Why do people make life difficult for themselves! The metric system was
adopted in Australia in the 1960's to simplify awkward old British
Imperial systems of measurement & currency. The term 'square' belongs to
the British Imperial system, and as correctly described by Avery above, 1
'square = 100 square feet. Therefore, it has no correlation to the metric
system in Australia or for that matter any other metricated society, unless
one reaches for their abacus and calculates that the conversion of 20
'squares amounts to 186m2. So what does that achieve? Wouldn't sticking
with square metres be less confusing and time consuming?

Me thinks that the term lingers on in Australia to confuse the consumer who
in most cases wouldn't know a 'square' from a 'round' and consequently the
charge of a service based on an outdated Imperial measurement such as a
'square'. Bazza

Bazza