Martin chose the history of banana growing in Australia for his tutorial paper.

W: Hi, Martin. How are you doing with your Australian studies tutorial paper?
M: Oh, good. Fiona. I’ve finished it actually.
W: Lucky you. What did you do it on? I’m still trying to find an interesting topic.
M: Well, after some consideration I decided to look at the history of banana growing in Australia.
W: Banana growing?
M: Yes, banana growing. It’s not as boring as you’d think. And I wanted to tie it in to the work I’ve been doing on primary industries and the economy. Anyway I bet there’re a few things you didn’t know about bananas, such as the fact that bananas were among the first plants ever to be domesticated.
W: Really?
M: Yes, they’re an extremely nourishing food.
W: So where were these bananas first domesticated?
M: According to my research, the Cavendish banana, which is a type of banana and the first type to be cultivated here, actually originated in China but they had a roundabout route before they got to Australia.
W: You mean they didn’t go straight from China to Australia?
M: No, they didn’t. It seems that in 1826, bananas were taken from South China to England.
W: I suppose they would have made a welcome addition to the English diet.
M: Yes, I’m sure. Well, apparently there was an English Duke who was particularly fond of bananas and he used to cultivate them in his hothouse, which is where you have to grow them in England, of course, because of the cool climate and they became quite popular in the UK.