The OP got me thinking about our population spread, so I went looking. Kinda similar except we have snow where you guys have sand From 2006 but nothing much has changed.
I never thought about it before, but youse in Canada live around the fringes of your country as well.
Instead of desert your "outback" is frozen tundra wasteland.
Inland Australia is sparsely inhabited and kind of desolate but also really beautiful. Spent a fair bit of time travelling in the Outback and it's spectacular. True it's dangerous for the unprepared like Mitchy said but if you take care it's do-able. Ayers Rock and the Central deserts are unbelievably beautiful places (Mick take your wife there you won't regret it, promise) I camped in the desert south of Ayers Rock with a black fella and his wife Lulu who couldn't even speak English . Ate Kangaroo tails and witchetty grubs that Lulu cooked up .. The Tasmanian wilderness , The Flinders Ranges , Bungle Bungles and Arnhem Land all also places I've had the opportunity to explore. Been all the way up the Qld coastline to just off the coast of Papua on a mates ship. Dived on the Barrier Reef in Torres Straight, it was spectacular and i will never forget the experience. We may all live on a thin strip around the coastline but plenty of us Aussies choose to spend or spare time exploring this beautiful continent. My Rockets been to every State and Territory in Australia.
Dam! A 90.5 mile straightaway!
Likely a great place to wring one's motor out, assuming the roadway is good enough.
I would surmise that the trains run this road as well and use up most of both lanes?
I am enjoying learning more about OZ as well as its inhabitants!
Was on a similar bit of straight road out past Longreach - had remarked to a guy in a servo that it would be a good spot for a quick run cos cops couldn't hide anywhere - he said don't kid yourself - there are small undulations in the area and the cops plant "hull-down" in the middle of nowhere and get a wonderful shot of you coming from miles away, without even having to interrupt their snacking.....
Then they just yawn, have a stretch, hop out of the car, and hold their hand up........