Informally, many refer to Australia as an “island continent”, and rightly so. Australia happens to be the world’s largest island and its smallest continent. This beautiful land is also the only continent that is governed as a single country. The country is divided into two territories and six states.
Australia’s national capital, Canberra, is the centre of its government. Canberra is situated on the ancestral lands of the Ngunnawal, an indigenous people of Australia. Canberra is believed to be drawn from the word “Kamberra, believed to be Aboriginal for “meeting place”.
New South Wales was originally settled as a penal colony. The city of Sydney now stands on the actual site, which was originally known as Port Jackson. Sydney is Australia’s largest city, and more than a third of Australians live in New South Wales.
Although Victoria is the smallest of the nation’s mainland states, this area is the second highest populated. During the Australian gold rush of the 1850s, the capital, Melbourne became one of the wealthiest cities. Australians often refer to Melbourne as the “cultural capital” of the nation. This is largely because this area is the birthplace of the nation’s artistic expressions such as television, film, music, art, and dance were birthed.
Queensland is nation’s second largest state, according to actual size. The capital of Queensland is Brisbane, which is also the third most populated city of the nation. This area enjoys more wintertime warmth than other areas. This area is also home to the Great Barrier Reef.
This state is located in the central part of the country and houses the most arid parts of this island continent. Its capital is Adelaide, which is also the fifth largest city on the continent. The state shares its borders with the Northern Territory, and all of Australia’s mainland states.
The Northern Territory is located at the upper end of the continent. The capital of this area is Darwin, but the principal inland town is Alice Springs. Alice Springs is located at the continents geographic centre, which makes it the physical heart of the nation. Kakadu National Park is located in this area.
Going by actual area, Western Australia is the continent’s largest state. Nearly three-fourths of the state’s population makes its home in the state’s capital, Perth. Perth is also, not surprisingly, the fourth most populated city on the continent. When gold was discovered in the area, in the 1890s, mining became and still is, one of the state’s largest industries.
Tasmania is the smallest state in Australia and is separated from Australia’s mainland by the Bass Strait. Hobart, the capital, was originally founded as a penal colony. This city is the second oldest capital city in the nation. (Sidney was established before Hobart.) Tasmania is well-known for its wilderness areas and national parks.
In addition the areas above, Australia also administers several outlying areas. These areas include the Australian Antarctic Territory, Ashmore Islands, Cartier Islands, Christmas Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, Keeling (the Cocos) Islands, Heard Islands, McDonald Islands, and Norfolk Islands.
