​AUSTRALASIA, one of the six great geographical divisions of the globe, is situated, as its name indicates, south of Asia, between the equator and 50 S. lat., and 110 3 and 180 E. long. It comprises the island-continents of New Guinea, Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, and the conterminous archipelagoes of New Britannia, Solomon Islands, New Hebrides, Loyalty Islands, and New Caledonia which will be treated of under special headings.