View source for Australian Capital Territory

{{Short description|Territory of Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox political division
| name = Australian Capital Territory
| native_name = 
| settlement_type = [[States and territories of Australia|Territory]]
| image_flag = Flag of the Australian Capital Territory.svg
| flag_size = 130px
| flag_link = Flag of the Australian Capital Territory
| image_seal = Coat of Arms of the Australian Capital Territory.svg
| seal_size = 100px
| seal_type = Coat of arms
| seal_link = Coat of arms of the Australian Capital Territory
| motto = For the King, the Law, and the People
| nicknames = {{hlist|Capital Territory|The Territory (local){{efn|name = Capital Territory|The terms "nation's capital" and "Bush Capital" relate to Canberra city, not the whole ACT.}}<ref>{{cite book |last1 = J. Baker |first1=Sidney |title=The Australian Language |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.58344/page/n1/mode/2up|publisher=[[Angus & Robertson]] |publication-date=1945 |page=186 |isbn=0-908-00106-1}}</ref>}}
| image_map = {{Australian state map|Map=Australian Capital Territory in Australia.svg|align=center|border=none|width=300px}}
| map_caption = Location of ACT in Australia<br />{{Coord|35|18|29|S|149|07|28|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Australia
| established_title = Transferred to Commonwealth
| established_date = 1 January 1911
| established_title2 = [[Responsible government]]
| established_date2 = 1988
| largest_city = [[Canberra]]
| leader_title1 = [[King of Australia|Monarch]]
| leader_name1 = [[Charles III]]
| legislature = [[Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly]]
| judiciary = [[Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory]] 
| national_representation = [[Parliament of Australia]]
| national_representation_type1 = [[Australian Senate|Senate]]
| national_representation1 = [[List of senators from the Australian Capital Territory|2 senators]] (of 76)
| national_representation_type2 = [[House of Representatives (Australia)|House of Representatives]]
| national_representation2 = [[List of electoral divisions in the Australian Capital Territory|3 seats]] (of 150)
| area_km2 = 2358
| area_land_km2 = 2358
| area_water_km2 = 0
| area_rank = 8th
| area_rank_link = States and territories of Australia#Statistics
| elevation_max_m = 1912
| elevation_max_point = [[Bimberi Peak]]
| elevation_min_m = 429
| elevation_min_point = [[Murrumbidgee River]]
| population_estimate = 475,600<ref name=ABSPop>{{cite web|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/national-state-and-territory-population/latest-release|title=National, state and territory population – September 2024|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|date=20 March 2025|access-date=23 March 2025}}</ref>
| population_estimate_rank = 7th
| population_rank_link = States and territories of Australia#Statistics
| population_estimate_year = September 2024
| population_density_km2 = 201.7
| population_density_sq_mi =
| population_density_rank = 1st
| population_density_rank_link = States and territories of Australia#Statistics
| GDP_nominal = AU$53.253&nbsp;billion<ref name="gspref">{{cite web |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/national-accounts/australian-national-accounts-state-accounts/latest-release |title=5220.0 – Australian National Accounts: State Accounts |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |date=20 November 2024 |access-date=23 March 2025}}</ref>
| GDP_nominal_type = [[List of Australian states and territories by gross state product|GSP]]
| GDP_nominal_year = 2024
| GDP_nominal_rank = 6th
| GDP_nominal_rank_link = List of Australian states and territories by gross state product
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = AU$112,324
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 3rd
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank_link = List of Australian states and territories by gross state product
| HDI = 0.976<!--number only-->
| HDI_year = 2022<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change = increase
| HDI_ref =<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{cite web |url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/ |title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database  |website=Global Data Lab |language=en |access-date=2024-10-06}}</ref>
| HDI_rank = 1st
| HDI_rank_link = List of Australian states and territories by Human Development Index
| timezone = [[Australian Eastern Standard Time|AEST]]
| utc_offset = +10:00
| timezone_DST = [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = +11:00
| calling_code =
| postal_code_type = [[Postcodes in Australia#Allocation|Postal abbreviation]]
| postal_code = ACT
| website = {{URL|act.gov.au}}
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:AU|AU–ACT]]
{{Infobox place symbols 
| embedded = Yes
| mammal = [[Brush-tailed rock-wallaby|Southern brush-tailed rock-wallaby]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/communication/flags |title=ACT Flags and Emblems |website=Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate |date=20 September 2019 |access-date=6 November 2019 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109030011/https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/communication/flags |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| bird = [[Gang-gang cockatoo]]<ref name="cockatoo">
{{cite web |title=Australian Capital Territory |url=http://www.parliament.curriculum.edu.au/act.php3#symbol |access-date=27 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070305082719/http://www.parliament.curriculum.edu.au/act.php3#symbol |archive-date=5 March 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy}}</ref>
| flower = [[Wahlenbergia gloriosa|Royal bluebell]]<ref name="bluebell">
{{cite web |url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/act.emblem.html |title=Floral Emblem of the ACT |access-date=27 May 2007 |author=Boden, Anne |date=23 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070601054959/http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/act.emblem.html |archive-date=1 June 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| colour = Blue and gold<ref>{{cite web |author=Time to Talk Canberra |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/communication/flags |title=ACT Flags and Emblems |publisher=CMD.act.gov.au |access-date=17 July 2016 |archive-date=28 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028030719/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/communication/flags |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}
| demonym=Territorian

{{efn|name=Territorian|Residents of all three Australian internal territories are referred to as "Territorians"

<ref>
{{cite web
|url=https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/JennyMcAllister/Pages/17-million-act-disaster-ready-fund-round-two.aspx 
|title=Media Release, Minister for Home Affairs 
|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia
|date=28 August 2024 
|accessdate=29 December 2024
|quote="'''Territorians''' will be better prepared for and protected ...  with the ACT ..."
}}
</ref>

<ref>
{{cite web 
|url=https://www.courts.act.gov.au/magistrates/about-the-courts/history-of-the-court 
|title=ACT Magistrates Court
|date=13 December 2019
|publisher=Australian Capital Territory Government
|access-date=29 December 2024 
|quote="Prior to the Court's opening in November 1930, '''Territorians''' were required to travel inter-state ..."
}}
</ref>

<ref>
{{cite web 
|url=https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/cabinet-decisions/decisions/2023,-week-of/24-april-2023 
|title=ACT Government, Open Government
|date=17 August 2023
|publisher=Australian Capital Territory Government
|access-date=29 December 2024 
|quote="the Biosecurity Bill 2023 will provide a safer environment for '''Territorians'''
}}
</ref>

<ref>
{{cite web 
|url=https://andrewbarr.com.au/nation-leading-reforms 
|title=ACT Government, Joint statement - ACT and NT call on Attorneys-General to support Territory rights on voluntary assisted dying 
|publisher=Australian Capital Territory Government
|date=12 November 2021 
|access-date=29 December 2024 
|quote="The ACT and NT Governments continue to call for the restoration of democratic rights to '''Territorians''' ..." 
}}
</ref>

<ref>
{{cite web 
|url=https://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/bill_em/actaicpb2020920/memo_).html 
|title=Australian Capital Territory (Self-government) Amendment (ACT Integrity Commission Powers) Bill 2020, explanatory memorandum 
|access-date=29 December 2024 
|quote="'''Territorians''' expect proportionate oversight ..." 
}}
</ref>

<ref>
{{cite web 
|url=https://independentsforcanberra.com/240129mr 
|title=Media Release: Party of Independents to Contest 2024 2024 ACT Election 
|access-date=29 December 2024 
|quote="... '''Territorians''' aren't satisfied with the current Labor-Greens Government ..."
}}
</ref>

<ref>
{{cite web 
|url=https://andrewbarr.com.au/nation-leading-reforms 
|title=ACT Chief Minister, Nation leading reforms
|last1 = Barr 
|first1=Andrew 
|access-date=29 December 2024 
|quote="Find out more about how we restored rights for '''Territorians'''." }}
</ref>

<ref>
{{cite web 
|url=https://davidpocock.com.au/ending_canberrans_status_as_second_class_citizens 
|title=Media Release, Ending Canberrans' status as second class citizens 
|last1 = Pocock 
|first1=David 
|date=14 March 2022 
|access-date=29 December 2024 
|quote="...whatever your views may be regarding specific pieces of legislation, '''Territorians''' should have the right to debate them..."
}}
</ref>

<ref>
{{cite web 
|url=https://greens.org.au/act/news/media-release/after-26-years-territorians-have-their-rights-restored 
|title=Greens ACT media release, After 26 years '''Territorians''' have their rights restored 
|date=1 December 2022
|access-date=29 December 2024
}}
</ref>

<ref>
{{cite web 
|url=https://hia.com.au/our-industry/newsroom/planning-and-environment/2024/08/territory-plan-not-delivering-for-a-growing-act-population 
|title=Territory plan not delivering for a growing ACT population 
|date=16 August 2024 
|publisher=Housing Industry Association Limited
|access-date=29 December 2024 
|quote="... locking more and more '''Territorians''' out of the market ..."
}}
</ref>

<ref>
{{cite web 
|url=https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/1257330/territorians 
|title=Territorians 
|publisher=Western Sydney Football Club Limited 
|date=12 December 2022 
|access-date=29 December 2024 
|quote="The '''Territorians''' is a unique coterie group for our most valued ACT supporters."
}}
</ref>
}}

|capital=[[Canberra]]|leader_title2=[[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General]]|leader_name2=[[Sam Mostyn]]|leader_title3=[[Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory|Chief Minister]]|leader_name3=[[Andrew Barr]] ([[Australian Labor Party (Australian Capital Territory Branch)|ALP]])}}

The '''Australian Capital Territory''' ('''ACT'''), known as the '''Federal Capital Territory''' until 1938, is an internal [[States and territories of Australia|territory]] of Australia. [[Canberra]], the capital city of Australia, is situated within the territory, and is the territory's [[primate city]]. It is located in southeastern [[Australian mainland]] as an [[enclave and exclave|enclave]] surrounded by the state of [[New South Wales]] (NSW). Exclaved from NSW after [[Federation of Australia|federation]] as the [[seat of government]] for the new nation, the territory hosts [[Parliament House, Canberra|parliament house]], [[High Court of Australia]] and the head offices of many [[Australian Government]] agencies.

On 1 January 1901, [[Federation of Australia|federation of the colonies]] of Australia was achieved. Section 125 of the new [[Constitution of Australia|Australian Constitution]] provided that land, situated in New South Wales and at least {{cvt|100|miles|km}} from [[Sydney]], would be ceded to the new [[Government of Australia|federal government]]. Following discussion and exploration of various areas within New South Wales, the ''[[Seat of Government Act 1908]]'' was passed in 1908 which specified a capital in the Yass-Canberra region. The territory was transferred to the federal government by [[New South Wales]] in 1911, two years prior to the capital city being founded and formally named as Canberra in 1913.

While the overwhelming majority of the territory population resides in the city of [[Canberra]] in the territory's north-east, the territory also includes some towns such as [[Williamsdale, Australian Capital Territory|Williamsdale]], [[Oaks Estate, Australian Capital Territory|Oaks Estate]], [[Uriarra, Australian Capital Territory|Uriarra]], [[Tharwa, Australian Capital Territory|Tharwa]] and [[Hall, Australian Capital Territory|Hall]]. The territory also includes the [[Namadgi National Park]], which comprises the majority of land area of the territory. Despite a common misconception, the [[Jervis Bay Territory]] is not part of the ACT, although ACT laws apply in the Jervis Bay Territory.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=https://regional.gov.au/territories/jervis_bay/governanceadministration.aspx |title=Jervis Bay Territory Governance and Administration |website=Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development |language=en-US |access-date=2019-04-08}}</ref> The territory has a relatively dry, continental climate, experiencing warm to hot summers and cool to cold winters.

The territory is home to many important institutions of the federal government, national monuments and museums. These include the [[Parliament of Australia]], the [[High Court of Australia]], the [[National Gallery of Australia]], the [[Australian Defence Force Academy]] and the [[Australian War Memorial]]. It also hosts the majority of foreign embassies in Australia, as well as regional headquarters of many international organisations, not-for-profit groups, lobbying groups and professional associations. Several major universities also have campuses in the territory, including the [[Australian National University]], the [[University of Canberra]], the [[University of New South Wales]], [[Charles Sturt University]] and the [[Australian Catholic University]].

[[Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly|A locally elected legislative assembly]] has governed the territory since 1988. However, the Commonwealth maintains authority over the territory and may disallow or overturn local laws. The Commonwealth maintains control over the area known as the [[Parliamentary Triangle, Canberra|Parliamentary Triangle]] through the [[National Capital Authority]]. Residents of the territory, together with residents of the [[Jervis Bay Territory]] and [[Norfolk Island]], elect three members of the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and two [[Australian Senate|senators]]. While senators who represent Australian states have fixed six year terms, the terms of Territory senators are not fixed but are governed by the opening and dissolution of the [[House of Representatives]].

With 453,324 residents, the territory is the second smallest mainland state or territory by population. At the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the median weekly income for people in the territory aged over 15 was $998, significantly higher than the national median of $662.<ref name="census" /> The average level of degree qualification in the territory is also higher than the national average. Within the territory, 37.1% of the population hold a bachelor's degree level or above education compared to the national figure of 20%.<ref name="census" /> In 2022, the territory recorded the equal fourth highest [[Human Development Index]] score (0.976) [[List of subnational entities with the highest and lowest Human Development Index|out of over 1,700 subnational regions]], coming close to a perfect score of 1.

==History==
{{main|History of the Australian Capital Territory}}

=== Indigenous inhabitants ===
[[Aboriginal Australians|Indigenous Australians]] have long inhabited the area.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |title=Canberra in two centuries: A pictorial history |last=Fitzgerald |first=Alan |publisher=Clareville Press |year=1987 |isbn=0-909278-02-4 |pages=4–5,12,92–93,115,128}}</ref> Evidence indicates habitation dating back at least 25,000 years,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Osborne |first1=Tegan |title=New dating shows 25,000 years of history at Birrigai rock shelter in ACT |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/curious-canberra/2016-04-04/new-research-shows-human-occupation-in-act-extends-25,000-years/7288132 |access-date=20 August 2019 |agency=ABC News |date=5 May 2016}}</ref> and it is possible that the area was inhabited for considerably longer. The principal group occupying the region were the [[Ngunnawal|Ngunnawal people]], with the [[Ngarigo]] and [[Walgalu]] living immediately to the south, the [[Wandandian|Wandadian]] to the east, the [[Gandangara]] to the north and the [[Wiradjuri]] to the north-west.<ref name="Gillespie84">{{cite book |last=Gillespie |first=Lyall |title=Aborigines of the Canberra Region |publisher=Wizard (Lyall Gillespie) |location=Canberra |year=1984 |pages=1–25 |isbn=0-9590255-0-2}}</ref>

=== European colonisation ===
Following European settlement, the growth of the new colony of New South Wales led to an increasing demand for [[arable land]].<ref name="Gillespie84" /> Governor [[Lachlan Macquarie]] supported expeditions to open up new lands to the south of [[Sydney]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |title=Canberra 1820–1913 |last=Gillespie |first=Lyall |publisher=Australian Government Publishing Service |year=1991 |isbn=0-644-08060-4 |pages=3–9,110–111,149,278,303}}</ref> The 1820s saw further exploration in the Canberra area associated with the construction of a road from Sydney to the [[Goulburn]] plains. While working on the project, [[Charles Throsby]] learned of a nearby lake and river from the local Indigenous peoples and he accordingly sent Wild to lead a small party to investigate the site. The search was unsuccessful, but they did discover the [[Yass River]], and it is surmised that they would have set foot on part of the future territory.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |title=Old Canberra and the search for a capital |last=Fitzhardinge |first=L. F. |publisher=Canberra & District Historical Society |year=1975 |isbn=0-909655-02-2 |pages=1–3, 31–32}}</ref>

A second expedition was mounted shortly thereafter, and they became the first Europeans to camp at the [[Molonglo River|Molonglo]] (Ngambri) and [[Queanbeyan River|Queanbeyan]] (Jullergung) Rivers.<ref name=":2" /> However, they failed to find the [[Murrumbidgee River]].<ref name=":4" /> The issue of the Murrumbidgee was solved in 1821 when Throsby mounted a third expedition and successfully reached the watercourse, on the way providing the first detailed account of the land that now comprises the territory.<ref name=":4" /> The last expedition in the region before settlement was undertaken by [[Allan Cunningham (botanist)|Allan Cunningham]] in 1824.<ref name=":2" /> He reported that the region was suitable for grazing and the settlement of the Limestone Plains followed immediately thereafter.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Watson |first=F. |date=1931 |title=Special Article: Canberra Past and Present |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/4e782ee652d0db0aca2569de001fb2dd?OpenDocument |journal=Year Book Australia |access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref>

=== Early settlement ===
[[Image:ACT historic buildings map-MJC2.png|thumb|alt=Map locations concentrated in the northeast and east, west and south largely deserted except for the southern tip|Significant homesteads, structures and settlements in the ACT prior to 1909.]]
The first land grant in the region was made to Joshua John Moore in 1823, and European settlement in the area began in 1824 with the construction of a homestead by his stockmen on what is now the [[Acton Peninsula]].<ref name=":3" /> Moore formally purchased the site in 1826 and named the property ''Canberry'' or ''Canberra''.<ref name=":2" />

A significant influx of population and economic activity occurred around the 1850s [[Australian gold rushes|gold rushes]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/New-South-Wales/Kiandra/2005/02/17/1108500196974.html |title=Kiandra |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=5 February 2005 |access-date=19 February 2010}}</ref> The gold rushes prompted the establishment of communication between Sydney and the region by way of the [[Cobb and Co|Cobb & Co]] coaches, which transported mail and passengers.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |title=Canberra: history of Australia's national capital |last=Wigmore |first=Lionel |publisher=Dalton Publishing Company |year=1971 |isbn=0-909906-06-8 |pages=20,113}}</ref> The first post offices opened in [[Ginninderra]] in 1859 and at Lanyon in 1860.<ref name=":3" />

During colonial times, the European communities of Ginninderra, [[Molonglo Plains|Molonglo]] and Tuggeranong settled and farmed the surrounding land. The region was also called the [[Queanbeyan]]-[[Yass, New South Wales|Yass]] district, after the two largest towns in the area. The villages of Ginninderra and Tharwa developed to service the local agrarian communities.

During the first 20 years of settlement, there was only limited contact between the settlers and Aboriginal people. Over the succeeding years, the Ngunnawal and other local indigenous people effectively ceased to exist as cohesive and independent communities adhering to their traditional ways of life.<ref name=":3" /> Those who had not succumbed to disease and other predations either dispersed to the local settlements or were relocated to more distant [[Aboriginal reserve]]s set up by the New South Wales government in the latter part of the 19th century.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

=== Creation of the territory===
[[Image:Surveyors camp Canberra.jpg|left|thumb|alt=Single wooden cabin and many white tents in open dusty field with single tree in foreground|The Federal Capital survey camp was established c. 1909. An extensive survey of the territory was completed by Charles Scrivener and his team in 1915.]]

In 1898, a referendum on a proposed Constitution was held in four of the colonies – [[New South Wales]], [[South Australia]], [[Tasmania]], and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]. Although the referendum achieved a majority in all four colonies, the New South Wales referendum failed to gain the minimum number of votes needed for the bill to pass. Following this result, a meeting of the four Premiers in 1898 heard from [[George Reid]], the [[Premier of New South Wales]], who argued that locating the future capital in New South Wales would be sufficient to ensure the passage of the Bill. The 1899 referendum on this revised bill was successful and passed with sufficient numbers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www-etsav.upc.es/personals/iphs2004/pdf/017_p.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www-etsav.upc.es/personals/iphs2004/pdf/017_p.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Contested places for Australia's capital city |last=Birtles |first=Terry G. |date=2004 |website=11th Annual Planning History Conference |access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref> Section 125 of the [[Constitution of Australia|Australian Constitution]] thus provided that, following Federation in 1901, land would be ceded freely to the new [[Australian Government|federal government]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}}

{{Location map many
| New South Wales
| width = 300
| float = right
| caption = Location of each site within [[New South Wales]]. The 100-mile (160 km) exclusion zone around Sydney is indicated by a red circle.
| label = Dalgety
  | marksize = 8
  | label_size = 70
  | pos = right
  | coordinates = {{coord|36|30|S|148|50|E}}
| label2 = Yass-Canberra
  | mark2size = 8
  | label2_size = 70
  | pos2 = top
  | coordinates2 = {{coord|35|17|S|149|07|E}}
| label3 = Tooma
  | mark3size = 8
  | label3_size = 70
  | pos3 = right
  | coordinates3 = {{coord|35|58|S|148|04|E}}
| label4 = Lyndhurst
  | mark4size = 8
  | label4_size = 70
  | pos4 = left
  | coordinates4 = {{coord|33|40|S|149|02|E}}
| label5 = Armidale
  | mark5size = 8
  | label5_size = 70
  | pos5 = top
  | coordinates5 = {{coord|30|30|S|151|39|E}}
| label6 = Tumut
  | mark6size = 8
  | label6_size = 70
  | pos6 = left
  | coordinates6 = {{coord|35|18|S|148|13|E}}
| label7 = Bombala
  | mark7size = 8
  | label7_size = 70
  | pos7 = bottom
  | coordinates7 = {{coord|36|55|S|149|14|E}}
| label8 = Albury
  | mark8size = 8
  | label8_size = 70
  | pos8 = top
  | coordinates8 = {{coord|36|04|S|146|54|E}}
| label9 = Orange
  | mark9size = 8
  | label9_size = 70
  | pos9 = top
  | coordinates9 = {{coord|33|17|S|149|06|E}}
| label10 = 
  | mark10 = Circle and its center.svg
  | mark10size = 88
  | coordinates10 = {{coord|33|52|S|151|12|E}}
}}

This, however, left open the question of where to locate the capital. In 1906 and after significant deliberations, New South Wales agreed to cede sufficient land on the condition that it was in the [[Yass, New South Wales|Yass]]-[[Canberra]] region,<ref name=":2" /> this site being closer to Sydney.<ref name="ausmap">{{cite web |url=https://www.ga.gov.au/products/servlet/controller?event=GEOCAT_DETAILS&catno=47987 |title=A4 Report Map of Australia |date=16 November 2009 |website=Geoscience Australia |access-date=19 February 2010}}</ref> Initially, [[Dalgety, New South Wales]] remained at the forefront, but Yass-Canberra prevailed after voting by federal representatives.<ref name=":4" /> The ''[[Seat of Government Act 1908]]'' was passed in 1908, which repealed the 1904 Act and specified a capital in the Yass-Canberra region.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item.asp?dID=110 |title=Seat of Government Act 1908 (Cth) |publisher=[[National Archives of Australia]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091017025122/http://foundingdocs.gov.au/item.asp?dID=110 |archive-date=17 October 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=31 January 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Government surveyor [[Charles Scrivener]] was deployed to the region in the same year to map out a specific site and, after an extensive search, settled upon the present location,<ref>{{Cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |last=Birtles |first=Terry G. |title=Charles Robert Scrivener (1855–1923) |id2=scrivener-charles-robert-8374 |year=1988 |volume=11 |access-date=2021-03-15}}</ref> basing the borders primarily on the need to secure a stable water supply for the planned capital.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/curious-canberra/2016-04-11/how-the-act-borders-were-determined/7304358 |title=How were the territory's boundaries determined? |last=Allen |first=Craig |work=ABC News |date=11 April 2016 |access-date=6 October 2022}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
|+ Results of the 8 October 1908 House of Representatives ballot<ref>{{cite thesis|last=Sherrington|first=Geoffrey Edgar|date=June 1969|title=The selection of the Capital site in Federal politics, 1901–1909|url=https://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/entities/publication/331f6c9b-8ff4-44f0-bfd4-b92478c3d655|doi=10.26190/unsworks/5356|type=Master Thesis|chapter=Chapter Four - the Third Parliament|pages=220–224|publisher=[[University of New South Wales]]|hdl=1959.4/57071 |access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref>
! rowspan=2| Site
! rowspan=2| {{small|Distance<br />from [[Sydney]]}}
! colspan=9| Ballot
|-
! width=35px| 1st !! width=35px| 2nd !! width=35px| 3rd !! width=35px| 4th !! width=35px| 5th !! width=35px| 6th !! width=35px| 7th !! width=35px| 8th !! width=35px| 9th
|-
| align=left| [[Dalgety, New South Wales|Dalgety]] || 452 km || bgcolor=#D0F0D0| '''27''' || bgcolor=#D0F0D0| '''26''' || bgcolor=#D0F0D0| '''28''' || bgcolor=#D0F0D0| '''28''' || bgcolor=#D0F0D0| '''27''' || bgcolor=#D0F0D0| '''27''' || bgcolor=#D0F0D0| '''24''' || 27 || 33
|-
| align=left| [[Yass, New South Wales|Yass]]-[[Canberra]] || 248 km || 19 || 22 || 23 || 21 || 22 || 22 || bgcolor=#D0F0D0| '''24''' || bgcolor=#D0F0D0| '''31''' || bgcolor=#D0F0D0| '''39'''
|-
| align=left| [[Tooma, New South Wales|Tooma]] || 514 km || 4 || 3 || 5 || 7 || 9 || 9 || 13 || 14
|-
| align=left| [[Lyndhurst, New South Wales|Lyndhurst]] || 269 km || 6 || 8 || 7 || 8 || 8 || 8 || 8
|-
| align=left| [[Armidale]] || 485 km || 7 || 5 || 5 || 5 || 5 || 5
|-
| align=left| [[Tumut]] || 411 km || 3 || 4 || 3 || 2 || 2
|-
| align=left| [[Canberra]] || 248 km || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
|-
| align=left| [[Bombala, New South Wales|Bombala]] || 485 km || 1 || 1
|-
| align=left| [[Albury]] || 554 km || 2
|-
| align=left| [[Orange, New South Wales|Orange]] || 254 km || 2
|-
! colspan=2| Total !! 72 || 70 || 72 || 72 || 73 || 71 || 69 || 72 || 72
|-
| colspan=2| Abstention || 2 || 4 || 2 || 2 || 1 || 3 || 4 || 2 || 2
|-
| colspan=2| Absent || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
|}

The territory was transferred to the Commonwealth by [[New South Wales]] on 1 January 1911, two years before the naming of Canberra as the national capital on 20 March 1913.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fitzgerald, Alan John. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/27587510 |title=Canberra in two centuries : a pictorial history |date=1987 |publisher=Clareville Press in association with the Limestone Plains Partnership |isbn=0-909278-02-4 |location=Torrens, A.C.T. |oclc=27587510}}</ref>

The Commonwealth gained control of all land within the borders of the new territory but ownership only of NSW Crown land, with significant parcels of extant freehold remaining in the hands of their pre-existing owners. Much of this was acquired during [[World War One]], though a few titles were not transferred until the late 20th Century.

Land within the territory is granted under a [[leasehold]] system, with [[99-year lease|99-year residential leases]] sold to buyers as new suburbs are planned, surveyed, and developed. The current policy is for these leases to be extended for another 99-year period on expiry, subject to payment of an administrative fee.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.planning.act.gov.au/leasing-and-titles/crown-leases/leasehold |title=Leasehold |website=Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate – Planning |access-date=26 July 2023 |archive-date=26 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726001305/https://www.planning.act.gov.au/leasing-and-titles/crown-leases/leasehold |url-status=dead }}</ref> In an arrangement inspired by [[Georgism]], the ideas of 19th-century American economist [[Henry George]], leaseholders had to pay 5% of the unimproved value of the underlying land in rent until the [[Gorton government]] abolished it in 1970.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/curious-canberra/2016-07-04/can-people-own-land-in-the-act/7550166|title=Can people own land in the ACT?|publisher=ABC News|date=4 July 2016|accessdate=9 October 2021|first=Gordon|last=Taylor}}</ref>

=== Development throughout 20th century ===
[[Image:Naming of city of canberra capital hill 1913.jpg|thumb|alt=Five people on stone platform, from left: Man with mustache in military dress uniform and bushy tall black hat with chinstrap; man in military uniform with many medals and old fashioned naval officer's hat; man with white hair in suit with long dark coat and white collar; woman in Victorian dress with white hat; man with beard and wild hair in suit. Crowd and flags in background.|The ceremony for the naming of Canberra, 12&nbsp;March 1913. Prime Minister [[Andrew Fisher]] is standing, centre, in dark suit. To his right is the Governor-General, [[Thomas Denman, 3rd Baron Denman|Lord Denman]], and to his left, [[Gertrude Denman, Baroness Denman|Lady Denman]].]]
In 1911, an international competition to design the future capital was held; it was won by the Chicago architect [[Walter Burley Griffin]] in 1912.<ref name=":3" /> The official naming of Canberra occurred on 12 March 1913 and construction began immediately.<ref name=":3" />

After Griffin's departure following difficulty in implementing his project,<ref name="act">{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=136&Itemid=171 |title=History of the NCA |date=11 June 2009 |website=National Capital Authority |access-date=26 February 2010}}</ref> the [[Federal Capital Advisory Committee]] was established in 1920 to advise the government of the construction efforts.<ref name=":2" /> The committee had limited success meeting its goals. However, the chairman, [[John Sulman]], was instrumental in applying the ideas of the [[garden city movement]] to Griffin's plan. The committee was replaced in 1925 by the [[Federal Capital Commission]].<ref name=":2" />

In 1930, the ACT Advisory Council was established to advise the minister for territories on the community's concerns. In 1934, the [[Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory]] was established.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=ACT Courts |title=ACT Supreme Court: About the Courts |date=16 December 2019 |url=https://courts.act.gov.au/supreme/about-the-courts |access-date=2020-06-18 |website=courts.act.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>

From 1938 to 1957, the [[National Capital Planning and Development Committee]] continued to plan the further expansion of Canberra. However, it did not have executive power, and decisions were made on the development of Canberra without consulting the committee.<ref name=":5" /> During this time, Prime Minister [[Robert Menzies]] regarded the state of the national capital as an embarrassment.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |title=Canberra 1954–1980 |last=Sparke |first=Eric |publisher=Australian Government Publishing Service |year=1988 |isbn=0-644-08060-4 |pages=30,170–180}}</ref>

After World War II, there was a shortage of housing and office space in Canberra.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Canberra 1913–1953 |last=Gibbney |first=Jim |publisher=Australian Government Publishing Service |year=1988 |isbn=0-644-08060-4 |pages=231–237}}</ref> A Senate Select Committee hearing was held in 1954 to address its development requirements. This Committee recommended the creation of a single planning body with executive power. Consequently, the [[National Capital Planning and Development Committee]] was replaced by the [[National Capital Development Commission]] in 1957.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Canberra's Engineering Heritage |last=Andrews |first=W.C. |publisher=Institution of Engineers Australia |year=1990 |isbn=0-85825-496-4 |pages=90}}</ref> The [[National Capital Development Commission]] ended four decades of disputes over the shape and design of [[Lake Burley Griffin]] and construction was completed in 1964 after four years of work. The completion of the centrepiece of Griffin's design finally laid the platform for the development of Griffin's [[Parliamentary Triangle, Canberra|Parliamentary Triangle]].<ref name=":6" />

=== Self-government ===
In 1978, an [[1978 Australian Capital Territory self-government referendum|advisory referendum was held]] to determine the views of citizens resident in the territory about whether there should be self-government. Just under 64 percent of voters rejected devolved government options, in favour of the status quo.<ref>{{cite web |last1=ACT Legislative Assembly |title=Establishing self-government in the ACT |url=https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/Explore-your-Assembly/resources/fact-sheets/self-government |access-date=30 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418023423/https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/Explore-your-Assembly/resources/fact-sheets/self-government |archive-date=18 April 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Nevertheless, in 1988, the new federal minister for the territory [[Gary Punch]] received a report recommending the abolition of the [[National Capital Development Commission]] and the formation of a locally elected government. Punch recommended that the [[Bob Hawke|Hawke government]] accept the report's recommendations and subsequently [[Clyde Holding]] introduced legislation to grant self-government to the territory in October 1988.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Canberra: yesterday, today & tomorrow: a personal memoir |last=Overall |first=John |publisher=Federal Capital Press of Australia |year=1995 |isbn=0-9593910-6-1 |pages=128–129}}</ref>

The enactment on 6 December 1988 of the ''[[Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988]]'' established the framework for self-government.<ref name="ACT1988">{{cite web |url=http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item.asp?sdID=117 |title=Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth) |publisher=[[National Archives of Australia]] |access-date=21 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050716075342/http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item.asp?sdID=117 |archive-date=16 July 2005}}</ref> The [[1989 Australian Capital Territory election|first election]] for the 17-member [[Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly]] was held on 4 March 1989.<ref>{{cite web |title=Past ACT Legislative Assembly Elections |publisher=ACT Electoral Commission |url=http://www.elections.act.gov.au/elections_and_voting/past_act_legislative_assembly_elections |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110329041523/http://elections.act.gov.au/elections_and_voting/past_act_legislative_assembly_elections |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 March 2011 |access-date=29 January 2010 }}</ref>

The initial years of self-government were difficult and unstable.<ref name=anniv>{{cite web |title=Turbulent 20yrs of self-government |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/11/2566162.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513124128/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/11/2566162.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 May 2009 |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=31 January 2010 |date=11 May 2009}}</ref> A majority of territory residents had opposed self-government and had it imposed upon them by the federal parliament. At the first election, 4 of the 17 seats were won by anti-self-government single-issue parties due to a protest vote by disgruntled Canberrans and a total of 8 were won by minor parties and independents.<ref name=anniv/>

In 1992, Labor won eight seats and the minor parties and independents won only three. Stability increased, and in 1995, [[Kate Carnell]] became the first elected Liberal chief minister. In 1998, Carnell became the first chief minister to be re-elected.

==Geography==
[[File:ACT-Jervis Bay-Sydney-MJC.png|left|thumb|125px|Location of the ACT and Jervis Bay]]
The territory is {{cvt|2358|km2|mi2}} in area, slightly smaller than Luxembourg.

It is bounded by the [[Bombala railway line]] in the east, the [[Drainage divide|watershed]] of [[Naas (valley)|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. These boundaries were set to give the territory an adequate water supply.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/curious-canberra/2016-04-11/how-the-act-borders-were-determined/7304358 |title=How were the ACT's boundaries determined? |date=10 April 2016 |website=www.abc.net.au}}</ref> The territory extends about {{cvt|88.5|km|mi}} north-south between 35.124°S and 35.921°S, and {{cvt|57.75|km|mi}} west-east between 148.763°E and 149.399°E.{{NoteTag|Limits plotted on Google Maps: 
north: 35.12452°S, 149.12091°E (Gungahlin);
east: 35.31918°S, 149.39928°E (Kings Highway);
south: 35.92076°S, 149.04608°E (near Bumbalong);
west: 35.49551°S, 148.76268°E (Mount Franklin Rd, near Bimberi).}} The city area of [[Canberra]] occupies the north-eastern corner of this area.

The territory includes the city of [[Canberra]] and some towns such as [[Williamsdale, Australian Capital Territory|Williamsdale]], [[Oaks Estate]], [[Uriarra Village]], [[Tharwa]] and [[Hall, Australian Capital Territory|Hall]]. The 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.

[[File:Swans on molonglo river.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Molonglo River]], located in the north-east of the region]]

Tidbinbilla is a locality to the south-west of Canberra that features the [[Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve]] and the [[Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex]], operated by the United States' [[NASA]] as part of its [[Deep Space Network]]. The [[Southern Tablelands Temperate Grassland]] straddles the state.

The territory includes a large range of mountains, rivers and creeks, largely contained within the [[Namadgi National Park]]. These include the Naas and Murrumbidgee Rivers.

In September 2022, a proposal was announced to change the border between NSW and the territory, the first change since the territory was created in 1911.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-09-16 |title='It's happening': NSW-ACT border to change for first time since its creation as territory expands |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-16/border-to-change-to-allow-territory-expansion/101446700 |access-date=2022-09-16}}</ref> ACT chief minister [[Andrew Barr]] said NSW premier [[Dominic Perrottet]] had agreed to a proposed border change of {{cvt|330|ha|sqmi}} in the [[Ginninderra]] watershed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-16 |title=NSW and ACT in talks over biggest border shake-up in living memory |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/sep/16/nsw-and-act-in-talks-over-biggest-border-shake-up-in-living-memory |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
[[File:Autumn in Canberra.jpg|thumb|right|280px|[[Autumn foliage]] in [[Canberra]]]]
The territory has a relatively dry, continental climate, experiencing warm to hot summers and cool to cold winters.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/nsw/canberra/climate.shtml |title=Climate of Canberra Area |date=12 July 2009 |website=Bureau of Meteorology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712100903/http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/nsw/canberra/climate.shtml |archive-date=2009-07-12 |access-date=2019-03-30}}</ref> Under the [[Köppen-Geiger climate classification system|Köppen-Geiger classification]], the territory has an [[oceanic climate]] (''Cfb'').<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.climate-data.org/oceania/australia/australian-capital-territory-905/ |title=Climate: Australian Capital Territory |website=en.climate-data.org |access-date=2019-03-30}}</ref>

January is the hottest month with an average high of 27.7&nbsp;°C.<ref name=":0" /> July is the coldest month when the average high drops to {{cvt|11.2|C|F}}.<ref name=":0" /> The highest maximum temperature recorded in the territory was 44.0&nbsp;°C on 4 January 2020. The lowest minimum temperature was −10.0&nbsp;°C on 11 July 1971.<ref name=":0" />

Rainfall varies significantly across the territory.<ref name=":0" /> Much higher rainfall occurs in the mountains to the west of Canberra compared to the east.<ref name=":0" /> The mountains act as a barrier during winter with the city receiving less rainfall.<ref name=":0" /> Average annual rainfall in the territory is 629mm and there is an average of 108 rain days annually.<ref name=":0" /> The wettest month is October, with an average rainfall of 65.3mm, and the driest month is June, with an average of 39.6mm.<ref name=":0" />

Frost is common in the winter months. [[Snow in Australia|Snow]] is rare in Canberra's city centre, but the surrounding areas get annual snowfall through winter and often the snow-capped mountains can be seen from the city. The last significant snowfall in the city centre was in 1968.<ref name=":0" />

Smoke haze became synonymous with the 2019/2020 Australian summer. On 1 January 2020 Canberra had the worst air quality of any major city in the world, with an AQI of 7700 (USAQI 949).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/03/canberra-chokes-on-worlds-worst-air-quality-as-city-all-but-shut-down |title=Canberra chokes on world's worst air quality as city all but shut down |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=3 January 2020 |access-date=5 January 2020}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location=Canberra Airport, ACT (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1939–present)
|metric first=Yes
|single line=Yes
|Jan record high C=44.0
|Feb record high C=42.2
|Mar record high C=37.5
|Apr record high C=32.6
|May record high C=24.5
|Jun record high C=20.1
|Jul record high C=19.7
|Aug record high C=24.0
|Sep record high C=30.2
|Oct record high C=32.7
|Nov record high C=39.9
|Dec record high C=41.6
|year record high C=44.0
|Jan high C=28.7
|Feb high C=27.7
|Mar high C=24.8
|Apr high C=20.5
|May high C=16.3
|Jun high C=12.5
|Jul high C=11.8
|Aug high C=13.5
|Sep high C=16.6
|Oct high C=19.9
|Nov high C=23.3
|Dec high C=26.3
|year high C=20.2
|Jan mean C=21.2
|Feb mean C=20.7
|Mar mean C=17.9
|Apr mean C=13.8
|May mean C=10.0
|Jun mean C=6.9
|Jul mean C=6.0
|Aug mean C=7.4
|Sep mean C=10.2
|Oct mean C=13.2
|Nov mean C=16.4
|Dec mean C=19.1
|year mean C=13.6
|Jan low C=13.7
|Feb low C=13.6
|Mar low C=10.9
|Apr low C=7.1
|May low C=3.7
|Jun low C=1.3
|Jul low C=0.2
|Aug low C=1.3
|Sep low C=3.8
|Oct low C=6.4
|Nov low C=9.5
|Dec low C=11.9
|year low C=7.0
|Jan record low C=1.6
|Feb record low C=2.8
|Mar record low C=-1.1
|Apr record low C=-3.7
|May record low C=-7.5
|Jun record low C=-8.5
|Jul record low C=-10.0
|Aug record low C=-8.5
|Sep record low C=-6.8
|Oct record low C=-3.4
|Nov record low C=-1.8
|Dec record low C=0.3
|year record low C=-10.0
|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation mm=58.5
|Feb precipitation mm=56.4
|Mar precipitation mm=50.7
|Apr precipitation mm=46.0
|May precipitation mm=44.4
|Jun precipitation mm=40.4
|Jul precipitation mm=41.4
|Aug precipitation mm=46.2
|Sep precipitation mm=52.0
|Oct precipitation mm=62.4
|Nov precipitation mm=64.4
|Dec precipitation mm=53.2
|year precipitation mm=615.2
|Jan precipitation days=7.3
|Feb precipitation days=6.7
|Mar precipitation days=6.9
|Apr precipitation days=7.3
|May precipitation days=8.4
|Jun precipitation days=9.8
|Jul precipitation days=10.5
|Aug precipitation days=11.1
|Sep precipitation days=10.2
|Oct precipitation days=10.4
|Nov precipitation days=9.8
|Dec precipitation days=7.7
|year precipitation days=106.1
|Jan sun=294.5
|Feb sun=254.3
|Mar sun=251.1
|Apr sun=219.0
|May sun=186.0
|Jun sun=156.0
|Jul sun=179.8
|Aug sun=217.0
|Sep sun=231.0
|Oct sun=266.6
|Nov sun=267.0
|Dec sun=291.4
|year sun=2813.7
|source 1 = Climate averages for Canberra Airport Comparison (1939–2010)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_070014_All.shtml |title=Climate statistics for Australian locations: Canberra Airport Comparison |publisher=[[Bureau of Meteorology]] |access-date=3 September 2011}}</ref>
source 2 = Special climate statements and climate summaries for more recent extremes<ref>
*{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_070351_All.shtml |title=Climate statistics for Australian locations: Canberra Airport |publisher=[[Bureau of Meteorology]] |date=2 January 2020 |access-date=5 January 2020}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs36b.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs36b.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Special climate statement 36 – Unseasonal cold in southeast Australia |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |date=13 January 2012 |access-date=4 September 2014}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/month/act/archive/201209.summary.shtml |title=ACT in September 2012 |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |date=2 October 2012 |access-date=4 September 2014}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/month/act/archive/201212.summary.shtml |title=ACT in December 2012 |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |date=2 January 2013 |access-date=4 September 2014}}
*{{cite web |title=Special Climate Statement 43 – extreme heat in January 2013 |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs43e.pdf |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=2 February 2013 |date=1 February 2013}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/month/act/archive/201310.summary.shtml |title=ACT in October 2013 |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |date=1 November 2013 |access-date=4 September 2014}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=122&p_display_type=dailyDataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=070351 |title=Daily maximum temperature Canberra Airport |publisher=[[Bureau of Meteorology]] |date=5 January 2020 |access-date=5 January 2020}}
</ref>}}

===Geology===
{{main|Geology of the Australian Capital Territory}}
Notable geological formations in the 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>{{citation |title=Entry to the ACT Heritage Register – 20010. Woolshed Creek Fossil Site |url=http://www.environment.act.gov.au/Files/heritageregister20010.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051022162853/http://www.environment.act.gov.au/Files/heritageregister20010.pdf |publisher=ACT Heritage Council |archive-date=22 October 2005}}</ref> Other specific geological places of interest include the State Circle cutting and the Deakin [[anticline]].<ref>{{cite AHD|105733|State Circle Cutting}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=National Trust of Australia – Deakin Anticline |url=http://www.act.nationaltrust.org.au/places/deak-anti.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040706073745/http://www.act.nationaltrust.org.au/places/deak-anti.html |archive-date=6 July 2004}}</ref>

The oldest rocks in the territory 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.

=== Flora and fauna ===
{{main|Fauna of the Australian Capital Territory|Flora of the Australian Capital Territory}}
The environments range from [[Alpine climate|alpine]] area on the higher mountains, to [[sclerophyll]] forest and to [[woodland]]. Much of the territory has been cleared for grazing and is also burnt off by [[Bushfires in Australia|bushfire]]s several times per century. The kinds of plants can be grouped into [[vascular plants]], that include [[gymnosperm]]s, flowering plants, and [[fern]]s, as well as [[bryophyte]]s, [[lichen]]s, fungi and freshwater [[algae]]. Four flowering plants are endemic to the territory. Several lichens are unique to the territory. Most plants in the territory are characteristic of the [[Australian flora|Flora of Australia]] and include well known plants such as [[Grevillea]], [[Eucalyptus]] trees and [[kangaroo grass]].

The native forest in the territory was almost wholly [[Eucalyptus|eucalypt]] species and provided a resource for fuel and domestic purposes. By the early 1960s, logging had depleted the eucalypt, and concern about water quality led to the forests being closed. Interest in forestry began in 1915 with trials of a number of species including ''[[Pinus radiata]]'' on the slopes of Mount Stromlo. Since then, plantations have been expanded, with the benefit of reducing erosion in the Cotter catchment, and the forests are also popular recreation areas.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/113939/McLeodInquiry.pdf |title=Inquiry into the Operational Response to the January 2003 Bushfires in the ACT |last=McLeod |first=Ron |year=2003 |isbn=0-642-60216-6 |location=Canberra, ACT |publisher=ACT Government |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514031921/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/113939/McLeodInquiry.pdf |archive-date=14 May 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Fauna in the territory includes representatives from most major [[Fauna of Australia|Australian animal groups]]. This includes kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, platypus, echidna, emu, kookaburras and dragon lizards.

==Government and politics==
[[File:Canberra.jpg|thumb|[[Canberra]], in the northeast of the ACT, is an entirely planned city.]]
[[File:Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly and the statue Ethos.jpg|alt=|thumb|The public entrance to the ACT Legislative Assembly in Civic Square]]

=== Territory government ===
{{See also|Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly|Electoral systems of the Australian states and territories|Government of the Australian Capital Territory}}

Unlike the states of Australia which have their own constitutions, territories are governed under a Commonwealth statute<ref name=":10">[[Constitution of Australia]] s 122.</ref>{{mdash}}for the ACT, the ''[[Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00802 |title=Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth) |website=[[Federal Register of Legislation]] |date=July 2016 |access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref> The ''Self-Government Act'' constitutes a democratic government for the territory consisting of a popularly elected [[Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] which elects a [[Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory|Chief Minister]] from among its membership who, in turn, appoints an Executive consisting of a number of Ministers.

The executive power of the territory rests with the [[Government of the Australian Capital Territory|ACT government]], headed by the Chief Minister (currently the [[Australian Labor Party (Australian Capital Territory Branch)|Labor Party]]'s [[Andrew Barr]]) and consists of ministers appointed by them. The ministers are supported by the ACT Public Service, which is arranged into directorates, and a number of public authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.directory.act.gov.au/ |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=Functions and Services Directory |publisher=ACT Government}}</ref> The Chief Minister is the equivalent of a [[Premiers and chief ministers of the Australian states and territories|State Premier]] and sits on the National Cabinet.<ref>{{citation |title=National Cabinet Members |url=https://federation.gov.au/national-cabinet/members |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia}}</ref> Unlike the states, there is no [[Governors of the Australian states|vice-regal representative]] who chairs the executive government council. 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.

The [[Australian Labor Party (Australian Capital Territory Branch)|ACT Labor party]] has been in power since 2001.

The legislative power of the territory is vested in the unicameral [[Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]].  The assembly has 25 [[Template:ACTCurrentMLAs|members]], elected from [[Electorates of the Australian Capital Territory|five electorates]] using the [[Hare–Clark electoral system|Hare-Clark]] single transferable voting system.<ref>{{citation |title=Factsheet – Hare-Clark electoral system |date=5 July 2012 |url=http://www.elections.act.gov.au/publications/act_electoral_commission_fact_sheets/elections_act_factsheet_hare-clark_electoral_system |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606055358/http://www.elections.act.gov.au/publications/act_electoral_commission_fact_sheets/elections_act_factsheet_hare-clark_electoral_system |publisher=ACT Electoral Commission |archive-date=6 June 2013}}</ref> The assembly is presided over by the Speaker (currently the Labor Party's [[Joy Burch]]). The assembly has almost all of the same powers as the state parliaments, the power to "make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Territory", with limited exceptions relating to the territory's unique relationship with the commonwealth.<ref>''[[Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988]]'' (Cth) ss 22 and 23.</ref> The Hare-Clark voting system was adopted after [[1992 Australian Capital Territory electoral system referendum|a referendum in 1992]] and was entrenched by another referendum in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2016 |title=Fact sheet – Referendums |url=https://www.elections.act.gov.au/education/act_electoral_commission_fact_sheets/fact_sheets_-_general_html/elections_act_factsheet_referendums |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=[[Elections ACT|ACT Electoral Commission]] |language=en |archive-date=26 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126145106/https://www.elections.act.gov.au/education/act_electoral_commission_fact_sheets/fact_sheets_-_general_html/elections_act_factsheet_referendums |url-status=dead }}</ref> The electoral system cannot be changed except by a two-thirds majority in the Assembly or a majority vote of support at a public referendum.<ref>[https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/View/a/1995-1/current/html/1995-1.html ''Proportional Representation (Hare-Clark) Entrenchment Act 1994'' (ACT)] s 5</ref>

There is no level of [[Local government in Australia|local government]] below the territory government as in the states and the functions associated with local government are carried out principally by the [[Transport Canberra & City Services|Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate]].<ref>{{citation |title=Three Levels of Law-Making |url=http://www.peo.gov.au/students/fact_sheets/three_levels_law-making.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516042422/http://www.peo.gov.au/students/fact_sheets/three_levels_law-making.html |publisher=Parliamentary Education Office |archive-date=16 May 2013}}</ref> There is an indigenous voice to the ACT government, called the [[Indigenous Voice to Parliament#ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body|Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://atsieb.com.au/about-us/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Elected Body |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Despite the wide powers of the territory government, the federal government continues to have power over the territory. This includes an unused power to dissolve the assembly and appoint a caretaker government in extraordinary circumstances.<ref>''[[Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988]]'' (Cth) s 16</ref> The federal and territory governments share some officers, such as the [[Commonwealth Ombudsman|Ombudsman]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-07-10 |title=Who we are |url=https://www.ombudsman.act.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=ACT Ombudsman |language=en |archive-date=27 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127023608/https://www.ombudsman.act.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are |url-status=dead }}</ref> The federal parliament also retains the power to make any law for the territory under [[Section 122 of the Constitution of Australia|section 122 of the Constitution]] and an exclusive power to legislate for the "seat of government".<ref name=":10" /><ref>''[[Constitution of Australia]]'' s 52(i).</ref> Territory laws which conflict with federal law are inoperable to the extent of the inconsistency.<ref>''[[Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988]]'' (Cth) s 28</ref><ref>''[[Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013#In the High Court: Commonwealth v ACT (2013)|Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory]]'' (2013) 250 CLR 441; [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/HCA/2013/55.html <nowiki>[2013] HCA 55</nowiki>] (High Court of Australia)</ref> Land in the territory that is designated to be "National Land" under federal law remains under the control of the federal government, usually represented by the [[National Capital Authority]].<ref>''[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Latest/C2018C00316 Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988]'' (Cth) s 27</ref> The federal parliament can disallow laws enacted by the Assembly by a joint resolution of both houses of Parliament, a power which replaced a federal executive veto in 2011.<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2011A00166 ''Territories Self-Government Legislation Amendment (Disallowance and Amendment of Laws) Act 2011'' (Cth)]</ref><ref name="vetopower">{{cite web |title=Disallowance powers removed from ACT self-government legislation |url=http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/index.asp?ID=7487 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523073454/http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/index.asp?ID=7487 |archive-date=23 May 2012 |access-date=5 November 2012 |work=News, Events and Conferences |publisher=ACT Legislative Assembly}}</ref>

=== Judiciary and policing ===
{{See also|Crime in the Australian Capital Territory}}
[[File:New Law Courts of the Australian Capital Territory.jpg|thumb|The Law Courts in Civic houses the Supreme Court and the Magistrates' Court]]
The judicial power of the territory is exercised by the territory courts. These are the [[Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory]] the [[Magistrates Court of the Australian Capital Territory]] (with summary jurisdiction) and the [[ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal]]. From 2001, appeals from the Supreme Court are heard by a panel of Supreme Court judges sitting as the Court of Appeal.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-12-13 |title=Court of Appeal |url=https://courts.act.gov.au/supreme/about-the-courts/court-of-appeal |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=ACT Supreme Court |language=en}}</ref> The current Chief Justice is [[Lucy McCallum]] and the current Chief Magistrate is [[Lorraine Walker]].

The [[Federal Court of Australia|Federal Court]] has concurrent jurisdiction over civil matters arising under territory law, a fact which has become increasingly important to the practice of [[Defamation|defamation law]] across Australia.<ref>[https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/View/a/1993-60/current/html/1993-60.html ''Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1993'' (ACT)] s 4</ref><ref>''Crosby v Kelly'' 203 FCR 451; [http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FCAFC/2012/96.html <nowiki>[2012] FCAFC 96</nowiki>] (Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia).</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schrapel |first=Sanjay |date=2020-09-02 |title=A 'non-colourable assertion' – litigating "pure" defamation claims in the Federal Court |url=https://commbarmatters.com.au/2020/09/02/a-non-colourable-assertion-litigating-pure-defamation-claims-in-the-federal-court/ |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=CommBar Matters |publisher=Commercial Bar Association of Victoria |language=en-AU |archive-date=26 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126145110/https://commbarmatters.com.au/2020/09/02/a-non-colourable-assertion-litigating-pure-defamation-claims-in-the-federal-court/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Policing services are provided by the [[ACT Policing]] unit of the [[Australian Federal Police]] under agreements between the territory government, the federal government, and the police force.<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Latest/C2021C00480 ''Australian Federal Police Act 1979'' (Cth)] s 8(1A)</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=ACT Government |url=https://www.justice.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/2072168/Arrangement_FINAL_Signed_reduced.pdf |title=An ongoing arrangement between the Minister for Justice of the Commonwealth and the ACT Minister for Police and Emergency Services for the provision of policing services to the ACT |last2=Australian Government |year=2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017231154/https://www.justice.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/2072168/Arrangement_FINAL_Signed_reduced.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-17 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=ACT Government |url=https://www.justice.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/2112600/2022-2026-Purchase-Agreement-Signed.PDF |title=Agreement between the ACT Government and the Australian Federal Police for the provision of policing services to the Australian Capital Territory, 2022–2026 |last2=Australian Federal Police |publisher=ACT Government |year=2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121130919/https://www.justice.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/2112600/2022-2026-Purchase-Agreement-Signed.PDF |archive-date=2023-01-21}}</ref> [[Canberra]] had the lowest rate of crime of any capital city in Australia {{as of|lc=yes|February 2019}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://police.act.gov.au/crime |title=Crime |website=Australian Federal Police. ACT Policing |date=7 March 2016 |access-date=23 February 2019 |archive-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228133000/https://police.act.gov.au/crime |url-status=dead }}</ref> 
[[File:AFP-ACT VW.jpg|alt=|thumb|AFP vehicle in Canberra]]

=== Federal representation ===
In the Australian [[Parliament of Australia|federal parliament]], the territory is represented by three members of the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]], for the [[Division of Bean]], the [[Division of Canberra]] and the [[Division of Fenner]] and two [[Australian Senate|Senators]]. The member for Bean also represents voters of [[Norfolk Island]] while the member for Fenner also represent voters of the [[Jervis Bay Territory]].  Senators representing the ACT also represent voters of Norfolk Island and the Jervis Bay Territory.

=== Jervis Bay Territory ===
{{main|Jervis Bay Territory}}
{{Relevance?|date=December 2024}}
Jervis Bay Territory, created in 1915, is a separate territory but, by the ''[[Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915]]'' it is subject to ACT law.<ref name="Spagnolo2015">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wlKXCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA65 |title=The Continuity of Legal Systems in Theory and Practice |author=Benjamin Spagnolo |date=22 October 2015 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-84946-884-8 |page=65}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> ACT magistrates conduct court in Jervis Bay Territory.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.courts.act.gov.au/magistrates/courts/jervis_bay_court |title=Jervis Bay Court |date=9 October 2016 |website=www.courts.act.gov.au |language=en |access-date=2019-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321014818/https://courts.act.gov.au/magistrates/courts/jervis_bay_court |archive-date=21 March 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{See also|Demographics of Canberra}}
[[File:Australian Capital Territory population pyramid in 2021.svg|thumb|ACT population pyramid in 2021]]
[[File:ABS-3101.0-AustralianDemographicStatistics-EstimatedResidentPopulationStatesTerritories-EstimatedResidentPopulation-Persons-AustralianCapitalTerritory-A2060850F.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|Estimated resident population since 1981.]]
[[File:ACT Canberra density.jpg|thumb|ACT population density by mesh blocks (MB), according to the 2016 census]]
The [[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] estimates that the population of the territory was 453,324 on 31 December 2021, with an annual growth in 2021 of 0.4%.<ref name="ABSPop" /> A 2019 projection estimated the population would reach to approximately 700,000 by 2058.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.treasury.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1305581/ACT-Population-Projections-Paper-FINAL.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://apps.treasury.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1305581/ACT-Population-Projections-Paper-FINAL.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=ACT Population Projections: 2018 to 2058 |date=January 2019 |website=ACT Government |access-date=2019-04-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Latest ACT Population Projections |url=https://apps.treasury.act.gov.au/snapshot/demography/act |website=ACT Treasury |publisher=ACT Government |access-date=27 June 2021 |archive-date=27 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627085150/https://apps.treasury.act.gov.au/snapshot/demography/act |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The overwhelming majority of the population reside in the city of Canberra.<ref name="ABSPop" />

At the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the median weekly income for people in the territory aged over 15 was $998 while the national average was $662.<ref name="census">{{Census 2016 AUS|id=8|name=Australian Capital Territory |access-date=27 June 2017|quick=on}}[[File:CC BY icon.svg|50px]] This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Attribution International] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016050101/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |date=16 October 2017 }} license.</ref>

The average level of degree qualification in the territory is higher than the national average. Within the territory, 37.1% of the population hold a bachelor's degree level or above education compared to the national figure of 20%.<ref name="census" />
{{Historical populations
| 1950 | 19921
| 1955 | 31393
| 1960 | 51208
| 1965 | 84411
| 1970 | 137300
| 1979 | 218995
| 1980 | 222885
| 1985 | 251649
| 1990 | 282263
| 1995 | 305308
| 2000 | 343655
| 2005 | 366339
| 2010 | 397692
| 2011 | 404973
| 2012 | 410821
| 2013 | 416737
| 2014 | 422747
| 2015 | 428843
| 2016 | 435036
| 2017 | 441318
| 2018 | 447692
| 2019 | 452497
| 2020 | 457330
| 2021 | 462213
}}

===City and towns===
{{Main|Canberra|Suburbs of Canberra}}
[[File:BikepathCanberra.jpg|thumb|Bikepath to Weston Creek.]]
[[File:Inner-canberra 01MJC.png|right|thumb|Inner Canberra demonstrates some aspects of the Griffin plan, in particular the [[Parliamentary Triangle, Canberra|Parliamentary Triangle]].]]  Major settlements include the city of [[Canberra]] and the towns of [[Williamsdale, Australian Capital Territory|Williamsdale]], [[Oaks Estate, Australian Capital Territory|Oaks Estate]], [[Uriarra, Australian Capital Territory|Uriarra]], [[Tharwa, Australian Capital Territory|Tharwa]] and [[Hall, Australian Capital Territory|Hall]].

The urban areas of the territory are organised into a hierarchy of districts, town centres, group centres, local suburbs as well as other industrial areas and villages. There are seven districts (with an eighth currently under construction), each of which is divided into smaller suburbs, and most of which have a town centre which is the focus of commercial and social activities. The districts were settled in the following chronological order:
*[[North Canberra]]: mostly settled in the 1920s and '30s, with expansion up to the 1960s, now 14 suburbs;
*[[South Canberra]]: settled from the 1920s to '60s, 13 suburbs;
*[[Woden Valley]]: first settled in 1963, 12 suburbs;
*[[Belconnen]]: first settled in 1967, 25 suburbs;
*[[Weston Creek]]: settled in 1969, 8 suburbs;
*[[Tuggeranong]]: settled in 1974, 19 suburbs;
*[[Gungahlin]]: settled in the early 1990s, 18 suburbs although only 15 are developed or under development;
*[[Molonglo Valley]]: first suburbs currently under construction.

The North and South Canberra districts are substantially based on Walter Burley Griffin's designs.{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|p=64}} In 1967, the then [[National Capital Development Commission]] adopted the "Y Plan" which laid out future urban development in the territory a series of central shopping and commercial area known as the 'town centres' linked by freeways, the layout of which roughly resembled the shape of the letter Y,{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=154–155}} with Tuggeranong at the base of the Y and Belconnen and Gungahlin located at the ends of the arms of the Y.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=154–155}}

=== Ancestry and immigration ===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
|+ Country of Birth (2016)<ref name="quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au">{{cite web |url=https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/communityprofile/8ACTE?opendocument |title=2016 Census Community Profiles: Australian Capital Territory |website=quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au |access-date=16 June 2019 |archive-date=13 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813031658/https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/communityprofile/8ACTE?opendocument |url-status=dead }}</ref>
! Birthplace{{NoteTag|In accordance with the Australian Bureau of Statistics source, England, [[Scotland]], [[Mainland China]] and the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and [[Macau]] are listed separately.}} !! Population
|-
| Australia ||269,682
|-
| England ||12,739 <!-- England and Scotland are listed separately as per the source. Do not combine -->
|-
| [[Mainland China]] ||11,334 <!-- Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau SARs are listed separately as per the source. Do not combine -->
|-
| India ||10,405
|-
| New Zealand ||4,722
|-
| [[Philippines]] ||3,789
|-
| [[Vietnam]] ||3,340
|-
| United States ||2,775
|-
| [[Sri Lanka]] ||2,774
|-
| [[Malaysia]] ||2,431
|-
| [[South Korea]] ||2,283
|}

At the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the most commonly nominated ancestries were:{{NoteTag|As a percentage of all people in that area, including those who did not state an ancestry.}}<ref name="2021 Census"/>
{{Columns-list|colwidth=13em|
*[[English Australians|English]] (32.0%)
*Australian (31.5%){{NoteTag|The Australian Bureau of Statistics has stated that most who nominate "Australian" as their ancestry are part of the [[Anglo-Celtic Australian|Anglo-Celtic]] group.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/49f609c83cf34d69ca2569de0025c182!OpenDocument |title=1301.0 – Year Book Australia, 1995 – Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Australia |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |website=www.abs.gov.au |date=January 1995}}</ref>}}
*[[Irish Australians|Irish]] (11.6%)
*[[Scottish Australians|Scottish]] (10.0%)
*[[Chinese Australians|Chinese]] (5.7%)
*[[Indian Australians|Indian]] (4.5%)
*[[German Australians|German]] (4.2%)
*[[Italian Australians|Italian]] (3.3%)
*[[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous]] (1.9%){{NoteTag|Includes those identifying as having [[Aboriginal Australians]] or [[Torres Strait Islanders]] ancestry. Indigenous identification is separate to the ancestry question on the Australian Census and persons identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander may identify any ancestry.}}
*[[Dutch Australians|Dutch]] (1.7%)
*[[Filipino Australians|Filipino]] (1.6%)
*[[Nepalese Australians|Nepalese]] (1.3%)
*[[Vietnamese Australians|Vietnamese]] (1.3%)
*[[Croatian Australians|Croatian]] (1.2%)
*[[Greek Australians|Greek]] (1.2%)
*[[Polish Australians|Polish]] (1.1%)
}}

The {{CensusAU|2021}} showed that 32.5% of territory inhabitants were [[Immigration to Australia|born overseas]].<ref name="2021 Census" /> Of inhabitants born outside of Australia, the most prevalent countries of birth were India, England, China, Nepal and New Zealand.<ref name="2021 Census" />

2.0% of the population, or 8,949 people, identified as [[Indigenous Australians]] ([[Aboriginal Australians]] and [[Torres Strait Islanders]]) in 2021.{{NoteTag|Of any ancestry. Includes those identifying as [[Aboriginal Australians]] or [[Torres Strait Islanders]]. Indigenous identification is separate to the ancestry question on the Australian Census and persons identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander may identify any ancestry.}}<ref name="2021 Census" />

===Language===
At the {{CensusAU|2021}}, 71.3% of people spoke only English at home. The other languages most commonly spoken at home were [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]] (3.2%), [[Nepali language|Nepali]] (1.3%), [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] (1.1%), [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] (1.1%), [[Hindi]] (1.0%).<ref name="2021 Census">{{cite web |title=Australian Capital Territory, 2021 Census All persons QuickStats |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/8 |website=www.abs.gov.au |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=11 October 2022}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
The most common responses in the {{CensusAU|2021}} for religion in the territory were No Religion (43.5%), Catholic (19.3%), Anglican (8.2%), Not stated (5.2%) and Hinduism (4.5%).<ref name="2021 Census" />

== Culture ==

===Education===
{{main|Education in the Australian Capital Territory}}
[[File:John Curtin School of Medical Research in Canberra.jpg|thumb|right|upright|The John Curtin School of Medical Research, [[Australian National University]]]]
Almost all educational institutions in the territory are located within [[Canberra]]. The territory government ("public" sector) school system is mostly divided into [[Pre-School]], Primary School (K-6), High School (7–10) and [[College#Australia|College]] (11–12). Many private sector high schools include years 11 and 12 and are referred to as colleges. Children are required to attend school until they turn 17 under the territory government's "Learn or Earn" policy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.det.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/113726/Flyer_-_Learn_or_Earn.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410020511/http://www.det.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/113726/Flyer_-_Learn_or_Earn.pdf |url-status=dead |title=Dept of Education & Training. 2011 |archive-date=10 April 2011}}</ref>

In February 2004 there were 140 [[List of schools in the Australian Capital Territory|public and non-governmental schools]] in the territory; 96 operated by the government and 44 independently.<ref>Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2005. [http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/849f25e83fc56ff2ca257079007b87c6!OpenDocument Schools in the ACT] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In 2005, there were 60,275 students in the territory 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] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060217221907/http://www.decs.act.gov.au/publicat/pdf/ACT_Gov_NonGov_Enrol_1995_2005.pdf |date=17 February 2006 }}</ref>

As of May 2004, 30% of people in the territory aged 15–64 had a level of educational attainment equal to at least a bachelor's degree, significantly higher than 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] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</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]]. Tertiary level vocational education is also available through the multi-campus [[Canberra Institute of Technology]] (CIT).

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 undergraduates 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.

=== Sport ===
{{main|Sport in the Australian Capital Territory}}
The territory is home to a number of major professional sports league franchise teams including the [[Brumbies|ACT Brumbies]] (Rugby Union), [[Canberra United]] (Soccer), [[Canberra Raiders]] (Rugby League), [[Canberra Capitals]] (Basketball) and the [[Canberra Chill]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://hockeyone.com.au/teams/canberra-chill/women/ | title=Overview &#124; Hockey One | date=12 July 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://hockeyone.com.au/teams/canberra-chill/men/ | title=Overview &#124; Hockey One | date=12 July 2019 }}</ref> (Field Hockey).
[[Big Bash League]] matches and other international [[cricket]] matches are held at the [[Manuka Oval]]. The [[ACT Comets]] (also known as the Canberra Comets) are a cricket team in the territory. The Comets are the premier team of Cricket ACT which is affiliated with [[Cricket Australia]].

The [[Prime Minister's XI]] (Cricket), started by [[Robert Menzies]] in the 1950s and revived by [[Bob Hawke]] in 1984, has been played every year at [[Manuka Oval]] against an overseas touring team.

The [[Greater Western Sydney Giants]] (Football) play three regular season matches a year and one pre-season match in Canberra at Manuka Oval.

=== Arts and entertainment ===
{{See also|Music of Canberra}}
[[File:NatMusAus_Main_Entrance_Strip.jpg|left|thumb|The [[National Museum of Australia]] established in 2001 records Australia's social history and is one of the territory's more architecturally daring buildings.]]
[[File:War_memorial_01.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Australian War Memorial]]]]
The territory is home to many national monuments and institutions such as the [[Australian War Memorial]], the [[National Gallery of Australia]], the [[National Portrait Gallery (Australia)|National Portrait Gallery]], the [[National Library of Australia|National Library]],<ref name="map">{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/enjoythelake/map.asp |title=Lake Burley Griffin Interactive Map |publisher=[[National Capital Authority]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522024956/http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/enjoythelake/map.asp |archive-date=22 May 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=1 June 2009}}</ref> the [[National Archives of Australia|National Archives]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naa.gov.au/info/opening-hours/index.aspx |title=Locations and opening hours |publisher=[[National Archives of Australia]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006072421/http://naa.gov.au/about-us/organisation/locations/index.aspx |archive-date=6 October 2012 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> the [[Australian Academy of Science]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.science.org.au/dome/ |title=The Shine Dome |publisher=[[Australian Academy of Science]] |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> the [[National Film and Sound Archive]] and the [[National Museum of Australia|National Museum]].<ref name="map" /> Many Commonwealth government buildings in the territory are open to the public, including [[Parliament House, Canberra|Parliament House]], the [[High Court of Australia|High Court]] and the [[Royal Australian Mint]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highcourt.gov.au/about_05.html |title=Visiting the High Court |publisher=[[High Court of Australia]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091017212110/http://www.highcourt.gov.au/about_05.html |archive-date=17 October 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=23 April 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/visitors/index.htm |title=Visitors |publisher=[[Parliament of Australia]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217052026/http://aph.gov.au/visitors/index.htm |archive-date=17 February 2012 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ramint.gov.au/visit/ |title=Opening hours |publisher=[[Royal Australian Mint]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518155139/http://www.ramint.gov.au/visit/ |archive-date=18 May 2013 |access-date=17 September 2013}}</ref>

Lake Burley Griffin is the site of the [[Captain James Cook Memorial]] and the [[National Carillon]].<ref name="map" /> Other sites of interest include the [[Telstra Tower]], the [[Australian National Botanic Gardens]], the [[National Zoo and Aquarium]], the [[National Dinosaur Museum]] and [[National Science and Technology Centre, Canberra|Questacon – the National Science and Technology Centre]].<ref name="map" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitcanberra.com.au/Things%20to%20do%20and%20see/Outdoor%20and%20nature.aspx?currPage=2&category=&l |title=Outdoor and Nature |publisher=Visit Canberra |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231124810/http://www.visitcanberra.com.au/Things%20to%20do%20and%20see/Outdoor%20and%20nature.aspx?currPage=2&category=&l |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref>
[[File:NLA_Canberra-01JAC.JPG|right|thumb|A copy of every book published in Australia is required by law to be held by the [[National Library of Australia]].<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|ca1968133|Copyright Act 1968|201}}</ref>]]
The [[Canberra Museum and Gallery]] in [[City, Australian Capital Territory|the city]] is a repository of local history and art, housing a permanent collection and visiting exhibitions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canberra Museum and Gallery |url=http://www.museumsandgalleries.act.gov.au/cmag/index.html |publisher=ACT Government |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511045428/http://www.museumsandgalleries.act.gov.au/cmag/index.html |archive-date=11 May 2013}}</ref> Several historic homes are open to the public: Lanyon and Tuggeranong Homesteads in the [[Tuggeranong|Tuggeranong Valley]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museumsandgalleries.act.gov.au/lanyon/index.html |title=Lanyon |publisher=ACT Museums and Galleries |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030015221/http://www.museumsandgalleries.act.gov.au/lanyon/index.html |archive-date=30 October 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=13 May 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.events.act.gov.au/?/event/view/225 |title=Minders of Tuggeranong Homestead |publisher=[[Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister's Department|Chief Minister's Department]] |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-date=7 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507105023/http://www.events.act.gov.au/?%2Fevent%2Fview%2F225 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Mugga-Mugga in [[Symonston, Australian Capital Territory|Symonston]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museumsandgalleries.act.gov.au/mugga/index.html |title=Mugga-Mugga |publisher=ACT Museums and Galleries |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030015314/https://www.museumsandgalleries.act.gov.au/mugga/index.html |archive-date=30 October 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=13 May 2010 |df=dmy}}</ref> and Blundells' Cottage in [[Parkes, Australian Capital Territory|Parkes]] all display the lifestyle of the early European settlers.<ref name=BLUNDELL>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=234:blundells-cottage&catid=57:ql-menu-visiting&Itemid=197 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501223848/http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=234%3Ablundells-cottage&catid=57%3Aql-menu-visiting&Itemid=197 |archive-date=1 May 2013 |title=Blundells Cottage |publisher=National Capital Authority |access-date=13 May 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Calthorpes' House in [[Red Hill, Australian Capital Territory|Red Hill]] is a well-preserved example of a 1920s house from Canberra's very early days.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museumsandgalleries.act.gov.au/calthorpes/index.html |title=Calthorpes' House |publisher=ACT Museums and Galleries |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025175222/http://www.museumsandgalleries.act.gov.au/calthorpes/index.html |archive-date=25 October 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=13 May 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The territory has many venues for live music and theatre: the [[Canberra Theatre|Canberra Theatre and Playhouse]] which hosts many major concerts and productions;<ref>{{cite book |title=The Dictionary of Performing Arts in Australia: Opera, Dance, Music |last1=Atkinson |first1=Ann |last2=Knight |first2=Linsay |last3=McPhee |first3=Margaret |publisher=Allen & Unwin |year=1996 |isbn=1-86448-005-X |pages=46–47}}</ref> and [[Llewellyn Hall]] (within the [[ANU School of Music]]), a world-class concert hall are two of the most notable.<ref name="rg">{{cite book |title=Rough Guide to Australia |last=Daly |first=Margo |publisher=Rough Guides |year=2003 |isbn=1-84353-090-2 |page=67}}</ref> [[Albert Hall, Canberra|The Albert Hall]] was Canberra's first performing arts venue, opened in 1928. It was the original performance venue for theatre groups such as the Canberra Repertory Society.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naa.gov.au/about-us/publications/fact-sheets/fs250.aspx |title=Fact sheets |publisher=[[National Archives of Australia]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809131626/http://www.naa.gov.au/about-us/publications/fact-sheets/fs250.aspx |archive-date=9 August 2011 |access-date=17 September 2013}}</ref>

There are numerous bars and nightclubs which also offer live entertainment, particularly concentrated in the areas of [[Dickson, Australian Capital Territory|Dickson]], [[Kingston, Australian Capital Territory|Kingston]] and [[City, Australian Capital Territory|the city]].{{sfn|Vaisutis|2009|pp=283–285}} Most town centres have facilities for a community theatre and a cinema, and all have a library.{{sfn|Universal Publishers|2007|pp=10–12}} Popular cultural events include the [[National Folk Festival (Australia)|National Folk Festival]], the [[Royal Canberra Show]], the [[Summernats]] car festival, [[Enlighten Canberra|Enlighten]] festival and the [[National Multicultural Festival]] in February.{{sfn|Vaisutis|2009|pp=278}}

=== Media ===
The territory has a daily newspaper, ''[[The Canberra Times]]'', which was established in 1926.{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|p=87}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/history-of-a-paper-anniversary-20130302-2fd76.html |title=History of a paper anniversary |last=Waterford |first=Jack |date=3 March 2013 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917072242/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/history-of-a-paper-anniversary-20130302-2fd76.html |archive-date=17 September 2013 |publisher=Fairfax Media|author-link=Jack Waterford}}</ref> There are also several free weekly publications, including news magazines ''City News'' and ''Canberra Weekly.''

Major Australian metropolitan newspapers such as the ''[[Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|Daily Telegraph]]'' and ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' from Sydney, ''[[The Age]]'' and ''[[Herald Sun]]'' from Melbourne as well as national publications ''[[The Australian]]'' and the ''[[Australian Financial Review]]'' are also available.

There are a number of AM and FM stations broadcasting throughout the territory ([[List of radio station callsigns in the Australian Capital Territory|AM/FM Listing]]). The main commercial operators are the [[Capital Radio Network]] ([[2CA]] and [[2CC]]), and [[Southern Cross Austereo]]/[[ARN Media]] ([[Hit 104.7]] and [[Mix 106.3]]). There are also several community operated stations as well as the local and national stations of the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]].

A DAB+ digital radio trial is also in operation, it simulcasts some of the AM/FM stations, and also provides several digital only stations ([[Digital radio in Australia#Canberra|DAB+ Trial Listing]]).

Five free-to-air television stations service the territory:

*[[ABC Television (Australian TV network)|ABC]] Canberra ([[ABC Canberra (TV station)|ABC]])
*[[Special Broadcasting Service#Television|SBS]] New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory ([[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS]])
*[[WIN Television]] Southern NSW & ACT ([[WIN (TV station)|WIN]]) – [[Nine Network]] affiliate
*[[Prime7]] Southern NSW & ACT ([[CBN (Australian TV station)|CBN]]) – A [[Seven Network]] owned & operated station, [[Seven Network]] affiliate
*[[10 (Southern Cross Austereo)|Southern Cross 10]] Southern NSW & ACT ([[CTC (TV station)|CTC]]) – [[Network 10]] affiliate

Each station broadcasts a primary channel and several [[Digital terrestrial television in Australia#Additional channels|multichannels]].

[[Pay television]] services are available from [[Foxtel]] (via satellite) and telecommunications company [[TransACT]] (via cable).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kids.actewagl.com.au/Education/Communications/Television/Subscription/ |title=Subscription television |date=11 June 2009 |publisher=[[TransACT]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928022041/http://kids.actewagl.com.au/Education/Communications/Television/Subscription/ |archive-date=28 September 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=25 September 2013}}</ref>

== Infrastructure ==

=== Health ===
[[File:Canberra_Hospital.jpg|thumb|The [[Canberra Hospital]].]]
The territory has two large public hospitals both located in Canberra: the approximately 600-bed [[Canberra Hospital]] in [[Garran, Australian Capital Territory|Garran]] and the 174-bed Calvary Public Hospital in [[Bruce, Australian Capital Territory|Bruce]]. Both are teaching institutions.<ref name="hos">{{cite web |url=http://www.health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=da&did=10134232&pid=1147829186 |title=Hospitals |publisher=ACT Health |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326232807/http://www.health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=da&did=10134232&pid=1147829186 |archive-date=26 March 2011 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=da&did=10209377 |title=Canberra Hospital |publisher=ACT Health |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716143522/http://www.health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=da&did=10209377 |archive-date=16 July 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=23 April 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="calvary-act1">{{cite web |url=http://www.calvary-act.com.au/contact.html |title=Contact Us & Location Map |publisher=Calvary Health Care ACT |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323231918/http://www.calvary-act.com.au/contact.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=23 March 2010 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.calvary-act.com.au/public.html |title=Public Hospital |publisher=Calvary Health Care ACT |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718171953/http://www.calvary-act.com.au/public.html |archive-date=18 July 2008 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> The largest private hospital is the Calvary John James Hospital in [[Deakin, Australian Capital Territory|Deakin]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/chemo-crisis-to-hit-act-patients/1241514.aspx |title=Chemo crisis to hit ACT patients |last=Cronin |first=Fiona |date=12 August 2008 |work=[[The Canberra Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113075559/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/chemo-crisis-to-hit-act-patients/1241514.aspx |archive-date=13 November 2011 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.calvaryjohnjames.com.au/ |title=Welcome to Calvary John James Hospital |publisher=Calvary John James Hospital |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> Calvary Private Hospital in Bruce and [[Healthscope]]'s National Capital Private Hospital in Garran are also major healthcare providers.<ref name="hos" /><ref name="calvary-act1" />

The territory has 10 aged care facilities. Territory hospitals receive emergency cases from throughout southern New South Wales,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=da&did=10063975&pid=1082945856 |title=About Emergency |publisher=ACT Government Health Information |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011135135/http://www.health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=da&did=10063975&pid=1082945856 |archive-date=11 October 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=23 April 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> and [[ACT Ambulance Service]] is one of four operational agencies of the [[ACT Emergency Services Authority]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.act.gov.au/ESAWebsite/content_esa/about_us/about_us_home_page/about_us.html |title=About Us |publisher=[[ACT Emergency Services Authority]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822171255/http://www.esa.act.gov.au/ESAWebsite/content_esa/about_us/about_us_home_page/about_us.html |archive-date=22 August 2011 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> [[Newborn Emergency Transport Service|NETS]] provides a dedicated ambulance service for inter-hospital transport of sick newborns within the ACT and into surrounding New South Wales.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nets.org.au/main/what.htm |title=What is NETS? |publisher=[[Newborn Emergency Transport Service]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223110451/http://www.nets.org.au/main/what.htm |archive-date=23 December 2007 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref>

=== Transport ===
[[File:Tuggeranong_Parkway.jpg|right|thumb|Aerial view of Tuggeranong Parkway, a major highway which links Canberra's city centre with [[Tuggeranong]].]]
[[File:New_terminal_building_at_Canberra_Airport_cropped2.jpg|right|thumb|[[Canberra Airport]] terminal]]
[[File:Canberra Railway Station.jpg|thumb|[[Canberra railway station]]]]
[[File:BUS877-04.jpg|thumb|[[ACTION]] [[Ansair]] bodied [[Renault PR100]].2]]
The automobile is by far the dominant form of transport in the territory.<ref name="road">{{cite web |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/ncet/natcapauth/report/chapter9.pdf |title=Canberra's transport system |publisher=[[Parliament of Australia]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207011010/http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/ncet/natcapauth/report/chapter9.pdf |archive-date=7 February 2012 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> The city is laid out so that arterial roads connecting inhabited clusters run through undeveloped areas of open land or forest, which results in a low population density;{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|pp=23–25}} this also means that idle land is available for the development of future transport corridors if necessary without the need to build tunnels or acquire developed residential land. In contrast, other capital cities in Australia have substantially less green space.{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|pp=3–6, 32–35, 53–59, 74–77, 90–91, 101–104}}

[[Suburbs of Canberra]] are generally connected by [[parkway]]s—limited access [[dual carriageway]] roads<ref name="road" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.justice.act.gov.au/page/view/3063/title/act-road-hierarchy |title=ACT Road Hierarchy |date=21 August 2012 |publisher=ACT Government |access-date=14 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222033051/http://www.justice.act.gov.au/page/view/3063/title/act-road-hierarchy |archive-date=22 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> with speed limits generally set at a maximum of {{cvt|100|km/h|0}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=5787&s=29 |title=Survey shows speeding at disputed camera site |date=17 July 2007 |publisher=[[Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister's Department|Chief Minister's Department]] |access-date=23 April 2010 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928013134/http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=5787&s=29 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afp.gov.au/act/road_traffic/speeding.html |title=Speeding |date=20 May 2008 |publisher=[[Australian Federal Police]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112054723/http://www.afp.gov.au/act/road_traffic/speeding.html |archive-date=12 November 2009 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> An example is the [[Tuggeranong Parkway]] which links Canberra's CBD and Tuggeranong, and bypasses Weston Creek.{{sfn|Universal Publishers|2007|pp=57, 67, 77}} In most districts, discrete residential suburbs are bounded by main arterial roads with only a few residential linking in, to deter non-local traffic from cutting through areas of housing.{{sfn|Universal Publishers|2007|pp=1–100}}

[[ACTION]], the government-operated bus service, provides public transport route services in the territory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.action.act.gov.au/About_ACTION/corporate |title=Corporate |publisher=ACTION |access-date=25 February 2014 |archive-date=5 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205171504/https://www.action.act.gov.au/About_ACTION/corporate |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[CDC Canberra]] provides bus services between the territory and nearby areas of New South Wales ([[Murrumbateman]] and [[Yass, New South Wales|Yass]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.transborder.com.au/index.php/about-us-bottom |title=About Us |publisher=[[Transborder Express]] |access-date=23 June 2017}}</ref> and as Qcity Transit ([[Queanbeyan]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://qcitytransit.com.au/about-us |title=About Us |publisher=[[Qcity Transit]] |access-date=23 June 2017}}</ref> A [[Light rail in Canberra|light rail line]] that opened in April 2019 links the CBD with the northern district of [[Gungahlin]]. At the 2016 census, 7.1% of the journeys to work involved public transport while 4.5% were on foot.<ref name="Census2016">{{Census 2016 AUS|id=UCL802001|name=Canberra – Queanbeyan (Canberra Part) |access-date=29 October 2017|quick=on}}</ref>

There are two local taxi companies. [[Aerial Consolidated Transport|Aerial Capital Group]] enjoyed monopoly status until the arrival of Cabxpress in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/02/03/1839551.htm |title=Taxi company 'not concerned' at losing monopoly |date=3 February 2007 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218043332/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/02/03/1839551.htm |archive-date=18 February 2011}}</ref> In October 2015, the territory government passed legislation to regulate ride sharing, allowing ride share services including [[Uber]] to operate legally in the territory.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-30/uber-launches-in-canberra/6898514 |title=Uber launches in ACT as Canberra becomes first city to regulate ride sharing |date=31 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101065334/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-30/uber-launches-in-canberra/6898514 |archive-date=1 November 2015 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/uber-goes-live-in-canberra-with-more-than-a-hundred-drivers-registered-20151030-gkmqaa.html |title=Uber goes live in Canberra with more than 100 drivers registered |last=McIlroy |first=Tom |date=30 October 2015 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105033829/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/uber-goes-live-in-canberra-with-more-than-a-hundred-drivers-registered-20151030-gkmqaa.html |archive-date=5 November 2015 |publisher=Fairfax Media}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/oct/30/act-chief-minister-launches-uber-in-canberra-calling-it-a-real-step-forward |title=ACT chief minister launches regulated Uber in Canberra, calling it 'a real step forward' |date=30 October 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103153733/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/oct/30/act-chief-minister-launches-uber-in-canberra-calling-it-a-real-step-forward |archive-date=3 November 2015}}</ref> The territory government was the first jurisdiction in Australia to enact legislation to regulate the service.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.afr.com/technology/fullyregulated-uber-services-start-in-canberra-20151029-gkmgko |title=Fully-regulated Uber services start in Canberra |date=30 October 2015 |newspaper=Australian Financial Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030134534/http://www.afr.com/technology/fullyregulated-uber-services-start-in-canberra-20151029-gkmgko |archive-date=30 October 2015 |publisher=Fairfax Media}}</ref>

An interstate [[NSW TrainLink]] railway service connects Canberra to Sydney.<ref name="traindestinations">{{Cite New South Wales transport timetables|Southern Region}}</ref> [[Canberra railway station|Canberra's railway station]] is in the inner south suburb of [[Kingston, Australian Capital Territory|Kingston]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.countrylink.info/travel_passes/travelpass_agencies |title=Travel pass agencies |date=14 December 2009 |publisher=[[CountryLink]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220052328/http://www.countrylink.info/travel_passes/travelpass_agencies |archive-date=20 February 2011 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> Train services to Melbourne are provided by way of a NSW TrainLink bus service which connects with a rail service between Sydney and Melbourne in Yass, about a one-hour drive from Canberra.<ref name="traindestinations" />{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|pp=20}}

Canberra is about three hours by road from Sydney on the [[Federal Highway, Australia|Federal Highway]] (National Highway 23),{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|loc=inside cover}} which connects with the [[Hume Highway]] (National Highway 31) near [[Goulburn]], and seven hours by road from Melbourne on the [[Barton Highway]] (National Highway 25), which joins the Hume Highway at Yass.{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|loc=inside cover}} It is a two-hour drive on the [[Monaro Highway]] (National Highway 23) to the ski fields of the [[Snowy Mountains]] and the [[Kosciuszko National Park]].{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|pp=20}} [[Batemans Bay]], a popular holiday spot on the New South Wales coast, is also two hours away via the [[Kings Highway, Australia|Kings Highway]].{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|pp=20}}

[[Canberra Airport]] provides direct domestic services to [[Sydney]], [[Melbourne]], [[Brisbane]], [[Adelaide]], [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], [[Hobart]] and [[Perth]], with connections to other domestic centres.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canberraairport.com.au/air_flight_info/departures.cfm |title=Departures |publisher=[[Canberra Airport]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902105846/http://www.canberraairport.com.au/air_flight_info/departures.cfm |archive-date=2 September 2012 |access-date=13 May 2010}}</ref> There are also direct flights to regional cities: [[Dubbo]] and [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] in New South Wales. Regular direct international flights operate to Singapore and [[Doha]] from the airport daily, but both with a stopover in Sydney before Canberra.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Singapore Airlines brings first class to Canberra on daily flights |url=https://www.executivetraveller.com/singapore-airlines-brings-first-class-to-canberra-on-daily-flights |website=Executive Traveller |date=24 January 2018 |language=en |access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Qatar Airways joins Singapore Airlines in growing Canberra international market – ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-13/qatar-airways-join-singapore-airlines-in-canberra-international/9442554 |date=13 February 2018 |website=abc.net.au |language=en-AU |access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref> Canberra Airport is, as of September 2013, designated by the [[Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development|Australian Government Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development]] as a restricted use designated international airport.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/international/icao/desig_airports.aspx |title=Designated International Airports in Australia |date=27 February 2013 |publisher=Australian Government Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510090836/http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/international/icao/desig_airports.aspx |archive-date=10 May 2013}}</ref> Until 2003, the civilian airport shared runways with [[Fairbairn airbase|RAAF Base Fairbairn]]. In June of that year, the Air Force base was decommissioned and from that time the airport was fully under civilian control.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Hogan |first=Richard |date=July 2003 |title=Farewell to Fairbairn |publisher=Royal Australian Air Force |volume=45 |issue=12 |journal=Air Force}}</ref>

=== Utilities ===
{{See also|Energy in the Australian Capital Territory}}
[[File:Mount_Majura_solar_farm_and_Majura_Parkway.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Mount Majura Solar Farm]] has a rated output of 2.3 megawatts and was opened on 6 October 2016.<ref name="Solar Choice">{{cite web |url=http://www.solarchoice.net.au/blog/news/mount-majura-solar-farm-switches-on-101016 |title=Mount Majura Solar Farm powers up in ACT |date=11 October 2016 |publisher=Solar Choice |access-date=6 January 2016}}</ref>]]
The government-owned [[Icon Water]], formerly ACTEW, manages the territory's water and sewerage infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actew.com.au/About/Who-are-we/What-we-do.aspx |title=What we do |publisher=[[Icon Water|ACTEW]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403000353/http://www.actew.com.au/About/Who-are-we/What-we-do.aspx |archive-date=3 April 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=22 March 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[ActewAGL]] is a joint venture between Icon and [[Australian Gas Light Company|AGL]] and is a retail provider of territory utility services including water, natural gas, electricity, and also some telecommunications services via a subsidiary [[TransACT]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actewagl.com.au/About-us/Who-is-ActewAGL.aspx |title=About our business |publisher=[[ActewAGL]] |access-date=25 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125215038/http://www.actewagl.com.au/About-us/Who-is-ActewAGL.aspx |archive-date=25 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The territory's water reservoirs are the Corin, Bendora and Cotter dams on the [[Cotter River]] and the Googong Dam on the Queanbeyan River. Although the Googong Dam is located in New South Wales, it is managed by the territory government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actew.com.au/Water-Supply-System/The-water-network.aspx |title=The Water Network |publisher=[[ActewAGL]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328102934/http://www.actew.com.au/Water-Supply-System/The-water-network.aspx |archive-date=28 March 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=22 March 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Icon Water owns the territory's two wastewater treatment plants, located at [[Fyshwick]] and on the lower reaches of the [[Molonglo River]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actew.com.au/Sewerage-System/What-is-sewage/Sewage-Treatment-Plants/Fyshwick-Sewage-Treament-Plant.aspx |title=Fyshwick Sewage Treatment Plant |publisher=[[ActewAGL]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312003432/http://www.actew.com.au/Sewerage-System/What-is-sewage/Sewage-Treatment-Plants/Fyshwick-Sewage-Treament-Plant.aspx |archive-date=12 March 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=22 March 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actew.com.au/Sewerage-System/What-is-sewage/Sewage-Treatment-Plants/Lower-Molonglo-Water-Quality-Control-Centre.aspx |title=Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre |publisher=ActewAGL |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312003423/http://www.actew.com.au/Sewerage-System/What-is-sewage/Sewage-Treatment-Plants/Lower-Molonglo-Water-Quality-Control-Centre.aspx |archive-date=12 March 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=22 March 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[Energy in the Australian Capital Territory|Electricity for the territory]] mainly comes from the national power grid through substations at [[Holt, Australian Capital Territory|Holt]] and [[Fyshwick]] (via [[Queanbeyan]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icrc.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/16792/issuespaperelecinfcontestabilityoctober03.pdf |title=Review of Contestable Electricity Infrastructure Workshop |author=Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission |date=October 2003 |page=13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420202136/http://www.icrc.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/16792/issuespaperelecinfcontestabilityoctober03.pdf |archive-date=20 April 2013 |access-date=10 May 2010}}</ref> Power was first supplied from a thermal plant built in 1913, near the Molonglo River, but this was finally closed in 1957.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15404837 |title=The Founding of Canberra |date=14 March 1913 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218035413/http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/15404837 |archive-date=18 February 2014 |url-status=live |page=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://client14.matrix01.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/148426/473.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://client14.matrix01.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/148426/473.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=20048. Kingston Powerhouse Historic Precinct (Entry to the ACT Heritage Register) |publisher=ACT Heritage Council |access-date=11 October 2014}}</ref> The ACT has four solar farms, which were opened between 2014 and 2017: [[Royalla Solar Farm|Royalla]] (rated output of 20 megawatts, 2014),<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2014/australias-largest-solar-farm-opens-in-the-act |title=Australia's largest solar farm opens in the ACT |publisher=[[ACT Government]] |date=3 September 2014 |access-date=11 October 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019062424/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2014/australias-largest-solar-farm-opens-in-the-act |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Mount Majura Solar Farm|Mount Majura]] (2.3 MW, 2016),<ref name="Solar Choice" /> [[Mugga Lane Solar Park|Mugga Lane]] (13 MW, 2017)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/mugga-lane-solar-farm-opens-bringing-act-to-35-per-cent-renewable-energy-20170302-gup673.html |title=Mugga Lane solar farm opens, bringing ACT to 35 per cent renewable energy |date=2 March 2017 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |access-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302110650/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/mugga-lane-solar-farm-opens-bringing-act-to-35-per-cent-renewable-energy-20170302-gup673.html |archive-date=2 March 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Williamsdale Solar Farm|Williamsdale]] (11 MW, 2017).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/government-unveils-36000-new-solar-panels-at-williamsdale-20171004-gyu8z8.html |title=Government unveils 36,000 new solar panels at Williamsdale |date=5 October 2017 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |access-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129172410/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/government-unveils-36000-new-solar-panels-at-williamsdale-20171004-gyu8z8.html |archive-date=29 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> In addition numerous houses in Canberra have photovoltaic panels or solar hot water systems. In 2015 and 2016, rooftop solar systems supported by the territory government's feed-in tariff had a capacity of 26.3 megawatts, producing 34,910 MWh. In the same year, retailer-supported schemes had a capacity of 25.2 megawatts and exported 28,815 MWh to the grid (power consumed locally was not recorded).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/1021129/2016-15-Annual-FiT-Report-Access.pdf |title=2015–16 Annual Feed-in Tariff Report |publisher=ACT Government |page=7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309143807/https://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/1021129/2016-15-Annual-FiT-Report-Access.pdf |archive-date=9 March 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=8 December 2017}}</ref>

The territory has the highest rate with internet access at home (94&nbsp;per&nbsp;cent of households in 2014–15).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/8146.02014-15?OpenDocument |title=8146.0 – Household Use of Information Technology, Australia, 2014–15 |date=18 February 2016 |publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of the Australian Capital Territory}}
Economic activity in the territory is heavily concentrated around the city of Canberra.

A stable housing market, steady employment and rapid population growth in the 21st century have led to economic prosperity and, in 2011, [[Commsec]] ranked the territory as the second best performing state or territory in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.com.au/australian-capital-territory-australias-best-economy-1277250 |title=Australian Capital Territory is Australia's best economy |date=18 January 2011 |work=[[International Business Times]] |access-date=11 February 2016}}</ref> This trend continued into 2016, when the territory was ranked the third best performing out of all of Australia's states and territories.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-27/commsec-state-of-the-states-puts-nsw-economy-1/7115154 |title=CommSec State of the States places NSW economy first |newspaper=ABC News |date=27 January 2016 |access-date=22 June 2016}}</ref>

In 2017–18, the territory had the fastest rate of growth in the nation due to a rapid growth in population, a strongly performing higher education sector as well as a significant housing and infrastructure investment.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/5996178/glitter-starting-to-fade-act-economic-growth-to-slow/ |title='Glitter starting to fade': ACT economic growth to slow |last=Jervis-Bardy |first=Dan |date=29 January 2019 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en |access-date=2019-04-09}}</ref>

Higher education is the territory's largest export industry.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |url=https://dfat.gov.au/trade/resources/Documents/act.pdf |title=Fact sheets for countries, economies and regions: Australian Capital Territory |date=2018 |website=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |access-date=9 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422162308/https://dfat.gov.au/trade/resources/Documents/act.pdf |archive-date=22 April 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The territory is home to a significant number of universities and higher education providers. The other major services exports of the territory in 2017–18 were government services and personal travel.<ref name=":8" /> The major goods exports of the territory in 2017–18 were gold coin, legal tender coin, metal structures and fish, though these represent a small proportion of the economy compared to services exports.<ref name=":8" />

The economy of the territory is largely dependent on the public sector with 30% of the jobs in the territory being in the public sector.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |url=https://www.dixon.com.au/insights/the-act-economy |title=The ACT economy still going strong |last=Kennedy |first=Maddison |date=July 2017 |website=Dixon Advisory |access-date=2019-04-09}}</ref> Decisions by the federal government regarding the public service can have a significant impact on the territory's economy.<ref name=":9" />

The territory's gross state product in 2017–18 was $39.8&nbsp;billion which represented 2.2% of the gross domestic product of Australia.<ref name=":8" /> In 2017–18 the territory economy grew by 4.0 per cent, the highest growth rate of any jurisdiction in Australia. This brought real economic growth over the three years to June 2018 to 12 per cent.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.treasury.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/1318151/2018-19-Budget-Review-Web-Version-PDF.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://apps.treasury.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/1318151/2018-19-Budget-Review-Web-Version-PDF.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Australian Capital Territory BUDGET 2018–19 Budget Review |last=ACT Government |access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Australia}}
*[[Community Based Corrections]]
*[[Human Rights Act 2004]]
*[[Index of Australia-related articles]]
*[[Jervis Bay Territory]]
*[[Revenue stamps of the Australian Capital Territory]]
{{Clear}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|35em}}

== Bibliography ==
*{{Cite book |title=The Penguin Australia Road Atlas |year=2000 |publisher=Penguin Books Australia |location=Ringwood, Victoria |isbn=0-670-88980-6 |ref={{harvid|Penguin Books Australia|2000}}}}
*{{Cite book |title=UBD Canberra |year=2007 |location=North Ryde, New South Wales |publisher=Universal Publishers |isbn=978-0-7319-1882-9 |ref={{harvid|Universal Publishers|2007}}}}
*{{Cite book |last=Vaisutis |first=Justine |title=Australia |location=Footscray, Victoria |publisher=Lonely Planet |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-74179-160-0}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|voy=Australian Capital Territory|Australian Capital Territory}}
*[http://www.act.gov.au/ Government of the Australian Capital Territory]
*[http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/ Legislative Assembly of the Australian Capital Territory]
*[http://www.courts.act.gov.au/ Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory]
*[http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/66f306f503e529a5ca25697e0017661f/F221BFA073B3ABC6CA256AD4007F6845?opendocument Statistical Subdivisions of the Australian Capital Territory]
*[https://www.arts.act.gov.au/public-art/list List of public art in Australian Capital Territory]
*{{osmrelation|2354197}}

{{Australian Capital Territory}}
{{States and territories of Australia}}
{{Capital districts and territories}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Australian Capital Territory| ]]
[[Category:1911 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Enclaves and exclaves]]
[[Category:Georgist communities]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1911]]