  We present the results of a deep, wide-area variability survey in the
Southern hemisphere, the first of its kind. As part of the Catalina Sky
Surveys, the Siding Spring Survey (SSS) has covered $14,800$ square degrees in
the declination range of $-75^{\circ}\leq\delta\leq-15^{\circ}$. To mine the
enormous SSS dataset efficiently we have developed two algorithms: Automatic
Period Selection (APS) and Automatic Fourier Decomposition (AFD), which aim to
sharpen the period estimation and produce robust lightcurve models. Armed with
the APS and AFD outputs we classify $10,540$ ab-type RR Lyrae (RRab) stars
($\sim$90% of which are new) across the Southern sky. As well as the positional
information we supply photometric metallicities, and unreddened distances.
  For the RRab stars in the halo, a study of the photometric metallicity
distribution reveals a nearly Gaussian shape with a mean metallicity of ${\rm
[Fe/H]}=-1.4$ dex and a dispersion of $0.3$ dex. A spatial study of the RRab
metallicities shows no significant radial gradient in the first $\sim7$ kpc
from the Galaxy center. However, further out, a small negative gradient is
clearly present. This is complemented by a very obvious correlation of the mean
RR Lyrae metallicity with distance above the Galactic plane, $z$. We have also
carried out an initial substructure search using the discovered RRab, and
present the properties of the candidates with significance greater than $2
\sigma$. Most prominent among these is a southern extension of the Sagittarius
dwarf galaxy's stream system, reaching down to declinations $\sim -40\deg$.
