Misplaced Pages

Territorial evolution of Australia

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Nudge67 (talk | contribs) at 23:19, 4 August 2007 (Former External Territories). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Revision as of 23:19, 4 August 2007 by Nudge67 (talk | contribs) (Former External Territories)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
This article is an orphan, as no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from related articles; try the Find link tool for suggestions. (November 2006)

This is a list of the evolution of the borders of Australia. It lists each change to the internal and external borders of the country.


Pre-Federation

1788

The colony of New South Wales is founded. New South Wales, according to Arthur Phillip's amended Commission dated 25 April 1787, includes "all the islands adjacent in the Pacific Ocean" and running westward to the 135th meridian. These islands included the current islands of New Zealand, which was administered as part of New South Wales.

File:Australian states history 02.gif
1825

New South Wales's western border is extended to 129° E. In the same year Van Diemen's Land was proclaimed.

File:Australian states history 03.gif
1829

Swan River Colony is declared by Charles Fremantle for Britain.

File:Australian states history 04.gif
1832

Swan River Colony has its name changed to Western Australia.

File:Australian states history 05.gif
1836

South Australia is proclaimed with its western border at 132° E.

1840

New Zealand is proclaimed. Although not represented on a map here, New South Wales was significantly reduced in size by this proclamation.

1846

The colony of North Australia was proclaimed by Letters Patent on 17 February. This was all of New South Wales north of 26° S.

1846

The colony of North Australia was revoked in December 1846.

File:Australian states history 08.gif
1851

Victoria is proclaimed.

1859

Van Diemen's Land name changed to Tasmania.

1859

Queensland is proclaimed with its western border at 141° E.

1860

South Australia border changed from 132° E to 129° E.

1862

Queensland's western border is moved to 139° E.

1863

That part of New South Wales to the north of South Australia was annexed to South Australia by Letters Patent.

Post-Federation

January 1 1901

The Commonwealth of Australia was formed, uniting the British colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. Note that the Northern Territory was under South Australian administration at Federation.

January 1 1911

The Federal Capital Territory was created within New South Wales, and the Northern Territory was split off from South Australia.

July 12 1915

The coastal area now known as the Jervis Bay Territory is added to the Federal Capital Territory.

March 1 1927

The Northern Territory was split into the territories of North Australia and Central Australia.

File:Australian states history 17.gif
June 12 1931

North Australia and Central Australia were reunited as the Northern Territory.

File:Australian states history 18.gif
July 29 1938

The Federal Capital Territory's name is changed to the Australian Capital Territory.

File:Australian states history 19.gif
May 11 1989

The Jervis Bay Territory becomes Australia's third mainland territory when the Australian Capital Territory is granted self government.

External Territories

July 1 1914Norfolk Island is transferred from New South Wales to the Commonwealth of Austalia
July 23 1931 - Ashmore Island and the Cartier Islands are transferred from Britain to Australia
June 13 1933 – The Australian Antarctic Territory is transferred from Britain
June 26 1947Heard Island and the McDonald Islands are transferred from Brtiain
November 23 1955 - The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are transferred from Singapore to Australia
October 1 1958 - Christmas Island is transferred from Britain
September 30 1969 - The Coral Sea Islands Territory is transferred from Queensland to the Commonwealth of Australia

Former External Territories

See also

External links

  1. Acting under instructions from England, Captain Freemantle took possession of the Swan River, to found a new colony; and formally laid claim to "all that part of New Holland which is not included within the territory of New South Wales".
Categories: