Damon Mcknight
Australia is a union of six states: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania. Each state is a successor to a historical British colony and has its own constitution, legislature, executive government, and judiciary. Australia also has ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory. The remaining seven are external territories, including Norfolk Island, the Coral Sea Islands, and Christmas Island.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Federated States | 6 |
| Names of Federated States | New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia |
| Number of Federal Territories | 10 |
| Number of Internal Territories | 3 |
| Names of Internal Territories | Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, Northern Territory |
| Number of External Territories | 7 |
| Names of External Territories | Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island |
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What You'll Learn
The six states of Australia
Australia is divided into six states and two internal territories. Each state is a successor to a historical British colony and has its own constitution, legislature, executive government, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies.
- New South Wales (NSW), which includes Lord Howe Island. NSW is known for its wine regions, pristine seaside villages, and mountain wilderness. Sydney, the nation's biggest city, is located on the shores of Port Jackson.
- Queensland (QLD), known as the 'Sunshine State'. Queensland is a subtropical region in the northeast of Australia, home to the Great Barrier Reef, the ancient Daintree Rainforest, and the Whitsunday Islands. Its capital, Brisbane, enjoys a warm climate year-round, making it ideal for outdoor activities and water sports.
- South Australia (SA), located at the bottom of the central part of the country. It is known for its relaxed atmosphere and thriving arts scene, with over 500 festivals and events taking place each year. Adelaide, the state's capital, is a great base for exploring the Barossa Valley wineries, the Flinders Ranges, and Kangaroo Island.
- Tasmania (TAS), an island state separated from mainland Australia by the Bass Strait. Tasmania offers breathtaking landscapes, including picturesque beaches, rugged mountains, and winding rivers. Its capital, Hobart, is a cosmopolitan city with a range of cultural attractions, regional towns, and food and wine trails.
- Victoria (VIC), a cultural hub with a diverse range of museums, galleries, and national parks. The state's capital, Melbourne, has been named the 'Most Liveable City in the World' multiple times due to its cultural diversity, modern cityscape, and friendly atmosphere.
- Western Australia (WA), the largest state in Australia, located on the west coast. Western Australia boasts a variety of attractions, including the dramatic Kimberley Region, Rottnest Island, and the Margaret River region known for its wine and surf. The capital, Perth, is renowned for its serene beaches, parklands, and fresh seafood.
In addition to these six states, Australia also has ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory.
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The ten federal territories
Australia is divided into six states and ten federal territories. The states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia.
The three internal territories are the Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory. The seven external territories are the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, the Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and Norfolk Island.
The internal territories function similarly to the states, with their own independent executive governments, legislatures, and judicial systems. The external territories, on the other hand, are legally subordinate to the federal government and are governed by federal departments.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is home to the nation's capital, Canberra, and is known for its blend of nature and culture, with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. The Northern Territory, or NT, is known for its outback landscapes, emblematic wildlife, and Aboriginal culture.
The Ashmore and Cartier Islands were accepted by Australia in 1934 and annexed to the Northern Territory. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands, along with Christmas Island, comprise the Australian Indian Ocean Territories. The status of Norfolk Island is controversial, with the Norfolk Islanders asserting that they are not Australian.
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The Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
The ACT is home to many important institutions of the federal government, national monuments, and museums. These include the Parliament of Australia, the High Court of Australia, the National Gallery of Australia, the Australian War Memorial, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Library, the National Archives, and the Royal Australian Mint. It also hosts the majority of foreign embassies in Australia, as well as regional headquarters of many international organisations, not-for-profit groups, lobbying groups, and professional associations.
The territory includes towns such as Williamsdale, Oaks Estate, Uriarra, Tharwa, and Hall, as well as the Namadgi National Park, which comprises the majority of the land area. The western boundary of the territory follows the watershed of the Brindabella Range, a northern extension of the Snowy Mountains. The territory’s southern and western parts are mountainous, reaching a maximum height of 6,279 feet (1,914 meters) at Bimberi Peak. In the northeastern section, there are broad valleys between rounded hills. The area is drained by the Murrumbidgee River, which flows from the Snowy Mountains northward through the territory.
The ACT has a continental climate with marked seasonal and diurnal variations in temperature. Temperatures range between 14 and 108 °F (−10 and 42 °C). During the summer (December through February), the daily maximum often exceeds 86 °F (30 °C). Winters (June through August) are cooler, and the higher parts of the mountains are covered with snow. Frosts occur on most winter nights, but the days are usually sunny and often warm.
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The Northern Territory
Australia is divided into six states and two internal territories, one of which is the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory (NT), also known informally as the Territory, is a self-governing internal territory in the central and central-northern regions of Australia. It is the third-largest Australian federal division and the 11th-largest country subdivision in the world, covering 1,347,791 square kilometres (520,385 sq mi) or 520,902 square miles (1,349,129 square km). The NT is sparsely populated, with a population of only 249,000 as of December 2021, which had decreased to 232,605 by 2021. The NT's population is concentrated in coastal regions and along the Stuart Highway, with the majority residing in or around the capital city of Darwin, which is known for its tropical outdoor lifestyle, Asian-influenced food scene, WWII history, and Aboriginal culture. Darwin is also home to famed markets, a thriving tropical capital, and a harbour five times the size of Sydney Harbour.
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The external territories
Australia has six federated states and two internal territories on the Australian mainland. However, Australia also has ten federal territories, seven of which are external territories.
Each external territory is regulated by an Act of the federal Parliament, which determines the legal and political structure of the territory. While each state and internal territory has its own legislature, most external territories are subject to the judiciary and legislature of either a state or internal territory. The Heard Island and McDonald Islands, as well as the Australian Antarctic Territory, are governed by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water. The remaining external territories are governed by the federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is divided into six federated states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia.
Australia has ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory. The remaining seven are external territories: the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, the Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and Norfolk Island.
The states in 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. During the 19th century, large areas were separated to form the other colonies, which later became states.
The capitals of the Australian states are as follows:
- Sydney, New South Wales
- Brisbane, Queensland
- Adelaide, South Australia
- Hobart, Tasmania
- Melbourne, Victoria
- Perth, Western Australia
