Sentence Correction

In the minds of many people living in England, before Australia was Australia, it was the antipodes, the opposite pole to civilization, an obscure and unimaginable place that was considered the end of the world.

(A) before Australia was Australia, it was the antipodes
(B) before there was Australia, it was the antipodes
(C) it was the antipodes that was Australia
(D) Australia was what was the antipodes
(E) Australia was what had been known as the antipodes

[spoiler]OA Later
Please explain your choice.[/spoiler]

A is best answer very clear and concise and says that australia was australia and it was the antipode

B-how can they know that this was australia.
C-it refers to what?
D-what was is extra not required
E wordy

it is like before monkey was monkey it was a creature with a tale

That seems very hard. IMO, A, but A sounds kind of awkward. I got there by POE

I eliminated B because it changes the meaning. I think it implies that there was a time Austrailia did not physically exist.

C totally distorts it. It could refer to a number of things. Australia was the opposite pole...etc...

D I eliminated because I dont believe "was what was" is correct. I think it also changes the meaning by saying that the English think that Australia still is the antipodes.

E I eliminated because had been known implies that Australia no longer exists.

Still A sounds strange and it seems ambiguous. Im not sure if it refers to England or Australia. Anyone have any other opinions on this?

OA is A only.

The sentence itself was looking very strange to me, So I put it here.