrasound