Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

History and purpose

When the Australian colonies federated, rivalries about the location of the capital led to the decision that the seat of government should sit in a territory rather than within a state. A site was chosen for the new capital city and Canberra was developed with an official plan. The territory’s creation balanced constitutional, political and strategic considerations and established a clear separation between state and national seats of power.

Canberra, government and institutions

Canberra is the planned city within the ACT that hosts the federal Parliament, government departments, foreign embassies and major cultural institutions. The ACT has its own locally elected assembly responsible for many municipal services while national institutions operate alongside territory government agencies. Visitors find Parliament precincts, national museums, war memorials and other civic sites concentrated in and around the capital.

Geography and the Jervis Bay Territory

The ACT is an inland territory surrounded by New South Wales. To provide the new federal territory with access to the coast, the small Jervis Bay Territory was established and is administered under separate arrangements. The ACT’s landscape includes urban districts, planned green corridors and protected reserves that conserve native bushland and water catchments.

Population, economy and services

The local population is served by public administration, education and research institutions that dominate the territory economy. Many residents work in government, public service agencies or the private firms that support them. Health, transport and cultural services reflect the dual role of the territory as both a community of residents and the centre of national administration.

Planning, environment and transport

Canberra’s layout and the ACT’s land management emphasise planned urban design, large public open spaces and conservation. Transport links connect the territory to surrounding regions and to interstate networks; roads and public transit support commuting, national events and tourism. Environmental management in the ACT focuses on protecting water supplies, native flora and fauna while accommodating urban growth.

Distinctive features

• The ACT is a federal territory created specifically as the home of the national capital.
• Canberra is the planned centre of government and national institutions; see Canberra for city-specific details.
• The separate Jervis Bay Territory provides coastal access and is administered under different arrangements.
• The ACT is surrounded by New South Wales but remains a distinct jurisdiction within the federation.