Australian Citizenship Quiz
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Australia and its people

Australian States and Territories

Short answer

Australia has six states and two mainland territories. Each has its own government, while the Australian Government handles national responsibilities under the federal system.

Last reviewed 2026-06-19

The national map

Australia has six states: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. The two mainland territories are the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

Capitals are useful anchors

Canberra is Australia's national capital. State and territory capitals help organise basic geography, but they do not replace the distinction between national, state, territory and local government responsibilities.

States inside a federation

The states joined the federation in 1901 and retain their own governments. Territories have governments too, although the constitutional arrangements are not identical to those of the states.

Key facts

  • There are six states and two mainland territories.
  • Canberra is the national capital.
  • Western Australia is the largest state by area.
  • State and territory governments operate within Australia's federal system.

Common mistakes

  • Calling Canberra a state.
  • Confusing the Australian Capital Territory with the national government.
  • Assuming every Australian capital is the national capital.

Important vocabulary

state
A self-governing part of Australia within the federal system.
Example: Victoria is one of Australia's six states.
territory
An Australian area with its own government under a different constitutional arrangement from a state.
Example: The Northern Territory is a mainland territory.
capital city
The main city where a government is based.
Example: Canberra is Australia's capital city.

Practice questions

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Practice by topic
Australian Federation Australian federation happened on 1 January 1901, when six British colonies joined together to form the Commonwealth of Australia while keeping their own state governments. The Australian Constitution The Australian Constitution is Australia's founding legal document. It sets out the basic rules for governing the country, including Parliament, government powers and how constitutional change must be approved. Australian Parliament The Australian Parliament has two Houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House represents electorates, while the Senate is the House of Review and represents states equally.

Official sources