Facts about Australia

Facts about the Australian states and capital cities

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Even if your main interest is the Australian Outback, you might want to know some general facts about Australia and its states.

The Australian facts page has info about the country Australia, its size, the weather and time zones. Australia is a huge country, see the driving distances between the major cities, and the distance charts for the Outback. The Australian climate might also be an interesting topic.

Australia is an astonishing place. It is also a favourite destination for many migrants. Discover the experience of a family who chose to start a new life in Australia. Get their hints about the country, Sydney, the lifestyle and how to settle in.

On this page I am going to give you some details about the Australian states. And because the Australian Outback covers more than 70 per cent of Australia, this is as well about the Outback :).

The six original Australian states were separate British colonies until they federated in 1901. Today, the Commonwealth of Australia consists of 6 states, two major territories on the mainland, and several external territories. The latter are mainly islands in the Indian Ocean and the Southern Sea. Australia also has an Antarctic Territory.

Facts about Australia - state by state

For a quick jump to the state you are looking for, click the abbreviation of the state name.

NSW   SA   VIC   QLD   WA   TAS   NT   ACT

Map from Wikipedia. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify these documents under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

New South Wales - The Premier State

New South Wales (NSW) proudly calls itself the premier state, and it really is. It was at Sydney Cove in Port Jackson where European settlement began on 26 January 1788. However, it was Captain Cook who first sighted and named New South Wales in 1770.

NSW has the highest population of all Australian states. More than 60 % live in the greater Sydney area. West of the small coastal plain follows the Great Dividing Range. Once you've crossed the mountains, you arrive at the vast agricultural plains. Population is getting sparse before you finally reach the arid plains of the north-west. Back of Bourke, the Outback is calling.

Size: 801,428 km², that's 10,4 % of Australia, or the 5th largest state.

Population: 6,8 million. 4,2 million people live in Sydney.

Capital: Sydney

Highest Point: Mt. Kosciusko 2228 m (highest mountain in Australia)

Floral emblem: Waratah

Fauna emblem: Platypus and Kookaburra

Highest temperature: 52,8° C at Bourke on January 1877

Lowest temperature: -22,2°C at Charlotte's Pass on 14 July 1945

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South Australia - The Festival State

South Australia (SA) is the only state that didn't start as a convict colony. The colony was proclaimed at the old gum tree by Govenour Hindmarsh in 1836. The intention was to build a centre of civilisation for free immigrants. Well, Adelaide is known as the city of churches, and South Australia is the festival state.

South Australia is the driest of all Australian states. A lot of Outback is waiting for you. Please check out the Outback South Australia page with links to famous tracks and stunning places.

Size: 984,000 km², that's 12,8 % of Australia, or the 4th largest state.

Population: 1,6 million, more than 1,1 million people live in the capital.

Capital: Adelaide

Highest Point: Mt. Woodroffe 1439 m

Floral emblem: Sturt's Desert Pea

Fauna emblem: Hairy-nosed wombat

Highest temperature: 50,7° C at Oodnadatta on 2 January 1960

Lowest temperature: -8,2°C at Yongala on 20 July 1976

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Victoria - The Garden State

Victoria (VIC) is the smallest state of the mainland, but it is the most densely populated. The Murray River forms Victoria's northern boundary. The Victorian Alps in the south-west are the southern most part of the Great Dividing Range.

Although Victoria is not considered an "Outback" state, there are wonderful, and lonely places to explore. Victoria is always worth a visit.

With the first Australian gold rush in the 1850s, the Eureka Stockade and the infamous stories of Ned Kelly, Victoria has quite an interesting history.

Size: 227,600 km², that's 2,96 % of Australia, or the 6th largest state.

Population: 5,2 million, 3,8 million people live in the capital.

Capital: Melbourne

Highest Point: Mt. Bogong 1986 m

Floral emblem: Common heath

Fauna emblem: Leadbeater's possum and helmeted honeyeater

Highest temperature: 50,8°C at Mildura on 6 January 1906

Lowest temperature: -12,8°C at Mt.Hotham on 30 July 1931

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Queensland - The Sunshine State

Queensland is Australia's holiday state. It is well-known for the Barrier Reef and its beautiful beaches and islands along the coast. However, there is also a lot of Outback to explore. When you travel Queensland's Outback, you'll learn a lot about great Outback pioneers and their inventions. The Flying Doctor Service and Qantas, Australia's international airline, are just two examples.

Size: 1,727,200 km², that's 22,5 % of Australia, or the 2nd largest state.

Population: 4,2 million, 1,8 million people live in the capital.

Capital: Brisbane

Highest Point: Mt. Bartle Frere 1611 m

Floral emblem: Cooktown orchid

Fauna emblem: Koala and Brolga

Highest temperature: 53,1°C at Cloncurry on 16 January 1889

Lowest temperature: -11,0°C at Stanthorpe on 4 July 1895

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Western Australia - The Wildflower State

Western Australia covers one third of Australia's mainland. It is the only state in Australia that ranges from north to south through all climate zones.

The Kimberley area in the north has monsoonal climate with annual rainfall from 500 to 1500 millimetres. Rain is torrential here, but it only occurs from December to March. The rest of the year is usually dry.

The central part of Western Australia has a semi-arid or desert climate. Here you'll find Australia's largest desert areas, the Great Sandy desert and the Great Victoria desert.

The southwestern coastal area south of Perth has a temperate climate. Summers are warm and dry. Along the south coast, from Albany to Perth, you'll find forests with huge stands of Karry trees. These are one of the tallest tree species in the world.

Size: 2,529,875 km², that's 32,87 % of Australia, that makes WA the largest state.

Population: 2,1 million, 1,6 million people live in the capital.

Capital: Perth

Highest Point: Mt. Meharry 1244 m

Floral emblem: Mangles' Kangaroo Paw

Fauna emblem: Numbat and Black Swan

Highest temperature: 50,7°C at Eucla on 22 January 1906

Lowest temperature: -6,7°C at Boolygoo on 12 July 1969

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Tasmania - The Apple Isle

Tasmania is an island, and a state, that is located south of Victoria. The Bass Strait separates Tasmania from the mainland.

Tasmania is known as the apple isle, although it promotes itself as the Natural State. Rugged mountain ranges are found in the southwest and in the centre of the island. The central east is fairly flat. Tasmania has a temperate climate with snow in the mountains during winter. However, the most populated towns along the north coast rarely get snow.

Do you plan a Tasmania Trip? Explore Tassie with Tasmania Trip - an excellent travel guide on holidays, accommodation, tours, packages and car hire in Tazmania

Size: 68,330 km², that's 0,88 % of Australia, or the 7th largest state.

Population: 493,300, 206,000 people live in the capital.

Capital: Hobart

Highest Point: Mt. Ossa 1617 m

Floral emblem: Tasmanian Blue Gum

Fauna emblem: (inofficial) Thylacine Tasmanian Tiger or the Tasmanian Devil

Highest temperature: 40,8°C at Bushy Park on 26 January 1945, and in Hobart on 4 January 1976

Lowest temperature: -13°C at Shannon, Butlers Gorge and Tarraleah on 30 June 1983

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Northern Territory - The Territory

The Northern Territory is the most "Outback" state, in fact, all of the territory is Outback. Unlike other states, the most densely populated areas are not along the coast. Actually, a handful of small towns are lined along the Stuart Hwy, from Darwin to Alice Springs.

Apart from Darwin and Alice, there are only three towns of any size: Nhulunbuy, Katherine and Tennant Creek. It is hard to imagine that only 215,000 people live in Australia's 3rd largest state. Indigenous people make up a little over 30 % of the population in the Northern Territory.

Size: 1,346,200 km², that's 15,52 % of Australia, or the 3rd largest state.

Population: 215,000, 115,000 people live in the capital, and 26,000 in Alice Springs.

Capital: Darwin

Highest Point: Mt. Zeil 1509 m

Floral emblem: Sturt's desert rose

Fauna emblem: Red Kangaroo and Wedge-tailed Eagle

Highest temperature: 48,3°C at Finke on 2 January 1960

Lowest temperature: -7,5°C at Alice Springs on 12 July 1976

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Australian Capital Territory - The Capital

The Australian Capital Territory is an enclave within New South Wales, surrounded by bushland. The sole purpose for its existence was an own territory for Australia's capital Canberra. The additional small territory that belongs to the ACT is at Jervis Bay to give the national capital access to the sea.

Read more about the Australian Capital territory on Katrin's Gondwananet website.

Size: 2,358 km², and the Jervis Bay Territory 73 km², together that's 0,032 % of Australia.

Population: 336,400, 334,000 people live in the capital.

Capital: Canberra, which is also national capital of Australia.

Highest Point: Bimberi Peak 1912 m

Floral emblem: Roayl Bluebell

Fauna emblem: Gang Gang Cockatoo

Highest temperature: 42,8°C at Acton on 11 January 1939

Lowest temperature: -14,6°C at Gudgenby on 11 July 1971

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Statistics on this facts about Australia page are from Wikipedia and the Readers Digest Book of Australian facts. I don't update the numbers on a regular base, they should just give you an impression about the size of Australian states and population density.

Looking for more facts about Australia or the Australian Outback? Please use the search box on the top of the right column on this page, or use the links you find below the box.
Don't hesitate to contact me with any question you have. I am looking forward hearing from you.

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