The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is a federal territory of Australia. It contains the Australian capital city of Canberra, along with some surrounding townships. But the majority of land area of the territory is taken up by the mountains and forests of the Namadgi National Park. The ACT is an enclave within the state of New South Wales. All the important institutions of the Australian Government, including the national Parliament, are headquartered there. The territory has a dry continental climate, with warm to hot summers and cool to cold winters.

History

On 1st January 1901, the colonies of Australia became a self-governing federation of states, called the Commonwealth of Australia. The new Australian Constitution provided that land, situated in New South Wales and at least 100 miles (160 kilometres) from Sydney, would be ceded to the new federal government. Following discussion and exploration of various areas within New South Wales, the Seat of Government Act, which nominated the Yass-Canberra region, was passed in 1908. The territory was duly transferred to the federal government by New South Wales in 1911. Two years later, the capital city was founded and named as Canberra.
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Construction began in 1913, but was interrupted by World War I. On 9th May 1927, ceremonies marked the official transfer of the federal parliament from Melbourne to the new capital. The central area of Canberra was largely laid out following the 1912 plan of American architect Walter Burley Griffin. Lake Burley Griffin, a lake in the heart of the new city, was formed in 1963 by a dam across the Molonglo River.

The population of the territory grew rapidly during the 1960s and early ’70s as government departments were transferred from Melbourne to Canberra. In 1967, the city planners adopted a "Y Plan" which laid out future urban development around a series of town centres linked by freeways. The layout roughly resembled the shape of the letter Y.

Jervis Bay Territory

The Jervis Bay Territory, a second internal territory of the Commonwealth of Australia, was ceded by the state of New South Wales to the federal government so that the Australian Capital Territory would have access to the sea and its own port. A section of coastline making up an area of 68 square kilometres (26 square miles), it is a separate territory to the ACT. Jurisdiction over the new territory passed to the Commonwealth in 1915. Around 400 people live there today, the majority at the Royal Australian Navy College. Most of the land is owned by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal community.

Facts about the ACT

Area 2358 sq km (910 sq miles)

Highest point Bimberi Peak 1912 m (6273 ft)

Lowest point Murrumbidgee River 429 m (1407 ft)

Population 431,114

Territory mammal Southern brush-tailed rock-wallaby

Territory bird Gang-gang cockatoo

Territory flower Royal bluebell