Bart vs Australia is one of the most iconic Simpsons episodes of all time. Now obviously, being an Australian website we are always going to be biased towards it, but the proof is in the facts. After all, this was actually the first time The Simpsons writers had dared take the family outside of the United States. It’s actually something that I’m rather proud of as an Australian Simpsons fan, since we were selected based on our sense of humour.

By this point, the show had taken plenty of jabs at their own country, it was time to share the love. With our general “piss take” personality, Australia was the perfect choice to test the waters in poking fun at somebody else for a change. Only problem was that it backfired, and a select number of idiotic viewers were offended by The Simpsons’ portrayal of our fine nation, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of many. However in my opinion it’s the tongue-in-cheek parodies that make this episode so charming. So considering that today is Australia Day, we thought we’d celebrate by running through some facts about Australia that we all learnt from Bart vs Australia.

1. We refer to our currency as “Dollarydoos.”

Granted, since the release of Bart vs Australia we as a nation have warmed to the idea of this currency name change. Well, the portion that are Simpsons fans anyway. We even had a petition going last year to actually make this a reality. It was never going to be successful, but hey, we all love a good bandwagon to hop on board from time to time.

2. Our Prime Minister is also a judge.

A part of me wishes that this one was true. Imagine how great it would have been to see Tony Abbot trying to control a court case. Better yet, seeing him in one of those wigs would have been enough entertainment.

3. Booting is a form of punishment.

Let’s be honest, we all need a good kick up the arse from time to time. Just imagine how successful (and hilarious) the reaction videos would be if this were a real thing!

4. Giant beers are available from the pub.

Australians love beer, everyone knows that, especially The Simpsons writers. Out of all of the exaggerated aspects of Australian culture in this episode, THIS was the one I would a) believe to be true, and b) wish it were true.

5. We all drink Foster’s Lager.

Now you can’t really blame The Simpsons too much for this, since apparently this beer is promoted internationally as “our favourite”. Honestly, I’m now 29 and the only time I’ve ever tasted Foster’s was in England, and that’s because my mate wanted me to “feel at home.” Let it be said, Foster’s isn’t a big deal down here.

6. We waste beer.

In the closing segment we see the angry mob all throw their beers at the helicopter containing The Simpson family. The idea of Australians wasting this amount of beer is laughable, although then again, it was Foster’s after all…

7. Our first Prime Minister was a convict.

It’s no secret that the British stole and used this beautiful land as a settlement for their convicts, however it’s safe to say (I think) that our first Prime Minister was never a convict himself. The funniest (and saddest) part of it all? The majority of Australians probably have no idea who the first PM actually was.

8. We stole our Parliament House sign from Austria.

Your classic “blink and you’ll miss it” Simpsons visual gag, but one worthy of a mention. I’ve never actually been to Parliament House, so I can only assume this isn’t real. If it is, well I’m fine with that too.

9. Our police force carry boomerangs as weapons.

This is false. Our police carry guns and tasers. They hurt and do considerably more damage than a boomerang. Don’t mess with our cops.

10. Uluru is actually called the Wolumbaloo Dirt Monument.

I visited Uluru with my wife over the Summer break a few years back. Whilst on a guided tour I couldn’t resist the temptation to ask “When did the name change from the Wolumbaloo Dirt Monument to Uluru?” The reference was lost on everyone, including my wife.



and finally…

11. Our national flag contains a bare arse.

So there you have it guys, just a few random facts about this beautiful country that we learnt from The Simpsons. Hope you all have an amazing Australia Day!

Also don’t forget to check out our Simpsons Podcast archive to listen to our episode reviews, cast interviews, Top 10 lists and more!