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Australia is a union of six states: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania. In addition, there are two internal territories: the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. The Northern Territory is an administrative division in northern Australia that is similar to a state. The Australian Capital Territory, on the other hand, is home to the nation's capital, Canberra, and is renowned for its cosmopolitan atmosphere and cultural institutions. Each state and territory (except Jervis Bay Territory) has its own legislature, although the Federal Parliament can override territorial legislation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of states | 6 |
| Number of territories | 2 internal and 6 external territories |
| Names of states | New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania |
| Names of internal territories | Northern Territory and 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, Australian Antarctic Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, and Territory of Papua |
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What You'll Learn
- Australia has six states and two territories
- The six states are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania
- The two territories are the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory
- Australia also administers six external territories
- The six external territories include Norfolk Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Australia has six states and two territories
Australia is divided into six states and two territories. The six states are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania. The two territories are the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, which contains Canberra, the capital of Australia.
The states of Australia originated as separate British colonies prior to Federation in 1901. The Colony of New South Wales was founded in 1788 and originally comprised much of the Australian mainland, as well as several islands. During the 19th century, large areas were gradually separated to form the other colonies that became the founding states of the new Commonwealth of Australia.
The Northern Territory is an administrative division in northern Australia that is similar to a state. It is known for its iconic natural landmarks, such as Kakadu National Park, King's Canyon, and Uluru. The Northern Territory showcases quintessential Australia, with its sublime landscapes, emblematic wildlife, and authentic Aboriginal culture.
The Australian Capital Territory, or ACT, is home to the nation's capital, Canberra. The ACT boasts a blend of nature and culture, with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. It is renowned for its national institutions, including the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia, and Parliament House. The ACT also features a flourishing restaurant scene, a thriving wine region, and an array of parks and gardens.
In addition to the six states and two internal territories, Australia also administers several external territories, including Norfolk Island, the Coral Sea Islands, and the Australian Antarctic Territory. These external territories are governed by the federal government or, in the case of the Australian Antarctic Territory, by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
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The six states are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania
Australia is made up of six states and two territories. Each state has its own legislature, although the Federal Parliament can override territorial laws. The six states are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania.
New South Wales was founded in 1788 and originally included much of the Australian mainland, as well as Lord Howe Island, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and Van Diemen's Land. The capital of New South Wales is Sydney, which is also Australia's largest city. Sydney is home to some of Australia's most famous landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House and Bondi Beach.
Victoria was established as a separate colony in 1851. Its capital, Melbourne, is Australia's second-largest city and is known for its food and wine scene, as well as its cultural institutions.
Queensland, also known as the 'Sunshine State', is a subtropical region in the northeast of Australia. It is home to the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest, and the Whitsunday Islands. The state's capital, Brisbane, has the fastest-growing population of all Australian cities.
Western Australia was initially established as the Swan River Colony in 1829. Its capital is Perth.
South Australia was established as a separate colony in 1836. Its capital is Adelaide.
Tasmania was originally known as Van Diemen's Land until it became a separate colony in 1825. Its capital is Hobart.
In addition to these six states, the two territories of Australia are the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, which contains Canberra, the nation's capital.
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The two territories are the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory
Australia is divided into six states and two territories, each with its own unique mix of environments, cultures, and rhythms. The two territories are the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
The Northern Territory, or NT, is an administrative division in northern Australia that is similar to a state. It is a must-visit for those wishing to see quintessential Australia, with its sublime landscapes, emblematic wildlife, and authentic Aboriginal culture. The NT is home to some of the country's premier national parks, including Kakadu National Park, King's Canyon, and Litchfield National Park. However, nothing beats the iconic Uluru. The Northern Territory has its own parliament and can pass legislation.
The Australian Capital Territory, or ACT, is home to the nation's capital, Canberra. It blends the best of nature and culture, with a mix of monuments, museums, glistening lakes, and wild wetlands. The ACT is renowned for its cosmopolitan atmosphere and is home to some of Australia's most important national institutions, including the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia, and Parliament House. It also boasts a flourishing restaurant scene, a stunning wine region, and an impressive array of parks and gardens. Like the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory has its own parliament and can pass legislation.
Both the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory are well-known, while most of the other territories are rarely mentioned in the news and are largely unknown to most Australians. The residents of the two territories are constitutionally part of Australia and are associated with the Northern Territory for federal elections.
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Australia also administers six external territories
Australia is a union of six states: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. In addition, there are two internal territories: the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
- Norfolk Island: While the current government has taken measures to integrate the territory into Australia, the Norfolk Islanders do not consider themselves Australian and have not consented to this change.
- Coral Sea Islands: This territory is administered by the federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands: Like the Coral Sea Islands, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are governed by the federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
- Christmas Island: Christmas Island is one of the six external territories administered by Australia.
- Ashmore and Cartier Islands: These islands are part of Australia's external territories and are administered by the Australian government.
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands: Although uninhabited, these islands are treated as constitutionally part of Australia by the central government.
In addition to these six external territories, Australia also claims the right to administer a large portion of Antarctica, called the Australian Antarctic Territory.
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The six external territories include Norfolk Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Australia is divided into six states and two territories, with the latter consisting of internal and external territories. The six external territories include Norfolk Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
Norfolk Island, a self-governing territory located in the Pacific Ocean, has a unique language and is known for its rugged coastline and graceful stone buildings. The island has a controversial constitutional status, with the Australian government taking measures to integrate the territory into Australia, while the Norfolk Islanders assert their non-Australian identity.
The Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands is an uninhabited external territory consisting of four low-lying tropical islands and reefs in the Indian Ocean. The territory is administered from Canberra and is home to a diverse range of marine life, with arrangements in place to allow traditional Indonesian fishermen access to its resources.
The Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) is an Australian external territory comprising a volcanic group of mostly barren Antarctic islands in the Indian Ocean. The islands contain Australia's only two active volcanoes and are primarily visited for research purposes, with no permanent human habitation. Despite being uninhabited, HIMI has been assigned a country code and was subjected to tariffs by the US in 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is divided into six states: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania.
There are two internal territories in Australia: the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). There are also ten territories in total, including external territories such as Norfolk Island, Coral Sea Islands, and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory have their own legislatures and can pass laws. The other territories are governed by the Federal Government.
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