Leslie Massey
Victoria, a state in southeastern Australia, spans 227,416 square kilometres or 87,806 square miles, making it the sixth-largest state or territory in Australia. In contrast, Western Australia, occupying the entire western portion of the Australian mainland, is the country's largest state by area, covering 2,529,875 square kilometres or 976,790 square miles. Thus, Western Australia is significantly larger than Victoria, with an area approximately 11 times that of Victoria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Area | Victoria: 227,444 km2 (87,817 sq mi) / Western Australia: 2,529,875 km2 (976,790 sq mi) |
| Population | Victoria: 6,503,491 (2021) / Western Australia: 2,660,000 (2020) |
| Capital | Victoria: Melbourne / Western Australia: Perth |
| Main Rivers | Victoria: Yarra River, Goulburn River, etc. / Western Australia: Swan River, Murchison River, etc. |
| Main Peaks | Victoria: Mount Bogong, Mount Hotham, etc. / Western Australia: Mount Meharry, Mount Bruce, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Victoria is Australia's sixth-largest state
The geography of Victoria varies, with the western and northwestern parts consisting of sandy desert and lowland, while the central and eastern parts are highlands, including the Australian Alps and the surrounding highlands (plateaus and hills) of the Great Dividing Range. The eastern highlands include major peaks such as Mount Cobberas (1,833 m) and Mount Hotham (1,862 m). The Victorian Alps in the northeast are the coldest part of the state, with average winter temperatures below 9 °C (48 °F) and minimum temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) in the highest parts of the ranges. The state's lowest temperature of −11.7 °C (10.9 °F) was recorded at Omeo and Falls Creek.
The Gippsland region in the southwestern coastal area of Victoria and the Western District are leading farming areas due to their reliable rainfall. The main streams draining northwards include the Goulburn, Campaspe, and Mitta Mitta rivers, while the Latrobe, Thomson, and Macalister rivers flow southwards to the sea. The Yarra River, flowing into Port Phillip Bay, drains the southwest area of the Uplands. The longest river in Victoria is the Goulburn River, which is over 650 kilometres long.
The capital of Victoria is Melbourne, which is located at the head of Port Phillip Bay on the southeastern coast. Melbourne is home to approximately 136,000 people in its central city and is the core of an extensive metropolitan area. The state's second busiest airport is Avalon Airport, which complements Essendon and Moorabbin Airports in handling Melbourne's air traffic. The Port of Melbourne is the largest port for containerised and general cargo in Australia.
Victoria has a diverse range of sports and cultural events. The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is one of the world's biggest horse racing events, with crowds typically exceeding 700,000. The main race is for the $6 million Melbourne Cup. Australian rules football, basketball, cricket, and netball are also popular sports in the state, with teams representing Victoria in national competitions.
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Western Australia is bigger than Victoria
Western Australia is significantly bigger than Victoria. Covering an area of 2,529,875 square kilometres, it is Australia's largest state and is comparable in size to India. In contrast, Victoria is Australia's sixth-largest state, with an area of 227,444 square kilometres (87,817 sq mi). It is comparable in size to the island of Great Britain or the U.S. state of Utah.
To put it into perspective, Western Australia is almost eleven times the size of Victoria. If we imagine both states as countries, Victoria would be slightly larger than the United Kingdom, while Western Australia would dwarf it, being roughly the size of India or almost half the size of China.
The vast size difference between Western Australia and Victoria is due to their distinct geographical locations within Australia. Western Australia is, as the name suggests, situated in the western part of the country, occupying almost one-third of the Australian mainland. In contrast, Victoria is nestled in the southeastern corner of Australia, bordering the states of South Australia and New South Wales.
The population distribution in these two states also varies significantly. Western Australia has a relatively sparse population of around 2.6 million people as of 2018, giving it a low population density of just 0.2 people per square kilometre. On the other hand, Victoria is one of Australia's most densely populated states, with a population of about 6.5 million people as of 2021, resulting in a population density of 26.56 people per square kilometre.
In summary, Western Australia is much larger than Victoria in terms of geographical size and has a lower population density. Victoria, despite its smaller size, boasts a significantly higher population and is one of the most densely populated states in Australia. These comparisons highlight the diverse characteristics of Australia's states and territories, showcasing the country's vast and varied landscape.
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Victoria is comparable in size to Great Britain
Victoria, a state in southeastern Australia, has an area of 227,416 square kilometres (87,806 sq mi) according to one source, and 227,444 square kilometres (87,817 sq mi) according to another. This makes it the sixth-largest state or territory in Australia, and it is comparable in size to Great Britain. In fact, Victoria is only slightly larger than Great Britain, which has an area of 218,952 square kilometres (84,542 sq mi).
Victoria is bordered to the northwest by South Australia, directly north by New South Wales, and it shares a maritime border with Tasmania across the Bass Strait to the south. The Murray River forms almost the entire boundary between Victoria and New South Wales. The eastern half of the state is dominated by the Australian Alps and the surrounding highlands (plateaus and hills) of the Great Dividing Range, which also extend into the west of the state. By contrast, the north and northwest of Victoria are extremely flat.
Around 80% of Victoria's population lives around the coasts of Port Phillip Bay and, to a lesser extent, Western Port Bay in the south-central region, mainly in the state's two largest cities, Melbourne (the state capital) and Geelong. Melbourne is located at the head of Port Phillip Bay on the southeastern coast and is home to about 136,000 people in its central city. Its metropolitan area, which extends beyond the city limits, has a population of over 5 million people, making it the most populous city in Australia and one of the most populous cities in the world.
In terms of population, Victoria is the most densely populated state in Australia, with 26.56 people per square kilometre. As of 2021, the state had a population of 6,503,491. However, Victoria is not the second-smallest state in Australia, as one might assume from its size; that distinction goes to Tasmania, which has an area of only 68,401 square kilometres (26,410 sq mi).
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Victoria is Australia's most densely populated state
Victoria is Australia's second-smallest state, with an area of 227,444 square kilometres. In comparison, Western Australia is the country's largest state or territory, with an area of 2,529,875 square kilometres. This makes Western Australia more than ten times the size of Victoria.
Victoria's diverse geography ranges from temperate coastal and central regions to the Victorian Alps in the northeast and semi-arid northwest. The state's economy is the second-largest among Australian states and is highly diversified, with service sectors being the most prominent.
Melbourne, Victoria's capital, is a significant cultural, economic, and media hub. It is known for its sporting events, such as the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, and its vibrant sports teams across various sports, including Australian rules football, basketball, and cricket. The city also boasts a well-developed transportation network, including the Melbourne metropolitan train network and seaports at Western Port, Geelong, and Portland.
In summary, despite being much smaller in size compared to Western Australia, Victoria has a significantly higher population density due to its large population and diverse, dynamic regions.
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Victoria is Australia's second-smallest state
Victoria is a federated state in southeastern Australia and is the second-smallest state in the country with a land area of 237,659 km2 (91,761 sq mi) or 227,416 sq km (87,806 sq mi). It is comparable in size to the island of Great Britain or the U.S. state of Utah. Victoria has a population of over 6.5 million people, making it the most densely populated state in Australia. The state capital is Melbourne, which is located at the head of Port Phillip Bay and is home to about 136,000 people in the central city. The metropolitan area of Melbourne extends beyond the central city, with a population of over 5 million people.
The geography of Victoria varies, with the western and northwestern parts consisting of sandy deserts and lowlands, while the central and eastern parts form highlands, including the Australian Alps and the surrounding plateaus and hills of the Great Dividing Range. The southwestern coastal region of Victoria is known as Gippsland, which, along with the Western District, is a leading farming area due to its reliable rainfall. The Murray River forms the majority of the border between Victoria and New South Wales.
The climate in Victoria also varies, with the Mallee and upper Wimmera regions being the warmest, experiencing temperatures above 32 °C (90 °F) in summer and 15 °C (59 °F) in winter. The Victorian Alps in the northeast are the coldest part of the state, with average temperatures below 9 °C (48 °F) in winter and below 0 °C (32 °F) at the highest elevations. Snow typically falls only in the mountains and hills in the centre of the state, and Victoria's highest recorded daily rainfall occurred at Tidal River in Wilsons Promontory National Park.
Victoria has a diverse range of rivers, including the Goulburn, Campaspe, Mitta Mitta, Kiewa, Loddon, Avoca, Wimmera, Ovens, and King Rivers, which drain northwards. The Latrobe, Thomson, Macalister, Mitchell, Tambo, Nicholson, and Snowy Rivers flow southwards to the sea, with most reaching the sea through the Gippsland Lakes. The Yarra River, which flows into Port Phillip Bay, is located in the southwest area of the state.
In terms of human geography, Victoria is home to a variety of cities and towns, including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, and Hawthorn. The state also has several airports, including Avalon Airport, Essendon Airport, and Moorabbin Airport, which serve Melbourne's air traffic. The Port of Melbourne is the largest port for containerized and general cargo in Australia. Victoria also has a strong sporting culture, with popular events such as the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and several professional sports teams across different codes.
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Frequently asked questions
Victoria is the second-smallest state in Australia with a land area of 227,444 sq km (87,817 sq mi) or 237,659 sq km (91,761 sq mi) according to different sources. On the other hand, Western Australia is the largest state in Australia, making it significantly bigger than Victoria.
As of 2021, the population of Victoria was 6,503,491. In comparison, Western Australia had a population of 2,660,000 in 2020, making Victoria a more populous state.
The capital of Victoria is Melbourne, which is located at the head of Port Phillip Bay in the southeastern coast of Australia.
