Australian Capital Territory

Australian Capital Territory (ACT), chiefly the site of Canberra (population 309,500 as at 16/10/2004), Australia's capital city, is situated between the country's two largest and rival cities, Melbourne and Sydney.

Description

The ACT is wholly surrounded by the state of New South Wales.

For administrative purposes, the ACT also incorporates Australia's uninhabited external territories. Attempts have also been made to incorporate Norfolk Island within the Australian Capital Territory for the purposes of representation in Federal Parliament.

The area and population is quite similar to the nation of Luxembourg but the pattern of settlement is very different.

In Australia's Federal Parliament, the ACT is represented by four members (two senators, and two members of the Australian House of Representatives).

It is governed internally by a Ministry headed by a Chief Minister (currently Jon Stanhope, Australian Labor Party). Laws are made in a 17-member Legislative Assembly that has all state and local government functions. However, its decisions can be overruled by the Federal Government. (see also Electoral systems of the Australian states and territories)

Unlike other self-governing Australian territories (eg Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands), the ACT does not have an Administrator.

Sites, places, and activities

Tidbinbilla is a locality within the ACT, to the south-west of Canberra that features the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and the site of the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex (CDSCC) (http://www.cdscc.nasa.gov), operated by NASA as part of its Deep Space Network. (Other stations are at Madrid (Spain) and Goldstone at Barstow, California.)

Apart from Canberra, there is some agricultural land (sheep, dairy cattle, some vineyards and a very small area of crops), and a large area of national park (Namadgi National Park), much of it mountainous and forested. Small townships located within the ACT include Williamsdale, Naas, Tharwa and Hall.

History

The area now known as the ACT was inhabited by three Aboriginal tribes from about the 11th century onwards. These were the Ngunnawal, Walgalu and Ngarigo tribes.

White exploration and settlement there did not occur until the 1820s. From 1824 onwards, settlements and homesteads, and ultimately some small townships such as Hall and Tharwa, were established in the future ACT.

One homestead of special historical interest was Lambrigg, near Tharwa. Thiswas the place in which William Farrer developed the rust-resistant Federation wheat strain that had a major beneficial effect on Australia's wheat industry. Farrer died at Lambrigg in 1906.

When the constitution for the Commonwealth of Australia was being negotiated between the colonies, Melbourne and Sydney each wanted to become the capital. As a compromise, it was agreed that the capital would initially be Melbourne, until a new capital city could be built. When finally agreed, the Constitution specified that the new capital city would be located in territory taken from New South Wales, but be at least 100 statute miles from Sydney.

The present site was chosen in 1908, with additional territory at Jervis Bay (now a naval base on the NSW coast) allocated so the national capital could have a sea port. In 1910 the Australian Capital Territory was ceded by act of Federal Parliament in Melbourne. The politician King O'Malley responsible for the legislation creating the ACT, also passed a law later that year making the ACT an alcohol-free area. In 1911 an international design competition was held, which was won by Walter Burley Griffin. The official naming of Canberra and its official construction began on march 12, 1913.

The Federal Government officially moved there from Melbourne, with that city relinquishing the title of Capital City of Australia, on the formal opening of the Provisional Parliament House on 9 May 1927. Amongst the new parliament's first acts was the repealing of the prohibition laws. At first the Public Service continued to be administered from Melbourne, but the various departments were gradually moved to Canberra over the years.

The territory was initially known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In 1938, the territory was formally named the Australian Capital Territory.

It gained self-government in 1988.

External links

• The ACT Government website (http://www.act.gov.au/index.jsp)

Australia
States and mainland territories
Australian Capital Territory | New South Wales | Northern Territory | Queensland | South Australia | Tasmania | Victoria | Western Australia
Jervis Bay Territory
External territories
Ashmore and Cartier Islands | Australian Antarctic Territory | Christmas Island | Cocos (Keeling) Islands | Coral Sea Islands | Heard Island and McDonald Islands | Norfolk Island

lt:Australijos sostinės teritorija nl:Australisch Hoofdstedelijk Territorium

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