Australian Capital Territory 1944 224818360 2008-07-10T15:35:25Z 193.214.122.25 -typo {{Australia state or territory |Name = Australian Capital Territory |Fullname = Australian Capital Territory |Flag = Flag of the Australian Capital Territory.svg |the = the |CoatOfArms = Canberra COA.gif |Map = Australian Capital Territory locator-MJC.png |Motto = For the Queen, the Law and the People |Nickname = "The Nations Heart" or "The Capital" |Emblems = The floral emblem of the ACT is the Royal Bluebell and the faunal emblem is the Gang-gang cockatoo |Emblem_title1 = Floral |Emblem1 = [[Royal Bluebell]]<ref name="bluebell" /> |Emblem_title2 = Faunal |Emblem2 = [[Gang-gang cockatoo]]<ref name="cockatoo" /> |Emblem_title3 = [[Australian state colours|Colours]] |Emblem3 = Blue and Gold<ref>http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/communication/flags}</ref> |Emblem_title4 = |Emblem4 = |Emblem_title5 = |Emblem5 = |Emblem_title6 = |Emblem6 = |Capital = [[Canberra]] |ChiefType = Chief Minister |Chief = [[Jon Stanhope]] |ChiefParty = [[Australian Labor Party|ALP]] |Viceroy = [[Governor General of Australia]] |ViceroyType = Administrator |PostalAbbreviation = ACT |EntityAdjective = Territorial |GSP = $20,985<ref>[http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mf/5220.0 Australian National Accounts: State Accounts, 2006-07]</ref> |GSPYear = 2006-07 |GSPRank = 6<sup>th</sup> |GSPPerCapita = $62,793 |GSPPerCapitaRank = 2<sup>nd</sup> |AreaRank = 8<sup>th</sup> |TotalArea = 2358 |LandArea = 2280 <!-- 2358 x (100-3.29)% --> |WaterArea = 77.6 <!-- 2358 x (100-3.29)% --> |HighestPoint = [[Bimberi Peak]] |HighestElev = 1,912 m |HighestElev_ft = 6,273 |LowestPoint = [[Murrumbidgee River]] |LowestElev = 429 m |LowestElev_ft = 1,407 |PercentWater = 3.29 |PopulationRank = 7<sup>th</sup> |Population = 339,900 |PopulationYear = End of June 2007 |DensityRank = 1<sup>st</sup> |Density = 144.15 |TimeZone = [[UTC10|UTC+10]] ([[UTC11|+11]] [[Daylight Saving Time|DST]]) |HouseSeats = 2 |SenateSeats = 2 |ISOCode = AU-CT |Website = www.act.gov.au }} The '''Australian Capital Territory''' (ACT) is the [[capital territory]] of the [[Australia|Commonwealth of Australia]] and its smallest [[States and territories of Australia|self-governing internal territory]]. It is an inland [[enclave]] in [[New South Wales]], situated in [[The Bush|bushland]]. The ACT was conceived during the federation conventions of the late 19th century as neutral location for a new national capital. The [[Constitution of Australia|Australian Constitution]] provided that following [[Federation of Australia|Federation]] in 1901, land would be ceded to the new [[Government of Australia|Federal Government]]. The territory was transferred to the commonwealth by the state of New South Wales in 1911, and construction of the capital, [[Canberra]], began in 1913. The [[List of Australian floral emblems|floral emblem]] of the ACT is the [[Wahlenbergia gloriosa|Royal Bluebell]] and the faunal emblem is the [[Gang-gang cockatoo]].<ref name="bluebell"> {{cite web |url = http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/act.emblem.html |title = Floral Emblem of the ACT |accessdate = 2007-05-27 |author = Boden, Anne |date = 2007-05-23}}</ref><ref name="cockatoo"> {{Cite web |title = Australian Capital Territory |url = http://www.parliament.curriculum.edu.au/act.php3#symbol |accessdate = 2007-05-27}}</ref> ==History== {{main|History of the Australian Capital Territory}} Before European settlement the area now known as the ACT was inhabited by three [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal tribes]]: the [[Ngunnawal people|Ngunnawal]], [[Walgalu]], and [[Ngarigo]]. White exploration and settlement did not occur until the 1820s. From 1824 onwards, settlements and homesteads, and ultimately some small townships such as [[Hall, Australian Capital Territory|Hall]] and [[Tharwa, Australian Capital Territory|Tharwa]], were established in the area. One homestead of special historical interest was Lambrigg, near Tharwa. This was the place in which [[William Farrer]] developed the [[rust (fungus)|rust]]-resistant Federation [[wheat]] strain that had a major beneficial effect on Australia's wheat industry. When the [[Constitution of Australia|constitution]] for the [[Commonwealth of Australia]] was being negotiated between the colonies, a point of contention between the colonies was the location of the national capital, with both [[Melbourne]] and [[Sydney]] claiming the right to be the capital. A compromise was reached whereby a separate capital city would be created in New South Wales, provided it was no closer than {{convert|100|mi|km}} to Sydney. Until such time as the new city was established, Melbourne was to be the temporary capital of Australia. The present site was chosen in 1908,<ref>[http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item.asp?dID=110 National Archives of Australia - Seat of Government Act 1908 (Cth)]</ref> with additional territory at [[Jervis Bay Territory|Jervis Bay]] (now a naval base on the New South Wales coast) allocated so the national capital could have a seaport. In 1909 New South Wales transferred the land for the territory to federal control and in 1910 an act of parliament created the legal framework for the territory.<ref>[http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item.asp?sdID=93 National Archives of Australia - Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909 (Cth)]</ref><ref>[http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item.asp?dID=111 National Archives of Australia - Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910 (Cth)]</ref> [[The Minister for Home Affairs]], [[King O'Malley]], who had charge of the [[legislation]] creating the ACT, also proposed a bill making the ACT an alcohol-free area. With his strong support, the bill became law later that year, though it was shortly thereafter repealed. O'Malley also pushed for a form of land tenure that restricted land holders to [[leasehold]], rather than [[Freehold (real property)|freehold]], on the basis that this would stop land speculation and give the national government, as the lessor, more control over development. This too was adopted by the national Parliament. As of 2006 all land in the ACT is held on 99 year crown leases. In 1911 an international competition was held; the winner, who would design and name Canberra, was American architect [[Walter Burley Griffin]].<ref name="burleygriffin"> {{cite web |url = http://naa.naa.gov.au/Publications/fact_sheets/FS95.html |title = National Archives of Australia - Walter Burley Griffin and the Design of Canberra |accessdate = 2007-05-27}}</ref> The official naming of Canberra and its official construction began on [[March 12]], [[1913]]. The seat of the Federal Government officially moved to the ACT from Melbourne on the formal opening of the [[Provisional Parliament House]] on [[9 May]] [[1927]]. Among the first acts passed by the parliament in it's new location was the repealing of the [[prohibition laws]]. At first the public service continued to be based in [[Melbourne]], but the various departments were gradually moved to [[Canberra]] over many years. The territory was initially known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In 1938, the territory was formally renamed the Australian Capital Territory.<ref name="fct"> {{Cite web |url = http://www.parliament.curriculum.edu.au/act.php3#how |title = Parliaments At Work - How |accessdate = 2007-05-27}}</ref> In a 1978 [[referendum]], Canberrans rejected self-government by 63% of the vote. <ref>[http://www.parliament.curriculum.edu.au/act.php3 Parliament@Work - At a Glance Australian Capital Territory]</ref> Despite this, in December 1988, the ACT was granted full self-government through an Act of the Commonwealth Parliament that made the ACT a body politic under the crown.<ref>[http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item.asp?dID=118 National Archives of Australia - Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth)]</ref> Following the first elections in February 1989, a 17-member Legislative Assembly sat at its offices in London Circuit, Civic, on [[May 11]], [[1989]]. The [[Australian Labor Party]] formed the ACT's first government, led by the Chief Minister [[Rosemary Follett]], who made history as Australia's first female head of government. ==Geography== [[Image:ACT-Jervis Bay-Sydney-MJC.png|left|thumb|125px|Location of the ACT and Jervis Bay]] The ACT is bounded by the [[Goulburn]]-[[Cooma]] railway line in the east, the [[Drainage divide|watershed]] of [[Naas Creek]] in the south, the watershed of the [[Cotter River]] in the west, and the watershed of the [[Molonglo River]] in the north-east. Apart from the city of Canberra, the Australian Capital Territory also contains agricultural land ([[domestic sheep|sheep]], [[dairy cattle]], [[vineyard]]s and small amounts of crops) and a large area of national park ([[Namadgi National Park]]), much of it mountainous and forested. Small townships and communities located within the ACT include [[Williamsdale, New South Wales|Williamsdale]], [[Naas, Australian Capital Territory|Naas]], [[Uriarra, Australian Capital Territory|Uriarra]], [[Tharwa, Australian Capital Territory|Tharwa]] and [[Hall, Australian Capital Territory|Hall]]. Tidbinbilla is a locality to the south-west of Canberra that features the [[Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve]] and the [[Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex]], operated by the United States’ [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] as part of its [[Deep Space Network]]. There are a large range of mountains, rivers and creeks in the Namadgi National Park. These include the Naas and Murrumbidgee Rivers. In 1915 the ''[[Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915]]'' created the [[Jervis Bay Territory]] as an annexe to the Australian Capital Territory. In 1988, when the ACT gained self-government, Jervis Bay became a separate territory administered by the Minister for Territories. {{seealso|Fauna of the Australian Capital Territory|Flora of the Australian Capital Territory}} ===Climate=== Because of its elevation (650 m) and distance from the coast, the Australian Capital Territory experiences four distinct seasons, unlike many other Australian cities whose climates are moderated by the sea. Canberra is notorious for hot, dry summers, and cold winters with occasional [[fog]] and frequent [[frost]]s. Many of the higher mountains in the territory’s south-west are snow-covered for at least part of the winter. [[Thunderstorm]]s can occur between October and March, and annual rainfall is 623&nbsp;[[millimetre]]s (24.5&nbsp;in), with rainfall highest in spring and summer and lowest in winter. The highest maximum temperature recorded int he ACT was 42.8&nbsp;°C (109.0&nbsp;°F) at [[Acton, Australian Capital Territory|Acton]] on [[11 January]] [[1939]]. The lowest minimum temperature was −14.6&nbsp;°C (5.7&nbsp;°F) at [[Gudgenby, Australian Capital Territory|Gudgenby]] on [[11 July]] [[1971]]<ref>[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]], [http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/b5186097bad6b76cca256b3400819cd1 2002 Yearbook of Australia], retrieved [[22 July]] [[2007]]</ref> ===Geology=== {{main|Geology of the Australian Capital Territory}} Notable geological formations in the Australian Capital Territory include the ''Canberra Formation'', the ''Pittman Formation'', ''Black Mountain Sandstone'' and ''State Circle Shale''. In the 1840s [[fossil]]s of [[brachiopod]]s and [[trilobite]]s from the [[Silurian]] period were discovered at Woolshed Creek near [[Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory|Duntroon]]. At the time, these were the oldest fossils discovered in Australia, though this record has now been far surpassed.<ref>[http://www.environment.act.gov.au/Files/heritageregister20010.pdf ACT Heritage Register — Woolshed Creek Fossil Site]</ref> Other specific geological places of interest include the State Circle cutting and the Deakin anticline.<ref>[http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105733 Australian Heritage Database — State Circle Cutting]</ref><ref>[http://www.act.nationaltrust.org.au/places/deak-anti.html National Trust of Australia — Deakin Anticline]</ref> The oldest rocks in the ACT date from the [[Ordovician]] around 480 million years ago. During this period the region along with most of Eastern Australia was part of the ocean floor; formations from this period include the ''Black Mountain Sandstone'' formation and the ''Pittman Formation'' consisting largely of [[quartz]]-rich [[sandstone]], [[siltstone]] and [[shale]]. These formations became exposed when the ocean floor was raised by a major [[orogeny|volcanic activity]] in the [[Devonian]] forming much of the east coast of Australia. ==Governance== {{see also|Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly}} [[Image:ACT Legislative Assembly.JPG|thumb|The ACT Legislative Assembly building]] The ACT has internal self-government, but it does not have the full legislative independence of the Australian states. It is governed by a Ministry headed by a Chief Minister (currently [[Jon Stanhope]], [[Australian Labor Party]]). Laws are made in a 17-member [[Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] that has all state and local government functions. However, its decisions can be overruled by the Australian Governor-General (effectively the national government) under section 35 of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988. (See also [[Electoral systems of the Australian states and territories]]). The ACT Government is a member of the [[Council of Australian Governments]]. Unlike other self-governing Australian territories (e.g. [[Norfolk Island]], [[Northern Territory]]), the ACT does not have an Administrator. The Crown is represented by the [[Governor-General of Australia]] in the government of the ACT. The Chief Minister performs many of the roles that a state governor normally holds in the context of a state, however the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly gazettes the laws and summons meetings of the Assembly. ACT Ministers implement their executive powers through the following government departments and agencies: *[[Australian Capital Territory Health|ACT Health]] and *[[Australian Capital Territory Planning and Land Authority|ACT Planning and Land Authority]] *the [[Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister's Department|Chief Minister's Department]] *the [[Australian Capital Territory Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services|Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services]] *the [[Australian Capital Territory Department of Education and Training|Department of Education and Training]] *the [[Australian Capital Territory Department of Justice and Community Safety|Department of Justice and Community Safety]] *the [[Australian Capital Territory Department of Territory and Municipal Services|Department of Territory and Municipal Services]] In Australia's [[Parliament of Australia|Federal Parliament]], the ACT is represented by four federal members: two members of the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]; the [[Division of Fraser]] and the [[Division of Canberra]] and is one of only two territories to be represented in the Senate with two [[Australian Senate|Senators]]. The Member for Fraser and the ACT Senators also represent the (small number of) voters from the [[Jervis Bay Territory]]. ==Demographics== In the 2006 census the population of the ACT was 333,667, of which only 869 were outside Canberra. The ACT median weekly income for people aged over 15 was in the range $600-$699 while the population living outside Canberra was at the national average of $400-$499. The average level of degree qualification in the ACT is higher than the national average. Within the ACT 4.5% of the population have a postgraduate degree compared to 1.8% across the whole of Australia. ==Education== {{main|Education in the Australian Capital Territory}} [[Image:Canberra school of art.JPG|right|thumb|[[Australian National University|ANU]] school of art, originally built as [[Canberra High School]]]] Almost all educational institutions in the Australian Capital Territory are located within [[Canberra]]. The ACT public education system schooling is normally split up into [[Pre-School]], [[Primary School]] (K-6), [[High School]] (7-10) and [[College#Australia|College]] (11-12) followed by studies at [[university]] or [[TAFE]]. Many private high schools include years 11 and 12 and are referred to as colleges. Children are required to attend school until they turn 16 years old. In February 2004 there were 140 [[List of schools in the Australian Capital Territory|public and non-governmental schools]] in Canberra; 96 were operated by the Government and 44 are non-Government.<ref>Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2005. [http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/849f25e83fc56ff2ca257079007b87c6!OpenDocument Schools in the ACT]</ref> In 2005 there were 60,275 students in the ACT school system. 59.3% of the students were enrolled in government schools with the remaining 40.7% in non-government schools. There were 30,995 students in primary school, 19,211 in high school, 9,429 in college and a further 340 in special schools. <ref>ACT Department of Education and Training. 2005. [http://www.decs.act.gov.au/publicat/pdf/ACT_Gov_NonGov_Enrol_1995_2005.pdf Enrolments in ACT Schools 1995 to 2005]</ref> As of May 2004, 30% of people in the ACT aged 15&ndash;64 had a level of educational attainment equal to at least an [[bachelor's degree]], significantly higher that the national average of 19%. <ref>Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2005. [http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/71bcf1841bfa37f9ca256f84007c28f5!OpenDocument Education in the ACT]</ref> The two main tertiary institutions are the [[Australian National University]] (ANU) in [[Acton, Australian Capital Territory|Acton]] and the [[University of Canberra]] (UC) in [[Bruce, Australian Capital Territory|Bruce]]. There are also two religious university campuses in Canberra: Signadou is a campus of the [[Australian Catholic University]] and St Mark's Theological College is a campus of [[Charles Sturt University]]. The [[Australian International Hotel School]] offers degree and diploma level courses and operates the [[Hotel Kurrajong]] in [[Barton, Australian Capital Territory|Barton]]. Tertiary level vocational education is also available through the multi-campus [[Canberra Institute of Technology]]. The [[Australian Defence Force Academy]] (ADFA) and the [[Royal Military College, Duntroon]] (RMC) are in the suburb of [[Campbell, Australian Capital Territory|Campbell]] in Canberra's inner northeast. ADFA teaches [[military]] [[undergraduate]]s and [[Quaternary education|postgraduates]] and is officially a [[campus]] of the [[University of New South Wales]] while Duntroon provides [[Australian Army]] [[Officer (armed forces)|Officer]] [[training]]. The [[Academy of Interactive Entertainment]] (AIE) offers courses in computer game development and 3D animation. ==References== {{sisterlinks|Australian Capital Territory}} {{reflist}} <br />{{States and territories of Australia}} {{CoorHeader|35|18|25|S|149|07|27.47|E|type:city}} [[Category:Australian Capital Territory| ]] [[Category:Capital districts and territories]] [[bg:Австралийска столична територия]] [[ca:Territori de la Capital Australiana]] [[cs:Teritorium hlavního města Austrálie]] [[cy:Tiriogaeth Prifddinas Awstralia]] [[da:Australian Capital Territory]] [[de:Australian Capital Territory]] [[et:Austraalia pealinna ala]] [[es:Territorio de la Capital Australiana]] [[eu:Australiako Hiriburuaren Lurraldea]] [[fr:Territoire de la capitale australienne]] [[gl:Territorio da Capital Australiana]] [[ko:오스트레일리아 수도 준주]] [[hr:Teritorij australskog glavnog grada]] [[id:Teritorial Ibu Kota Australia]] [[is:Höfuðborgarsvæði Ástralíu]] [[it:Australian Capital Territory]] [[he:טריטוריית הבירה האוסטרלית]] [[pam:Australian Capital Territory]] [[ka:ფედერალური ტერიტორია (ავსტრალია)]] [[la:Territorium Capitale Australianum]] [[lb:Australeschen Haaptstadterritoire]] [[lt:Australijos sostinės teritorija]] [[nl:Australisch Hoofdstedelijk Territorium]] [[ja:オーストラリア首都特別地域]] [[no:Australian Capital Territory]] [[nn:Australian Capital Territory]] [[oc:Territòri de la capitala australiana]] [[pl:Australijskie Terytorium Stołeczne]] [[pt:Território da Capital da Austrália]] [[ro:Australian Capital Territory]] [[rm:Territori da la chapitala australiana]] [[ru:Австралийская столичная территория]] [[scn:Australian Capital Territory]] [[simple:Australian Capital Territory]] [[sk:Teritórium austrálskeho hlavného mesta]] [[sr:Аустралијска Престоничка Територија]] [[fi:Australian Capital Territory]] [[sv:Australian Capital Territory]] [[ta:ஆஸ்திரேலிய தலைநகரப் பிரதேசம்]] [[uk:Австралійська столична територія]] [[zh:澳大利亞首都特區]]