This research looks at the way Australia is portrayed in the Western European press, particularly in the light of Australia's recent emphasis on being a clever country, within the Asia Pacific region. The research is based on a quantitative and qualitative analysis of all articles explicitly referring to Australia, in seven newspapers from Belgium (2), France (2), Germany (1) and the United Kingdom (2), over a 6 month period. The main hypothesis was that those newspapers without Australian based correspondents or stringers picture Australia in a stereotypical way and that "news" in those papers, instead of giving "news", reinforces existing ideas and images held of Australia. My research supports the hypothesis, but also uncovers the very important role played by editors at home. They decide what is important, what is news and their choice will go to consonant "news". The research shows that newspapers in Europe largely portray Australia's older images, with its kangaroos, koalas and beaches peopled by sportsmen. Australia is largely portrayed as an almost untouched country inhabited by animals to be found nowhere else, and by people (mainly white Anglo- Saxon males) reputed for their friendliness, as well as for their laziness and sometimes their strangeness. "Newer" images of Australia promoted by the Australian government (e.g. Australia as a clever country and part of the Asia-Pacific region) get relatively little coverage in the Western European press.