Great Australian Plateau Limited Edition PrintThe Western Plateau: Australias Vast and Ancient Heartland Another name for the Australian Outback: Great Western Plateau The Western Plateau, also called the Australian Shield, spans roughly two thirds of the continent, covering an impressive 2. 7 million square kilometersabout the size of continental Europe. This vast, arid expanse stretches across large portions of Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. Climate With annual