58-523: The land border of the state of Western Australia (WA) bisects mainland Australia , nominally along 129th meridian east longitude (129° east). That land border divides WA from the Northern Territory (NT) and South Australia (SA). However, for various reasons, the actual border (as surveyed and marked or otherwise indicated on the ground) deviates from 129° east, and is not a single straight line. The Western Australian town closest to
116-564: A governor , appointed by the monarch (currently King Charles III ), which by convention he does on the advice of the state premier. The Administrator of the Northern Territory, by contrast, is appointed by the governor-general . The Australian Capital Territory has neither a governor nor an administrator. Instead, since the enacted of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth) ,
174-648: A mainland coastline of 32,994 kilometres (20,502 mi) and claims an exclusive economic zone of about 8,200,000 square kilometres (3,200,000 sq mi). At Federation in 1901, what is now the Northern Territory was within South Australia, what are now the Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory were within New South Wales, and Coral Sea Islands was part of Queensland. Ashmore and Cartier Islands
232-479: A comprehensive program was then arranged for the second stage of the border determinations, which were to take place during the following year and dates were then set for that to happen, from 20 April to 10 May 1921. One of the concrete piers mentioned, which were cubic concrete blocks slightly smaller than one cubic metre (35 cu ft), would later be named as the Deakin Pillar (1921), being from where
290-608: A contiguous residential of Queanbeyan , was excised out of New South Wales when the Australian Capital Territory was established in 1909. Some Urban Centres and Localities reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics include some agglomerations of cities spreading across state borders, including Gold Coast –Tweed Heads, Canberra –Queanbeyan, Albury – Wodonga (New South Wales-Victoria) and Mildura – Wentworth (Victoria-New South Wales) Territorial evolution of Australia#17 February 1846 The first colonies of
348-750: A state or internal territory. Excluding the Heard Island and McDonald Islands and the Australian Antarctic Territory (which are governed by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water ), the external territories are governed by the federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts . Norfolk Island had its own legislature from 1979 to 2015. Each state
406-547: Is a successor to historical British colonies , and each has its own constitution. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Northern Territory for the most part operate indistinguishably from the states (for example, both have representation in the Parliament since 1948 and in the Senate since 1975), even though they do not have constitutional status as states and territorial legislation can be overridden. Surrounded by
464-476: Is called the "legislative assembly", except in South Australia and Tasmania, where it is called the "house of assembly". Tasmania is the only state to use proportional representation for elections to its lower house; all others elect members from single member constituencies, using preferential voting . The upper house is called the "legislative council" and is generally elected from multi-member constituencies using proportional representation. Along with Queensland,
522-535: The 26th parallel south latitude (26° south), immediately west of Surveyor Generals Corner – the point at which WA officially meets both the NT and SA. In June 1968, monuments were erected to mark both ends of this 127-metre (417 ft) east–west line. In 1788 Governor Phillip claimed the continent of Australia only as far west as the 135th meridian east (135° east) in accordance with his commission. ( 26 January 1788 – MAP ) It has been suggested that
580-842: The Australian Capital Territory , the Jervis Bay Territory , and the Northern Territory on the Australian mainland ; and seven are external territories : the Ashmore and Cartier Islands , the Australian Antarctic Territory , Christmas Island , the Cocos (Keeling) Islands , the Coral Sea Islands , Heard Island and McDonald Islands , and Norfolk Island that are offshore dependent territories . Every state and internal territory (except
638-501: The Australian Capital Territory , which collectively forms 79% of the entire population of Australia (more than three-quarters of all Australians). Most of the major population centres are located east and south of the Great Dividing Range on the coastal plains and their associated hinterland regions. The states originated as separate British colonies prior to Federation in 1901. The Colony of New South Wales
SECTION 10
#1732771841840696-644: The British Empire on the continent of Australia were the penal colony of New South Wales , founded in 1788, and the Swan River Colony (later renamed Western Australia ), founded in 1829. Over the next few decades, the colonies of New Zealand , Queensland , South Australia , Van Diemen's Land (later renamed Tasmania ), and Victoria were created from New South Wales, as well as an aborted Colony of North Australia . On 1 January 1901, these colonies, excepting New Zealand, became states in
754-574: The Colony of Western Australia (initially established as the smaller Swan River Colony in 1829), the Province of South Australia (1836), the Colony of New Zealand (1840), the Victoria Colony (1851) and the Colony of Queensland (1859). Upon federation, the six colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania became the founding states of
812-474: The Commonwealth of Australia . Since federation, the internal borders have remained mostly stable, except for the creation of some territories with limited self-government: the Northern Territory from South Australia , to govern the vast, sparsely populated centre of the country; the split of the Northern Territory into Central Australia and North Australia , and then the quick merger of those back into
870-658: The Division of Fraser until 2016) in the ACT and by the ACT's two senators. In other respects, the territory is administered directly by the Federal Government through the Territories portfolio. The external territory of Norfolk Island possessed a degree of self-government from 1979 until 2015. Each state has a bicameral parliament, except Queensland, which abolished its upper house in 1922. The lower house
928-528: The Federal Parliament can override territorial legislation. The federal High Court of Australia acts as a final court of appeal for all matters, and has the authority to override any state judiciary. While all states and internal territories have their own judicial system (subject to appeal to the High Court), most external territories are subject to the judiciary and legislature of either
986-645: The German New Guinea . Following World War I , the Australian government received a League of Nations mandate for Nauru . After World War II, the Territory of Papua, Territory of New Guinea and Nauru were all controlled by the Australian government as United Nations trust territories . Nauru was granted independence in 1968. The majority of Australians live in the eastern coastal mainland states of New South Wales , Queensland , Victoria , and
1044-775: The Indian , Pacific , and Southern oceans, Australia is separated from Maritime Southeast Asia and New Guinea by the Arafura Sea , the Timor Sea , and the Torres Strait , from Island Melanesia by the Coral Sea , and from New Zealand by the Tasman Sea . The world's smallest continent , Australia is also the sixth-largest country by land area and sometimes considered the world's largest island . Australia has
1102-523: The State Ship Bambra to the port of Wyndham, Western Australia . From Wyndham they were guided by Michael Patrick ("M.P.") Durack to a point he perceived as the northern boundary between his Argyle Downs Station and Jack Kilfoyle's Rosewood Station, which was also Western Australia's border with the Northern Territory or 129° east. Most of Rosewood station is in the Northern Territory but some distance further south Rosewood also extends into
1160-839: The Western Australian Government Astronomer , Harold Curlewis met at Deakin, Western Australia on the East-West Trans-Australian Railway . The other members of the party were Messrs. Clive Melville Hambidge and J. Crabb, of the Survey Department; Warrant Officer V. D. Bowen, in charge of wireless apparatus lent by the Defence Department; and Mr. C. A. Maddern, of the Adelaide Observatory , all from Adelaide. Concrete piers for
1218-529: The 129th meridian. The Northern Territory border with Western Australia and the South Australian border with Western Australia are displaced east–west by approximately 127 metres (417 ft), as a result of errors caused by the technical limits of surveying technology in the 1920s, when the current border was surveyed. Consequently, since the 1920s, the border has included an approximately 127-metre (417 ft) east–west "dog-leg", which runs along
SECTION 20
#17327718418401276-684: The 1788 claim by the British of 135° east was in reference to Spain's claims under the Treaty of Tordesillas . Spain was seen as no longer having an interest in the area. On the other hand, the other signatories to the treaty, the Portuguese still had a presence in Macau and East Timor . Adoption of 135° east as a boundary would minimise provocation of the Portuguese. By 1825, however, Britain
1334-837: The Australian Constitution the federal Parliament has plenary power to make laws for all territories including all external territories. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands voted for integration in 1984. Together with Christmas Island, these two territories comprise the Australian Indian Ocean Territories . Commonwealth laws apply automatically to the territories unless expressly stated otherwise and residents of both external territories are associated with Northern Territory for federal elections. They are, thus, constitutionally part of Australia. The Heard Island and McDonald Islands, although uninhabited, are treated as constitutionally part of Australia by
1392-517: The Australian federal government under Section 122 of the Constitution of Australia no longer exist: Two present-day Oceanic countries, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Nauru , were administered by the federal government of Australia as de facto or de jure external territories for differing periods between 1902 and 1975. Following World War II , the Papua and New Guinea Act 1949 placed
1450-479: The East Kimberley Region of Western Australia. From the chosen position, two concrete pillars were erected similar to those described above and portable radio masts set up, before the determinations were carried out by the scientists using the same methods of wireless time signals as were used at Deakin. One of the concrete pillars erected, which was the one used as the point of the determinations,
1508-758: The French wireless Service, that were transmitted from the Lyon Observatory at Saint-Genis-Laval , near Lyon, France , between 17 and 24 November 1920. Wireless time signals were also sent from the Adelaide Observatory, transmitted by the Adelaide Radio Station, to enable the beats of the Adelaide sidereal clock to be used as a control on the rate of the chronometer used for the boundary observation. After these initial tests
1566-579: The Jervis Bay Territory) is self-governing with its own independent executive government , legislative branch , and judicial system , while the rest only have local government status overseen by federal departments . State and territory governments may legislate on matters concerning their citizens, subject to the limits of the federal constitution (notably section 51 and section 109 ). Each state and internal territory (except Jervis Bay Territory) has its own legislature , although
1624-560: The Northern Territory. ( 12 June 1931 – MAP ). From 1931 to the present 129° east has been the WA/NT border north of 26° south and the WA/SA border south of the 26th parallel. Fixing the position of the border of Western Australia on the ground has a rich history. In March 1920 the Western Australian Government Astronomer , Harold Curlewis gave a talk at the WA Museum about the history of
1682-423: The Northern Territory; and the Australian Capital Territory , a federal district ceded from New South Wales. Outside of the continent, Queensland attempted an expansion into New Guinea , but British authorities rejected this; the claim would later be made a British protectorate and ceded to Australia. The League of Nations mandated northeast New Guinea to Australia after World War I , as well as Nauru , which
1740-625: The South Australian border with Western Australia by a line drawn south to the coastline of the Great Australian Bight and north through this point to 26° south. Shortly after the 1921 determinations of the border of South Australia and Western Australia, the Government Astronomer for South Australia, G.F. Dodwell and the Government Astronomer of Western Australia, H.B. Curlewis and party travelled by
1798-464: The Territory of New Guinea in an "administrative union" with the Territory of Papua, and the combined Territory of Papua and New Guinea was created. However, both territories remained technically distinct for some administrative and legal purposes, until 1975, when the combined entity eventually was given independence as Papua New Guinea. Nauru was previously under the German colonial empire as part of
Western Australian borders - Misplaced Pages Continue
1856-604: The astronomical observing instruments were erected in readiness for the final determinations that were to be held in 1921. Observations were made for the purpose of testing under field conditions the instruments and methods to be used in 1921. This expedition, to determine 129° east on the ground, created worldwide scientific interest and involved the cooperation of the Astronomer Royal and the Royal Observatory, Greenwich , with wireless time signals sent by
1914-464: The border is Kununurra , which is about 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of the border with the NT. The settlement outside WA that is closest to the border is Border Village , SA, which adjoins the border; the centre of Border Village is about 250 metres (820 ft) from the border, on the Eyre Highway . In some cases, the physical signage and structures that mark the actual border deviate from
1972-413: The central government. Norfolk Island's status is controversial, with the present (as of 2018 ) government taking measures to integrate the territory into Australia proper (including representation in parliament and compulsory voting). The Norfolk Islanders have not formally consented to this change in constitutional status and assert that they are not Australian. Two internal territories established by
2030-544: The determination of longitude , in relation to using what was at that time a new technology, by using wireless time signals to determine the position of the border between South Australia and Western Australia, as close to the 129th east meridian as possible. Preliminary work on the border determinations began in November 1920 when the Government Astronomer for South Australia, G. F. Dodwell and
2088-676: The federal government. They have their own constitutions , legislatures , executive governments , judiciaries and law enforcement agencies that administer and deliver public policies and programs. Territories can be autonomous and administer local policies and programs much like the states in practice, but are still legally subordinate to the federal government. Australia has six federated states : New South Wales (including Lord Howe Island ), Queensland , South Australia , Tasmania (including Macquarie Island ), Victoria , and Western Australia . Australia also has ten federal territories , out of which three are internal territories :
2146-648: The functions of the head of the Executive – commissioning government, proroguing parliament and enacting legislation – are exercised by the Assembly itself and by the chief minister . Jervis Bay Territory is the only non-self-governing internal territory. Until 1989, it was administered as if it were a part of the ACT, although it has always been a separate territory. Under the terms of the Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915 ,
2204-462: The governor will appoint as premier whoever leads the party or coalition which exercises control of the lower house (in the case of Queensland, the only house) of the state parliament. However, in times of constitutional crisis , the governor can appoint someone else as premier. The head of government of the self-governing internal territories is called the "chief minister". The Northern Territory's chief minister, in normal circumstances whoever controls
2262-637: The larger border marker, the Deakin Obelisk (1926), would be set out from. The Deakin Pillar is approximately 2.82 kilometres (1.75 mi) west of the Deakin Obelisk. The Deakin Obelisk was erected as closely as was possible with the technology of 1926 to 129° east. The Deakin Obelisk has a copper plug embedded into the top centre of the concrete obelisk, which determines, on the ground,
2320-684: The laws of the ACT apply to the Jervis Bay Territory insofar as they are applicable and providing they are not inconsistent with an ordinance. Although residents of the Jervis Bay Territory are generally subject to laws made by the ACT Legislative Assembly, they are not represented in the assembly. They are represented in the Parliament of Australia as part of the Electoral Division of Fenner (named
2378-708: The legislative assembly, is appointed by the administrator. The term interstate is used within Australia to refer to a number of events, transactions, registrations, travel, etc. which occurs across borders or outside of the particular state or territory of the user of the term. Examples of use include motor vehicle registration, travel, applications to educational institutions out of one's home state. There are very few urban areas bifurcated by state or territory borders. The Queensland-New South Wales border runs through Coolangatta (Queensland) and Tweed Heads (New South Wales) and splits Gold Coast Airport . Oaks Estate ,
Western Australian borders - Misplaced Pages Continue
2436-480: The new Commonwealth of Australia. The two territory governments (the Australian Capital Territory [ACT] and the Northern Territory [NT]), were created by legislation of the Federal Parliament—the NT in 1978 and the ACT in 1988. The legislative powers of the states are protected by the Australian constitution , section 107, and under the principle of federalism , Commonwealth legislation only applies to
2494-669: The states where permitted by the constitution. The territories, by contrast, are from a constitutional perspective directly subject to the Commonwealth government ; laws for territories are determined by the Australian Parliament. Most of the territories are directly administered by the Commonwealth government, while two (the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory) have some degree of self-government although less than that of
2552-412: The states. In the self-governing territories, the Australian Parliament retains the full power to legislate, and can override laws made by the territorial institutions, which it has done on rare occasions. For the purposes of Australian (and joint Australia-New Zealand) intergovernmental bodies, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory are treated as if they were states. Each state has
2610-401: The three self-governing territories, the ACT, the Northern Territory, and Norfolk Island, each have unicameral legislative assemblies. The legislative assembly for the ACT is the only parliament with responsibility for both state/territory and local government functions. The head of government of each state is called the "premier", appointed by the state's governor. In normal circumstances,
2668-656: The top of the concrete obelisk, which officially determines the WA/NT border on the ground, near 129° east, by a line drawn north to the northern coastline near the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf and south through this point at the Kimberley Obelisk to the 26th parallel. Australian state The states and territories are the second level of government of Australia . The states are partially sovereign , administrative divisions that are self-governing polities , having ceded some sovereign rights to
2726-475: Was accepted by Australia in 1934 and was annexed to the Northern Territory prior to adoption of the Statute of Westminster in 1942, deemed effective from 1939; it has thus become part of Australia. Each external territory is regulated by an Act of the federal Parliament. These Acts contain the majority of provisions determining the legal and political structure applying in that external territory. Under s 122 of
2784-491: Was annexed to South Australia by Letters Patent and became known as the Northern Territory of South Australia (NToSA). ( 6 July 1863 – MAP ). From 1863 to 1911 129° east was the WA/NToSA border north of 26° south and the WA/SA border south of the 26th parallel. In 1911 the Northern Territory (NT) was split off from South Australia to be administered by the Commonwealth. ( 1 January 1911 – MAP ). From 1911 to 1927 129° east
2842-576: Was declared to be 129° east, that is coinciding with the western boundary of New South Wales at the time. The Swan River Colony, started in 1829, was commissioned as the colony of Western Australia in March 1831 . From 1829 to 1832 129° east was the SRC/NSW border. The name of the Swan River Colony changed to Western Australia in 1832 ( 6 February 1832 – MAP ). From 1832 to 1846 129° east
2900-416: Was erected as closely as was possible with the technology of 1927 to 129° east. Over several weeks during 1927 , a Western Australian survey crew from the WA Department of Lands and Surveys travelled to Wyndham, then to the Austral Pillar site to set out from that point to the border, where they then erected the much more substantial Kimberley Obelisk. The Kimberley Obelisk has a copper plug embedded into
2958-423: Was founded in 1788 and originally comprised much of the Australian mainland, as well as Lord Howe Island , New Zealand , Norfolk Island , and Van Diemen's Land , in addition to the area currently referred to as the state of New South Wales. During the 19th century, large areas were successively separated to form the Colony of Tasmania (initially established as a separate colony named Van Diemen's Land in 1825),
SECTION 50
#17327718418403016-408: Was marked by the expedition party to show how far east of Greenwich they were in hours, minutes and seconds, and became known as the Austral Pillar. The Austral Pillar, the point selected for the scientific determinations of 1921 would later be found to be about 2 km east from the border of 129° east on that part of Rosewood Station, therefore inside the Northern Territory. The Kimberley Obelisk
3074-420: Was once again the WA/NSW border. In 1860 South Australia, which had been proclaimed a colony in 1836 ( 28 December 1836 – MAP ), west to the 132° east , changed their western border from 132° east to 129° east ( 1860 – MAP ). From 1860 to 1863 129° east was the WA/NSW border north of 26° south and the WA/SA border south of the 26th parallel. In 1863 that part of New South Wales to the north of South Australia
3132-425: Was placed under joint Australian-British-New Zealand jurisdiction. These mandates (and, later, United Nations trust territories ) became the independent nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea in the mid-20th century. Australia has also obtained several small island territories , mainly from earlier British colonies, and has a large claim on Antarctica . Key to map colours Parliament met in Melbourne until
3190-428: Was powerful enough and found it convenient to adopt the original line of the Portuguese under the treaty, 129° east. The line of 129° east first became a border in Australia as the western border of New South Wales (NSW) in 1825 ( 16 July 1825 – MAP ). On 16 July 1825 , the western boundary of New South Wales was relocated at 129° east to take in the new settlement at Melville Island . From 1825 to 1829, 129° east
3248-417: Was the NSW border, except that the settlement of King George's Sound , now Albany , was part of New South Wales – and thus a semi-exclave of New South Wales – from its establishment on 26 December 1826, until 7 March 1831 when it was made part of the Swan River Colony. Following the settlement of the Swan River Colony (SRC) in 1829 ( 2 May 1829 – MAP ), the eastern boundary
3306-450: Was the WA/NSW border. In 1846 the colony of North Australia (NA) was proclaimed by Letters Patent, which was all of New South Wales north of 26° south. ( 17 February 1846 – Map ). From 1846 to 1847 129° east was the WA/NA border north of 26° south and the WA/NSW border south of the 26th parallel. In 1847 the colony of North Australia was revoked and reincorporated into New South Wales. ( 15 April 1847 – MAP ). From 1847 to 1860 129° east
3364-448: Was the WA/NT border north of 26° south and the WA/SA border south of the 26th parallel. In 1927 the Northern Territory was split into two territories, North Australia (NA) and Central Australia (CA). ( 1 March 1927 – MAP ). From 1927 to 1931 129° east was once again the WA/NA border and WA/CA border, both north of 26° south and the WA/SA border south of the 26th parallel. In 1931 North Australia and Central Australia were reunited as
#839160