The Australian Festival in Greater Fort Lauderdale - Broward County, Florida in 2007:

The 2007 Australian Festival will be held in Greater Fort Lauderdale - Broward County, Florida. Fort Lauderdale is known as the "Venice of America" due to its expansive and intricate canal system and is the capital city of Broward County, Florida, United States. The city is known for its beaches, many bars, nightclubs, and overall party atmosphere. Broward County has approximately 1,750,000 residence and is made up of 31 city municipalities governed by nine Broward County Commissioners. Fort Lauderdale is the county seat of Broward County, and forms a part of the South Florida metropolitan area. Broward County is connected to two other counties that make up South Florida - Miami-Dade (approximately 2,000,000 residents) and Palm Beach County (approximately 1,250,000 residents).  

With over 5,000,000 residents in this dense populated area the Australian Festival is set to present the largest Australian showcase every staged in South Florida. And with over 5,000 Aussie living and working along the South Florida coastline it will truly be a unique cultural celebration of the land down under. 

Greater Fort Lauderdale - Broward County - Visitors Information

"Your next getaway can be as awe-inspiring as miles of blue waterways, as inviting as soft golden sands and as soothing as gentle ocean breezes. If your next getaway is in Greater Fort Lauderdale, that is..."

Major Tourist Attractions:

• The World's Best Beaches
• Fort Lauderdale Restaurants
• Saw Grassmills Shopping
• Broward County Parks
• The Jungle Queen & Riverfront Cruises
• Museum of Art—Fort Lauderdale 
• Water Taxis in Fort Lauderdale
• Billie Swamp Safari
• Museum of Discovery & Science
• Butterfly World

Welcome To Pembroke Pines (Home of the 2007 Australian Festival at C.B. Smith Park)

Pembroke Pines was incorporated in 1960 and our city now has 151,000 residents, and is the 2nd largest city in Broward County and the 9th largest municipality in Florida.

Out of all of the full service cities in Broward, Pembroke Pines has the lowest mileage rate while maintaining a very high tax base. Our mileage is currently 4.599. 

Prembroke Pines was the first municipality to own and operate a charter school system that has 5200 students. We have pre-k, elementary, middle and high school. We have an Academic Village that encompasses FIU, Broward Community College, Barry University, Regional Library, the Susan B. Katz River of Grass Theater. 

Permbroke Pines is opening a 450 acre wetland park on Sheridan Street and US 27 for all to enjoy.

The 160 acre City Center is currently being developed to become our downtown center to give residents a place to reside, and to enjoy recreational activities and outstanding restaurants.

Greater Fort Lauderdale Today:
(Reference: Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau)

Your next getaway can be as awe-inspiring as miles of blue waterways, as inviting as soft golden sands and as soothing as gentle ocean breezes. If your next getaway is in Greater Fort Lauderdale, that is.

Take a glance at our diverse hotels, arts and entertainment on Hollywood Beach and at Downtown Riverwalk, diving from Deerfield to Hallandale Beach, a world of golf and more. The more you do, the more you’ll marvel. Feel the caress of nature at Butterfly World or get your heart pounding with thoroughbred racing at Gulfstream Park. Plan a spa day or a day cruise. And area museums invite you to explore acclaimed art, culture, science and history exhibits. Meanwhile world-class entertainment and gaming are well within reach.

"Every visit is a fresh taste of paradise, from the Blue Wave beaches to the yacht-filled waterways to the exotic Everglades. So enter…click…escape. And enjoy a welcome change of pace in Greater Fort Lauderdale..."

History Of Fort Lauderdale
(Reference - The Fort Lauderdale Historic Society):

For at least 5,000 years, people have been drawn to Fort Lauderdale. The prehistoric peoples of South Florida, known as the "Glades Culture," and the early historic period peoples of the area, the Tequesta, enjoyed the abundance of natural resources available along Fort Lauderdale’s new River. By 1763, the last of these aboriginal peoples had left the area, and except for a few white settlers, Fort Lauderdale was devoid of population. The Seminole Indians first appeared in what is now Broward County in the 1820s and were joined by a handful of white planters along the New River. 

The city of Fort Lauderdale is named for a Second Seminole War fortification built on the banks of New River in 1838. In that year, Major William Lauderdale led a detachment of Tennessee Volunteers south along the east coast of Florida to capture Seminole agricultural lands and battle the elusive Indian warriors. Altogether, three Fort Lauderdales would be constructed: the first at the fork of New River; the second at Tarpon Bend; and the largest on the beach at the site of today’s Bahia Mar.

Stranahan's Trading Post, 1896 
After the second seminole war, southeastern Florida remained a virtual wilderness due to the lack of transportation into the region. In 1892, however, the Dade County government authorized a rock road to be built between Lantana and Lemon City (North Miami). An overnight camp and ferry crossing was established on New River, and a young Ohioan, Frank Stranahan, arrived to take charge of the facilities. He soon established a flourishing trading post with the local Seminoles and by 1895, Stranahan’s Trading Post was a South Florida landmark.

In 1896,the Florida East Coast Railway was extended south through Fort Lauderdale, providing rapid transportation from all parts of the nation to south Florida. The little village increased in size and was incorporated in 1911. In 1915, Broward County was created out of parts of Dade and Palm Beach counties.

Greater Fort Lauderdale - Broward County - Business Information

Greater Fort Lauderdale Business Climate
(Reference - Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber Of Commerce)

From software technology to international trade, from financial services to tourism, Greater Fort Lauderdale enjoys a robust, diversified business climate. In recent years, Broward County (metropolitan Fort Lauderdale) has substantially outpaced the national economic growth rate, while the county’s population has climbed to nearly 1.7 million.

Centrally located Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is the fastest-growing passenger hub in the nation, and was the fastest recovering airport hub since 9/11. In addition, the bustling Port Everglades is attracting new cruise ships and cargo lines. Contemporary high-rise condominium residences and hospitality properties are transforming downtown and the central beach area of Fort Lauderdale, and adding a new dimension to the region’s year-round appeal to leisure and business travelers... [More Info]

* The Australian Festival is a proud member of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce

Pembroke Pines - Business Information

9th Largest City in Florida
(Reference - Economic Development)

Pembroke Pines is an energetic, on the move city with an exciting future for you, your business and most of all, your family. 

The Pines is committed to the safety of its residents: Our Police Department has over 231 full-time officers; their efforts lowered the City's victimization rate every year since 1995 in spite of the City's growth. Our Fire/Rescue Department with over 225 full-time firefighters, Paramedics and EMS Technicians have a lifesaving response time of 5 minutes or less. The Pines is Class I ISO rated - that means low insurance premiums. 

For companies thinking of Today and Tomorrow, Pembroke Pines' geographic position opens up a vast Sales potential in currently available markets. 

Situated between the Atlantic Ocean on the East and the Everglades on the West, and Dade and Palm Beach Counties to the South and North, Pembroke Pines is in the middle of an area with a population of 5.1 million and billion in sales volume. 

The nearby Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport has non-stop jet service to and from Europe. 

Broward Alliance - Partnership For Economic Growth
(Reference - Broward Alliance)

Broward County is a growing metropolitan area that has a long established reputation as an ideal place to start, expand or relocate a business. There are several reasons why! 

Our economic base has remained strong and stable. Property values have consistently increased while the mileage rate has been reduced or remained the same for nearly a decade. Our County bond rating is among the highest in the state. With a population of 1.7 million residents, the median family income is nearly $55,000. We have a diverse population rich in history and cultural distinction. Broward County is home to more than 47,000 businesses.

Broward Counties economic engines - the airport, the port and tourism are known world-wide and continue to be positioned for future growth. In 2006, the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International hosted 21.4 million people. International traffic increased by ten percent, contributing to an 85 percent increase for the past three years... [Continued]

Broward County Statistics
(Reference - Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber Of Commerce)