View source for List of cities in Australia

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{{Use Australian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
The definition of a [[city]] in [[Australia]] varies between the [[States and territories of Australia|states]]. State capital cities may include multiple [[Local government in Australia|local government areas]] (LGAs) within their boundaries and these LGAs may be cities in their own right. Cities listed below are those as defined by the states in which they are located. Also included are former cities that have lost city status due to LGA amalgamations or other factors.

== Australian Capital Territory ==
* [[Canberra]] (national and territory [[capital city]])

== New South Wales ==
{{see also|Local government areas of New South Wales|List of Sydney suburbs}}
Since 1993, only [[Local government in Australia|local government areas]] in New South Wales can be declared as "cities" by the Government, under the ''Local Government Act 1993''.<ref>''[http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/lga1993182/ Local Government Act 1993] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615121021/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/lga1993182/ |date=15 June 2016 }}'', Chapter 9 – "How are Councils Established?". Accessed via [[Free Access to Law Movement|AUSTLII]] on 26 April 2007.</ref> Although the present version of the Act specifies no criteria for city status,<ref name="Hansard1">Robert Harrison MLA, [http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansArt.nsf/V3Key/LA19951123044 Private Members' Statement: Proposed Shellharbour City] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929104058/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansArt.nsf/V3Key/LA19951123044 |date=29 September 2007 }}, [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly]], ''Hansard'', 23 November 1995, p. 3960. Accessed 26 April 2007.</ref> a previous version of the Act specified that to be a city, a Council area must:
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*(a) have a population of at least 25,000 persons and be an independent centre of population; not being a suburb, whether residential, industrial, commercial or maritime, of any other council area or centre of population; or
*(b) have a population of at least 150,000, and have a distinct character and entity as a centre of population beyond what would normally be regarded as being of local or suburban significance only; or
*(c) satisfy the criteria specified in paragraphs (a) or (b) apart from the population criteria, and be a homogenous centre of importance as a focus of regional commercial, governmental or cultural activity beyond that which would normally be regarded as local, suburban, or subsidiary to another nearby centre.<ref>Garry West MLA, [http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA19931119253 Questions on Notice: Hastings Council Name Change] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929100118/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA19931119253 |date=29 September 2007 }}, [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly]], ''Hansard'', 19 November 1993, pp. 6008–9. Accessed 26 April 2007.</ref>
</div>

New South Wales, therefore, has two types of "city": cities that are acknowledged on the register of the [[Geographical Names Board of New South Wales]],<ref name=gnb_city>{{cite web|url=http://www.gnb.nsw.gov.au/place_naming/placename_search?transaction=savefile&placename=&status=None&designation=CITY&lga=None&map=&parish=|title=Geographical Names Register Extract: List of placenames acknowledged as a CITY|format=[[Comma-separated values|.CSV]]|work=Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW|publisher=[[Geographical Names Board of New South Wales]]|access-date=31 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012082215/http://www.gnb.nsw.gov.au/place_naming/placename_search?transaction=savefile&placename=&status=None&designation=CITY&lga=None&map=&parish=|archive-date=12 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> and local government areas that have been proclaimed as cities but are not acknowledged on the Geographical Names Register.

=== Cities acknowledged on the NSW Geographical Names Register ===
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* [[Sydney]] (state capital)
* [[Albury]]
* [[Armidale]]
* [[Bathurst, New South Wales|Bathurst]]
* [[City of Blue Mountains|Blue Mountains]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney>City within the Sydney metropolitan area</ref>
* [[Broken Hill]]
* [[Campbelltown, New South Wales|Campbelltown]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney />
* [[Cessnock, New South Wales|Cessnock]]
* [[Dubbo]]
* [[Gosford]]
* [[Goulburn]]
* [[Grafton, New South Wales|Grafton]]
* [[Lithgow, New South Wales|Lithgow]]
* [[Lismore, New South Wales|Lismore]]
* [[Liverpool, New South Wales|Liverpool]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney />
* [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]]
* [[Orange, New South Wales|Orange]]
* [[Parramatta]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney />
* [[Penrith, New South Wales|Penrith]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney />
* [[Queanbeyan]]
* [[Tamworth, New South Wales|Tamworth]]
* [[Wagga Wagga]]
* [[Wollongong]]}}

=== Cities not acknowledged on the NSW Geographical Names Register ===
This list includes local government areas inside the [[Sydney]] metropolitan area but excludes cities also acknowledged on the Geographical Names Register:
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* [[City of Blacktown]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney />
* [[City of Canada Bay]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney />
* [[City of Coffs Harbour]]
* [[City of Fairfield]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney />
* [[City of Griffith]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.griffith.nsw.gov.au/page/PagePrint.asp?Page_Id=620|title=History of Griffith|publisher=Griffith City Council|access-date=19 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726163427/http://www.griffith.nsw.gov.au/Page/PagePrint.asp?Page_Id=620|archive-date=26 July 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[City of Hawkesbury]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney />
* [[City of Lake Macquarie]]
* [[City of Lismore]]
* [[City of Maitland]]
* [[City of Randwick]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney />
* [[City of Ryde]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney />
* [[City of Shellharbour]]
* [[City of Shoalhaven]]
* [[City of Willoughby]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney />
}}
Former local government areas that were accorded city status (however since amalgamated) include:
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* [[City of Bankstown]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney /> (1980)
* [[City of Botany Bay]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney /> (1995)
* [[City of Canterbury (New South Wales)|City of Canterbury]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney /> (1990)
* [[City of Dubbo]] (1966)
* [[City of Gosford]] (1979)
* [[City of Greater Taree]] (1980)
* [[City of Holroyd]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney /> (1990)
* [[City of Hurstville]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney /> (1988)
* [[City of Queanbeyan]] (1972)
* [[City of Rockdale]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Sydney /> (1995)
}}

== Northern Territory ==
{{see also|Local government areas of the Northern Territory}}
* [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]] (territory capital)
* [[Palmerston, Northern Territory|Palmerston]]
<!--For some reason, Alice Springs seems to be a popular candidate for insertion here. It is not a city. Please do not add it. If you feel compelled to, please cite a supporting source or it will be removed.-->

== Queensland ==
{{see also|List of local government areas of Queensland|List of places in Queensland by population}}
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* [[Brisbane]] (state capital)
* [[Bundaberg]]
* [[Cairns]]
* [[Caloundra]]
* [[Gladstone, Queensland|Gladstone]]
* [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]
* [[Gympie]]
* [[Hervey Bay]]
* [[Ipswich, Queensland|Ipswich]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Brisbane>City within the Brisbane metropolitan area</ref>
* [[Logan City]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Brisbane>City within the Brisbane metropolitan area</ref>
* [[Mackay, Queensland|Mackay]]
* [[Maryborough, Queensland|Maryborough]]
* [[Mount Isa]]
* [[Rockhampton]]
* [[Sunshine Coast, Queensland|Sunshine Coast]]
* [[Toowoomba]]
* [[Townsville]]}}

Other towns or suburban areas whose local government was accorded city status (including those since amalgamated) include:
* [[Charters Towers]]
* [[Redcliffe Peninsula|Redcliffe City]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Brisbane>City within the Brisbane metropolitan area</ref>
* [[Redland City]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Brisbane>City within the Brisbane metropolitan area</ref>
* [[City of Thuringowa|Thuringowa]]
* [[Warwick, Queensland|Warwick]]

== South Australia ==
{{see also|Local government areas of South Australia}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|
* [[Adelaide]] (state capital)
* [[Mount Barker, South Australia|Mount Barker]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Adelaide>City within the Adelaide metropolitan area</ref>
* [[Mount Gambier]]
* [[Murray Bridge, South Australia|Murray Bridge]]
* [[Port Adelaide]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Adelaide>City within the Adelaide metropolitan area</ref>
* [[Port Augusta]]
* [[Port Pirie]]
* [[Port Lincoln]]
* [[Victor Harbor, South Australia|Victor Harbor]]
* [[Whyalla]]
}}

== Tasmania ==
{{see also|Local government areas of Tasmania}}
* [[Hobart]] (state capital), the metropolitan area of which consists of the [[City of Clarence]], [[City of Hobart]], and the [[City of Glenorchy]]
* [[Burnie]]
* [[Devonport, Tasmania|Devonport]]
* [[Launceston, Tasmania|Launceston]]

== Victoria ==
{{see also|List of localities in Victoria|Local government areas of Victoria}}
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* [[Melbourne]] (state capital)
* [[Ararat, Victoria|Ararat]]
* [[Bairnsdale]]
* [[Benalla]]
* [[Ballarat]]
* [[Bendigo]]
* [[Dandenong]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Melbourne>City within the Melbourne metropolitan area</ref>
* [[Frankston, Victoria|Frankston]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Melbourne />
* [[Geelong]]
* [[Hamilton, Victoria|Hamilton]]
* [[Horsham, Victoria|Horsham]]
* [[City of Latrobe|Latrobe City]]
* [[Melton, Victoria|Melton]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Melbourne />
* [[Mildura]]
* [[Sale, Victoria|Sale]]
* [[Shepparton]]
* [[Swan Hill]]
* [[Wangaratta]]
* [[Warrnambool]]
* [[Wodonga]]}}

== Western Australia ==
{{see also|Local government areas of Western Australia}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|
* [[Perth]] (state capital)
* [[Albany, Western Australia|Albany]]
* [[Bunbury, Western Australia|Bunbury]]
* [[Busselton]]
* [[Fremantle]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Perth>City within the Perth metropolitan area</ref>
* [[Geraldton]]
* [[Joondalup]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Perth>City within the Perth metropolitan area</ref>
* [[Kalgoorlie]]
* [[City of Karratha|Karratha]]
* [[Mandurah]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Perth>City within the Perth metropolitan area</ref>
* [[Rockingham, Western Australia|Rockingham]]<ref group=lower-alpha name=Perth>City within the Perth metropolitan area</ref>}}

Local government areas with city status not listed above, all of which lie within Perth's metropolitan area, include:
{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|
* [[City of Armadale]]
* [[City of Bayswater]]
* [[City of Canning]]
* [[City of Cockburn]]
* [[City of Gosnells]]
* [[City of Kalamunda]]
* [[City of Kwinana]]
* [[City of Melville]]
* [[City of Nedlands]]
* [[City of South Perth]]
* [[City of Stirling]]
* [[City of Subiaco]]
* [[City of Swan]]
* [[City of Wanneroo]]
}}

== See also ==
* [[List of cities in Australia by population]]
* [[Lists of cities by country]]
* [[Lists of cities in Oceania]]
* [[List of cities in Oceania by population]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{webarchive |date=2012-12-10 |url=https://archive.today/20121210194719/http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1107390347&men=gmap&lng=en&gln=xx&dat=32&geo=-24&srt=npan&col=aohdq |title=Map of cities of Australia}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040603023842/http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/ncas/multimedia/gazetteer/ A Gazetteer of Australian Cities, Towns and Suburbs]  ([[Monash University]])
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130823072223/http://detailed-map-of-australia.atlas-map.com/ Detailed map of cities of Australia]}}

{{Cities of Australia}}
{{Oceania in topic|List of cities in}}
{{Capital cities of Australia}}
{{Australia topics}}

[[Category:Lists of cities in Australia| ]]
[[Category:Demographics of Australia]]