6 Incredible Australian Inventions

Did you know that Australia is not just an incredible nation, but also an inventive one? Australians have developed dozens of products that have simplified living and even saved lives. From cancer vaccines to internet technologies, Australians have invented dozens of products that have changed the world. Read on to discover Australia's greatest inventions!

1. Spray-On Skin

In 1990, Dr. Fiona Wood and Marie Stoner began exploring the technologies that would eventually lead to the development of what is known today as "spray-on skin." Whereas previous skin culturing required up to three weeks to grow enough skin for a large burn, Stoner and Wood's technological developments reduced the growth time to less than five days. The technology, while still undergoing research and improvements, has greatly reduced the scarring often experienced by burn victims. This awesome innovation is now in use in North America, Asia, and Europe, and is changing lives around the globe.

2. The Feature-Length Film

Victoria-born film director Charles Tait was the first man to write and direct a feature-length film in 1906. Entitled The Story of the Kelly Gang, the film depicted the life story of the legendary bushranger outlaw Ned Kelly. Running for roughly an hour and recorded on a full 1,200 meters of film, the movie was the longest and most ambitious work of its time. The Story of the Kelly Gang debuted in Melbourne's Athenaeum Hall, where the film was accompanied by live sound effects. The movie was shown in theatres around the country for the next 20 years as well. This distinctly Australian feature film has set the standard for the movie industry ever since.

3. The Electric Pacemaker

Though far from the modern pacemakers used in patients today, some of the earliest experiments in pacemaker technology took place in Sydney, Australia. In 1926, doctors at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital developed a portable device that was able to stimulate the heart. This primitive pacemaker was plugged into the wall and involved two poles, one of which was connected to a salt-solution-soaked skin pad and another of which was connected to a needle that was plugged into the heart. This needle, which was insulated save for the very tip, provided a very unsteady pace rate to the patient, ranging between 80 and 120 pulses per minute, with a voltage that also varied greatly. Despite these drawbacks, this primitive apparatus was ultimately a success. Two years later, a stillborn child was revived at a hospital in Sydney. After 10 minutes of pacemaker stimulation, the child's heart began beating on its own, ultimately restoring him to life. Though this development is a far cry from the internal pacemaker used in cardiac patients today, the practicality of pacemaker treatments was ultimately proven by the success of the setup used in Sydney hospitals.

4. The Modern Refrigerator

James Harrison emigrated from Scotland to Australia in 1837 at the age of 21. By the 1850's, Harrison was hard at work developing an ice-machine, and by 1854 was selling a revolutionary device. The following year he filed a patent for his ether vapor-compression refrigeration system, the first of its kind in the world. In 1873 he was awarded the grand prize at the Melbourne Exhibition for verifying that meat frozen for months on end could still remain fresh and edible due to his refrigeration system. Harrison is fondly remembered today for developing this practical cooling method, which is still used in most refrigeration systems around the world.

5. The Dual-Flush Toilet

The dual-flush toilet is a common sight in Australian and European homes today. Did you know that this practical technology, which provides a stronger flushing mechanism for solid waste than liquid, was originally designed by Australian Bruce Thompson in 1980? Developed while Thomson was working at Caroma, this intelligent toilet design was a success from the beginning. In the 1990's the design was improved to become more cost-effective, making the dual-flush toilet a truly commonplace bathroom fixture. Thanks to Thompson's excellent innovation, gallons of water are saved around the world each day.

6. Wi-Fi

Perhaps the most memorable and awe-inspiring Australian invention is Wi-Fi, the wireless technology that most individuals use to connect to the internet today. Developed by Australian astronomer John O'Sullivan, the original invention was designed to discover extremely small black holes in outer space. Though the black hole project was not a success, the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) was ultimately granted the patents to the technology. Throughout the late 1990's, Wi-Fi was developed further, resulting in the clear, fast wireless internet connection that we know today. The list of Australian inventions is seemingly endless. From "boxed alcohol" wine casks to the army tank to the black-box recorders used in flights, the products developed by Aussies have had an enormous global impact. Next time you're searching for a reason to feel proud of your country, remember these "Aus"-some developments. Australians have truly reshaped society and our world.