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Australia’s states and territories · 1 min read

Australia’s states and territories

The Commonwealth of Australia is a federation of states and territories. There are six states and two mainland territories. Canberra is Australia’s capital city, and each state and mainland territory has its own capital.

State

New South Wales (NSW)

Victoria (Vic.)

Queensland (Qld)

Western Australia (WA)

South Australia (SA)

Tasmania (Tas.)

Territory

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Northern Territory (NT) Capital city

Sydney

Melbourne

Brisbane

Perth

Adelaide

Hobart

Capital city

Canberra

Darwin

Test yourself on this topic

4 questions on this topic, each with the answer explained.

  1. 1. Counting every state and mainland territory, how many capital cities are there?

    • Seven capital cities
    • Nine capital cities
    • Eight capital cities
    • Six capital cities

    Explanation: There are six states and two mainland territories, and each one has its own capital, which makes eight.

  2. 2. How many states does Australia have?

    • Four states
    • Five states
    • Eight states
    • Six states

    Explanation: Australia is made up of six states, plus two mainland territories.

  3. 3. The Commonwealth of Australia is best described as:

    • A group of separate independent countries
    • A federation of states and territories
    • A single state with no internal divisions
    • A territory still governed from Britain

    Explanation: Australia is one nation made up of states and territories joined together in a federation.

  4. 4. Which city is Australia's capital city?

    • Sydney
    • Canberra
    • Melbourne
    • Brisbane

    Explanation: Canberra is the capital of the whole nation, not just of a state.

From Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, the official booklet