
Australia is divided into six states and two territories, each with its own unique mix of environments, cultures, and rhythms. From 1926 to 1931, the Northern Territory was split into two administrative areas: North Australia and Central Australia. North Australia was a short-lived administrative area of the Northern Territory of Australia, which was deemed too large, sparsely populated, and disparate for adequate administration as a whole.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of countries in North Australia | 0 |
| Number of territories in Australia | 2 internal territories, 6 external territories |
| Names of internal territories | Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory |
| Names of external territories | Norfolk Island, Coral Sea Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands |
| Number of states | 6 |
| Names of states | New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania |
| Capitals of states | Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart |
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What You'll Learn
- North Australia was a short-lived administrative area of the Northern Territory of Australia
- North Australia was a proposed convict penal settlement colony
- North Australia was never established
- North Australia was split into two administrative areas in 1927
- North Australia was a colony intended to be located in Port Curtis

North Australia was a short-lived administrative area of the Northern Territory of Australia
Australia is divided into six states and two territories, each with its own unique mix of environments, cultures, and rhythms. The Northern Territory, established as a self-governing territory in 1978, is one of the two internal territories.
The Northern Territory was part of South Australia from 1863 to 1911. During this time, the Overland Telegraph Line was constructed, and the economic patterns of cattle raising and mining were established. In 1911, the Northern Territory was separated from South Australia and transferred to federal control.
In 1931, North Australia and Central Australia were reincorporated as the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory was offered three senators, rather than the twelve guaranteed to original states, due to its smaller population. The territory gained self-government in 1978, with the head of the government being the chief minister. The Northern Territory is represented in the federal parliament by two members in the House of Representatives and two members in the Senate.
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North Australia was a proposed convict penal settlement colony
Australia is divided into six states and two territories, with each territory and state having its own unique mix of environments, cultures, and rhythms. The Northern Territory, one of the two territories, was established as a self-governing territory in 1978.
In the past, there were two other territories: Central Australia and North Australia. Both existed from 1926 to 1931 and were reincorporated as the Northern Territory in 1931. North Australia was a proposed convict penal settlement colony.
The history of Australia is closely tied to its convict past. The country was first charted and claimed for Britain by James Cook in 1770. Seeking to expand its empire, Britain chose Australia as the site of a penal colony. In 1787, the First Fleet of eleven convict ships set sail for Botany Bay, arriving on 20 January 1788 to found Sydney, New South Wales, the first European settlement on the continent.
Over the next 80 years, more than 160,000 convicts were transported to Australia from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, instead of being given the death penalty. The convict era left behind landmarks such as the Tasmania Convict Trail, the 11 Australian Convict Sites, and Ned Kelly tours.
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North Australia was never established
Australia is a country comprising the mainland Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest country in the world by land area.
In the context of Australian history, "North Australia" typically refers to a short-lived administrative division of the Northern Territory. From 1927 to 1931, the Northern Territory was divided into two administrative areas: North Australia and Central Australia, respectively above and below latitude 20 degrees south. This division was established under the Northern Australia Act 1926, as the Minister for Home and Territories, George Pearce, believed that the Northern Territory was too large and sparsely populated to be effectively administered as a whole.
However, the term "North Australia" also has a prior, colonial-era usage. In 1846, the British government authorised the establishment of a colony of North Australia, which would comprise parts of the Colony of New South Wales that are now within the Northern Territory and Queensland. This colony was intended as a penal colony, but it was never successfully established. In 1847, a group of settlers, including officials and convicts, sailed to Port Curtis (now Gladstone, Queensland) and attempted to settle there. However, they encountered extreme summer heat and were soon rescued and relocated to the region now known as Barney Point. This convict settlement lasted only two months before the group returned to Sydney upon learning that the colony had been revoked.
Thus, while the term "North Australia" has been used at different points in Australian history, it never referred to a permanently established political entity. The historical usage of the term primarily relates to short-lived administrative divisions or unsuccessful colonial ventures.
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North Australia was split into two administrative areas in 1927
Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest country in the world and the largest in Oceania.
In 1911, the state of South Australia transferred control of northern central mainland Australia to the federal government, creating the Northern Territory. In 1926, the Northern Territory Legislative Council was introduced as the governing body of the Northern Territory.
In 1927, the Northern Territory was split into two administrative areas: North Australia and Central Australia. This division was made along the 20th parallel south. The territory of Central Australia was created as an incidental part of this division and was not subject to the North Australia Commission, which was established to supervise North Australia. The two territories were administered by a government resident appointed by the federal government, who was assisted by a half-elected advisory council of four people. Ordinances of the Northern Territory continued in the new territories, which maintained a common non-voting representative to the Australian House of Representatives.
In 1931, North Australia and Central Australia were reincorporated as the Northern Territory. The two territories were merged, and the North Australia Commission was abolished.
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North Australia was a colony intended to be located in Port Curtis
Australia is a country that comprises the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest country in the world and the largest in Oceania. The continent of Australia is sometimes referred to as Sahul, Australinea, Meganesia, or Australia-New Guinea to distinguish it from the country of Australia.
In the context of Australian history, North Australia was a short-lived administrative area of the Northern Territory of Australia. More specifically, it was the name of a briefly proclaimed but never established British colony. The colony was intended to be a convict penal settlement, comprising the part of the Colony of New South Wales that is now the Northern Territory of Australia and the part of the state of Queensland lying north of the 26th parallel.
The colony of North Australia was authorized by the British government in 1846, with the intention of establishing a new penal colony after the phasing out of convict transportation to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land. Colonel George Barney, appointed as Lieutenant-Governor and Superintendent, surveyed the coast and selected Port Curtis as the most suitable place for the settlement. Port Curtis, also known as Gladstone Harbour, was named by Commander Matthew Flinders in 1802 during his Investigator voyage.
However, the North Australia colony project faced challenges due to a change in government ministries in Britain. The colony was officially terminated in 1847, even before it could be fully established, as the authorization was revoked. The brief existence of the colony included a failed attempt to settle at Facing Island, off the southern entrance of Port Curtis, before the party was rescued and delivered to the intended site of settlement, now known as Barney Point. The convict settlement lasted only two months and incurred significant costs for the British government.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries globally, with a total area of 7,675,234 square miles. Australia is divided into six states and two territories, including the Northern Territory, which was previously divided into North Australia and Central Australia. Therefore, there is only one country in North Australia, Australia itself.
The Northern Territory (NT) is an internal territory of Australia, located in the central and central-northern regions. It shares borders with Western Australia to the west, South Australia to the south, and Queensland to the east. The NT covers 520,385 square miles, making it the third-largest Australian federal division. The territory is known for its natural rock formations, Aboriginal culture, and national parks, including Kakadu National Park and Uluru/Ayers Rock.
Australia is divided into six states: New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (QLD), South Australia (SA), Tasmania (TAS), Victoria (VIC), and Western Australia (WA). Each state has its own unique mix of environments, cultures, and attractions, from rolling deserts to lush rainforests and vibrant cities.



























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