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Australia’s states and territories · 1 min read

The states

New South Wales was the first colony established by the British. Sydney is the capital city of New South Wales and is the nation’s largest city. The Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House are national icons.

Victoria is the smallest of the mainland states. Victoria’s capital city is Melbourne. Many fine buildings in Victoria were built from the wealth created by the gold rush of the 1850s. Victoria’s icons include the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 12 Apostles, and the Royal Exhibition Building.

is the second largest state. Queensland’s capital city is Brisbane. Queensland The Torres Strait Islands lie to the north of the state and the world-famous Great Barrier Reef runs along its eastern coast. Queensland has tropical rainforests, temperate coastal areas and an often dry inland.

Western Australia is the largest state. Perth is the capital city of Western Australia. The east of the state is mostly desert, while the south-west is a rich agricultural and wine-growing area. The state is home to many large mining projects. Western Australia’s icons include the Ningaloo Coast, Margaret River, and the Kimberley region.

South Australia has a rugged coastline and many famous wine regions. Adelaide, the capital city, has many examples of fine colonial architecture. South Australia’s icons include the Barossa Valley and the Flinders Ranges.

Tasmania is the smallest state, separated from the mainland by the Bass Strait. Tasmania’s capital city is Hobart. Much of the island has unspoilt wilderness landscapes. Tasmanian icons include Cradle Mountain, Port Arthur, and the Bay of Fires.

Test yourself on this topic

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

  1. 1. Brisbane is the capital city of which state?

    • South Australia
    • Western Australia
    • New South Wales
    • Queensland

    Explanation: Brisbane is the seat of government for the state of Queensland.

  2. 2. Hobart is the capital city of which state?

    • Queensland
    • Tasmania
    • Victoria
    • South Australia

    Explanation: Hobart is the seat of government for the island state of Tasmania.

  3. 3. In Western Australia, which part is a rich agricultural and wine-growing area?

    • The far north coast
    • The centre of the state
    • The south-west of the state
    • The east of the state

    Explanation: Farming and wine growing are concentrated in the south-west, while the east of the state is mostly desert.

  4. 4. Many fine buildings in Victoria were paid for by wealth created by:

    • The gold rush of the 1850s
    • The mining boom of the 1650s
    • The wine industry of the 1750s
    • The wool trade of the 1980s

    Explanation: Gold found in the 1850s made Victoria rich, and that money paid for grand buildings.

  5. 5. Melbourne is the capital city of which state?

    • South Australia
    • Queensland
    • Victoria
    • Tasmania

    Explanation: Melbourne is the seat of government for the state of Victoria.

  6. 6. The Great Barrier Reef runs along the eastern coast of which state?

    • Queensland
    • Tasmania
    • Western Australia
    • Victoria

    Explanation: The Great Barrier Reef runs along Queensland's eastern coast, and the Torres Strait Islands lie to the north of that state.

  7. 7. What separates Tasmania from the Australian mainland?

    • The Bass Strait
    • Sydney Harbour
    • The Coral Sea
    • The Torres Strait

    Explanation: Tasmania is an island state, cut off from the mainland by the Bass Strait.

  8. 8. Which TWO of these are national icons found in Sydney?

    • The Royal Exhibition Building
    • The Sydney Harbour Bridge
    • The Sydney Opera House
    • The Melbourne Cricket Ground

    Explanation: The Harbour Bridge and the Opera House are the two Sydney landmarks known across the whole nation; the other two are in Victoria.

  9. 9. Which capital city has many examples of fine colonial architecture?

    • Adelaide
    • Perth
    • Canberra
    • Darwin

    Explanation: Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, is known for its fine colonial buildings.

  10. 10. Which city is the nation's largest city?

    • Adelaide
    • Perth
    • Sydney
    • Hobart

    Explanation: Sydney is both the capital of New South Wales and the biggest city in the country.

  11. 11. Which colony was the first one established by the British?

    • Western Australia
    • Tasmania
    • South Australia
    • New South Wales

    Explanation: New South Wales was where British settlement in Australia began.

  12. 12. Which is the smallest of the mainland states?

    • Western Australia
    • South Australia
    • Queensland
    • Victoria

    Explanation: Victoria covers the least land of the states on the mainland.

  13. 13. Which of these is an icon of South Australia?

    • The Bay of Fires
    • The Ningaloo Coast
    • The Barossa Valley
    • The 12 Apostles

    Explanation: The Barossa Valley, one of the state's famous wine regions, is a South Australian icon; the others belong to different states.

  14. 14. Which state is the largest, and is home to many large mining projects?

    • New South Wales
    • Victoria
    • Queensland
    • Western Australia

    Explanation: Western Australia covers more land than any other state, and much of the nation's large-scale mining happens there.

From Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, the official booklet