View source for Territorial evolution of Australia

{{Use Australian English|date=April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Short description|none}}
[[File:Territorial evolution of Australia.gif|thumb|upright=1.15|Animated map of the territorial evolution of Australia|alt=refer to caption]]
The first [[crown colony|colonies]] of the [[British Empire]] on the continent of [[Australia (continent)|Australia]] were the [[penal colony]] of [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]], founded in 1788, and the [[Swan River Colony]] (later renamed [[Colony of Western Australia|Western Australia]]), founded in 1829. Over the next few decades, the colonies of [[Colony of New Zealand|New Zealand]], [[Colony of Queensland|Queensland]], [[British colonisation of South Australia|South Australia]], [[Van Diemen's Land]] (later renamed [[Colony of Tasmania|Tasmania]]), and [[Colony of Victoria|Victoria]] were created from New South Wales, as well as an aborted [[Colony of North Australia]]. On 1 January 1901, these colonies, excepting New Zealand, became [[States and territories of Australia|states]] in the [[Australia|Commonwealth of Australia]]. Since federation, the internal borders have remained mostly stable, except for the creation of some territories with limited self-government: the [[Northern Territory]] from [[South Australia]], to govern the vast, sparsely populated centre of the country; the split of the Northern Territory into [[Central Australia (territory)|Central Australia]] and [[North Australia]], and then the quick merger of those back into the Northern Territory; and the [[Australian Capital Territory]], a [[federal district]] ceded from New South Wales.

Outside of the continent, Queensland attempted an expansion into [[New Guinea]], but British authorities rejected this; the claim would later be made a British protectorate and ceded to Australia. The [[League of Nations]] mandated northeast New Guinea to Australia after [[World War I]], as well as [[Nauru]], which was placed under joint Australian-British-New Zealand jurisdiction. These mandates (and, later, [[United Nations]] [[United Nations trust territories|trust territories]]) became the independent nations of Nauru and [[Papua New Guinea]] in the mid-20th century. Australia has also obtained [[States and territories of Australia|several small island territories]], mainly from earlier British colonies, and has a [[Australian Antarctic Territory|large claim]] on [[Antarctica]].

==Table of changes==
'''Key to map colours'''
:{{legend|#FFFFE0|Australian states}}
:{{legend|#FFDEAD|Australian territories and founding colonies}}
:{{legend|#c0c09c|Area changed by event}}

=== Colonial period ===

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Event
!scope="col"|Map
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|25 April 1787
|The [[Colony of New South Wales]] was created as a [[penal colony]] by the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]] in [[Australia (continent)|Australia]] east of [[135th meridian east|135° east]].<ref name="doc-s68">{{cite web | url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-68.html | title=Governor Phillip's Instructions 25 April 1787 (GB) | publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy | access-date=23 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802041627/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-68.html | archive-date=2 August 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> Word of the establishment was proclaimed in Australia by Governor [[Arthur Phillip]] on 7 February 1788.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/organisation/1 | title=Colony of New South Wales: Creation | publisher=New South Wales State Archives and Records | access-date=18 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107020819/https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/organisation/1 | archive-date=7 November 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> The commission included "all the islands adjacent in the Pacific Ocean" within the latitudes of 10°37' south and 43°39' south, which included most of [[New Zealand]].<ref name="doc-s68" />
|[[File:Australia change 1787-04-25.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 25 April 1787|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|11 July 1810
|[[Macquarie Island]] was discovered by [[Frederick Hasselborough]], who claimed it for the [[United Kingdom]] and declared it part of [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]].<ref name="aga">{{cite book |title=The Australian Geographic book of Antarctica |last=Scott |first=Keith |year=1993 |publisher=Australian Geographic |location=Terrey Hills, New South Wales |isbn=978-1-86276-010-3 |page=14 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WdFbCQAAQBAJ | page=303 | title=Historical Dictionary of the British Empire | author=Panton, Kenneth J. | isbn=9780810875241 | access-date=18 October 2017 | publisher=Rowman & Littlefield | year=2015}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1810-07-11.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 11 July 1810|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|16 July 1825
|[[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]] was extended west to [[129th meridian east|129° east]], so that it would include a trading post set up on [[Melville Island (Australia)|Melville Island]]; and the borders of the "islands adjacent in the Pacific Ocean" were moved north to 39°12' south, now including only a small part of [[New Zealand]].<ref name="doc-41">{{cite web | url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-did-41.html | title=Governor Darling's Commission 1825 (UK) | publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy | access-date=22 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015015/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-did-41.html | archive-date=7 November 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1825-07-16.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 16 July 1825|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|3 December 1825
|The southern islands of [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]] were made the [[Van Diemen's Land|Colony of Van Diemen's Land]].<ref name="doc-73">{{cite web | url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-did-73.html | title=Order-in-Council separating Van Diemen's Land from New South Wales 14 June 1825 (UK) | publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy | access-date=23 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107003036/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-did-73.html | archive-date=7 November 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WdFbCQAAQBAJ | page=518 | title=Historical Dictionary of the British Empire | author=Panton, Kenneth J. | isbn=9780810875241 | access-date=23 October 2017 | publisher=Rowman & Littlefield | year=2015}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1825-12-03.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 3 December 1825|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|2 May 1829
|A colony commonly known as the [[Swan River Colony]] was founded in the remainder of Australia outside of [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]].<ref name="doc-s4">{{cite web | url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-4.html | title=Instructions to the Admiralty to take formal possession of the western portion of the continent 5 November 1828 (UK) | publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy | access-date=23 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107003929/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-4.html | archive-date=7 November 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> Most documents calling for the colony's foundation make no mention of a name, apart from its location at the "Port on the Western Coast of New Holland, at the Mouth of the River called 'Swan River', with the adjacent Territory",<ref name="doc-s5">{{cite web | url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-5.html | title=Lieutenant-Governor Stirling's Instructions 30 December 1828 (UK) | publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy | access-date=23 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107012730/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-5.html | archive-date=7 November 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> and that a settlement should be formed "within the Territory of 'Western Australia'".<ref name="doc-s7">{{cite web | url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-7.html | title=Lieutenant-Governor Stirling's Proclamation of the Colony 18 June 1829 (UK) | publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy | access-date=23 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107020242/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-7.html | archive-date=7 November 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> However, the law calling for the creation of the colony does appear to specify that it should be called "Western Australia".<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VpZFAAAAcAAJ | title=The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 29 | year=1829 | page=719 | publisher=Government of the United Kingdom | access-date=23 October 2017 | quote=An Act to provide until the Thirty-first Day of December One thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, for the Government of His Majesty's Settlements in Western Australia, on the Western Coast of New Holland}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1829-05-02.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 2 May 1829|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|6 February 1832
|The legal instrument required to formally appoint [[James Stirling (Royal Navy officer)|James Stirling]] governor of the [[Colony of Western Australia]] was proclaimed, and this is commonly held as the date that the [[Swan River Colony]] was renamed Western Australia.<ref name="doc-s8">{{cite web | url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-8.html | title=Commission appointing Stirling Governor and Commander-in-Chief 4 March 1831 (UK) | publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy | access-date=23 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107024928/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-8.html | archive-date=7 November 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://statelibrarynsw.tumblr.com/post/156855938896/on-this-day-6th-february-1832-the-swan-river | title=On this day, 6th February 1832, the Swan River colony was officially renamed "Western Australia". | publisher=State Library of New South Wales | access-date=23 October 2017}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1832-02-06.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 6 February 1832|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|19 February 1836
|The portion of [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]] between [[132nd meridian east|132° east]] and [[141st meridian east|141° east]], and south of [[26th parallel south|26° south]], was made the [[Colony of South Australia|Province of South Australia]].<ref name="doc-s38">{{cite web | url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-38.html | title=Letters Patent establishing the Province of South Australia 19 February 1836 (UK) | publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy | access-date=23 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819104324/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-38.html | archive-date=19 August 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> The actual landing and proclamation occurred on 28 December 1836.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://adelaidia.sa.gov.au/subjects/the-proclamation | title=The Proclamation | date=9 June 2017 | access-date=23 October 2017 | publisher=Government of South Australia | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829122728/http://adelaidia.sa.gov.au/subjects/the-proclamation | archive-date=29 August 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> Its border with New South Wales south of the [[Murray River]] would be erroneously surveyed roughly {{convert|3.6|km|mi}} west of 141° east, and the resulting disputes with the colonies and, later, states that share that border would not be fully resolved until 1914.<ref>{{cite BAILII |litigants=State of South Australia v State of Victoria |year=1914 |court=UKPC |num=3 |format=1 |parallelcite=[1914]&nbsp;{{abbr|AC|Appeal Cases}}&nbsp;283}}, [[British and Irish Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019; {{cite AustLII|UKPCHCA|1|1914|parallelcite=(1914)&nbsp;18&nbsp;[[Commonwealth Law Reports|CLR]]&nbsp;115 |courtname=auto |date=28 January 1914}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1836-02-19.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 19 February 1836|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|15 June 1839
|The [[List of islands of New Zealand|islands of New Zealand]] were annexed to [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://archives.govt.nz/provenance-of-power/1839-letters-patent | title=1839 Letters Patent Establishing New Zealand as Part of New South Wales | publisher=Archives New Zealand | access-date=25 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107031611/http://archives.govt.nz/provenance-of-power/1839-letters-patent | archive-date=7 November 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/treaty/background-to-the-treaty/land-and-ideals | title=Taming the frontier | publisher=New Zealand Government | access-date=23 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711075550/https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/treaty/background-to-the-treaty/land-and-ideals | archive-date=11 July 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> The action was proclaimed on 14 January 1840.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DzlDAAAAcAAJ | page=139 | publisher=Government of New Zealand | title=Report from the select committee on New Zealand | year=1840 | access-date=23 October 2017}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1839-06-15.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 15 June 1839|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|16 November 1840
|The [[Colony of New Zealand]] was chartered and split from [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/letters-patent-issued-making-new-zealand-a-colony-separate-from-new-south-wales | title=New Zealand officially becomes British colony | publisher=New Zealand Government | access-date=23 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518113743/https://nzhistory.govt.nz/letters-patent-issued-making-new-zealand-a-colony-separate-from-new-south-wales | archive-date=18 May 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/newzealanditsad00terrgoog | page=[https://archive.org/details/newzealanditsad00terrgoog/page/n360 314] | title=New Zealand, Its Advantages and Prospects, as a British Colony | publisher=T. & W. Boone | year=1842 | access-date=23 October 2017}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1840-11-16.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 16 November 1840|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|26 September 1844
|[[Norfolk Island]] was transferred from [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]] to [[Van Diemen's Land]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collections-and-research/guides-and-indexes/norfolk-island-guide | title=Norfolk Island Guide | date=4 November 2015 | publisher=New South Wales Government – State Archives & Records | access-date=23 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011062740/https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collections-and-research/guides-and-indexes/norfolk-island-guide | archive-date=11 October 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1844-09-26.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 26 September 1844|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|17 February 1846
|The half of [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]] north of [[26th parallel south|26° south]] was made the [[North Australia|Colony of North Australia]].<ref name="north-australia">{{cite web | url=http://archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110330450 | title=Charters and commissions concerning the Colony of North Australia, 1846–1847 | publisher=State Library of New South Wales | access-date=23 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107013116/http://archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110330450 | archive-date=7 November 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230364145 |title=PROCLAMATION. |newspaper=[[New South Wales Government Gazette]] |issue=13 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=23 January 1849 |access-date=21 May 2019 |page=117 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref name="northaustralia">{{cite web | url=https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/arts/heritage/museum-of-lands/surveying/borders/pre-proclamation | title=History of Queensland borders before proclamation | publisher=State of Queensland | access-date=22 April 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003213530/https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/arts/heritage/museum-of-lands/surveying/borders/pre-proclamation | archive-date=3 October 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1846-02-17.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 17 February 1846|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|28 December 1847
|Following a change in government in the United Kingdom, [[North Australia]] was merged back in to [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]].<ref name="north-australia" /><ref name="northaustralia" /> This is the date [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]] revoked the [[letters patent]] establishing North Australia, but it was not proclaimed in Australia until 16 January 1849. 
|[[File:Australia change 1847-12-28.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 28 December 1847|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|1 July 1851
|The portion of [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]] south of the [[Murray River]] and a line from the headwaters of the river to [[Cape Howe]] was made the [[Colony of Victoria]].<ref name="doc-76">{{cite web | url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-did-76-aid-8-pid-75.html | title=Australian Constitutions Act 1850 (UK) | publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy | access-date=24 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107022221/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-did-76-aid-8-pid-75.html | archive-date=7 November 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1851-07-01.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 1 July 1851|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|1 January 1856
|[[Van Diemen's Land]] was renamed [[Colony of Tasmania|Tasmania]], as a way to get away from its past as a penal colony.<ref name="doc-78">{{cite web | url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-did-78.html | title=Order-in-Council changing name to Tasmania 21 July 1855 (UK) | publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy | access-date=24 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107005707/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-did-78.html | archive-date=7 November 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1856-01-01.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 1 January 1856|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|1 November 1856
|[[Norfolk Island]] was split from [[Colony of Tasmania|Tasmania]], becoming its own colony.<ref name="norfolkisland1913" /> Some sources say this occurred the previous day,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bladen |first1=F.M. |year=1906 |title=Settlement of the Pitcairn Islanders on Norfolk Island |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tAIxAQAAMAAJ |journal=Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society | publisher=[[Royal Australian Historical Society]] | volume=2 | issue=1 |pages=1&ndash;12 |issn=0035-8762 |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> but the Norfolk Island Act 1913 states it was on this day.
|[[File:Australia change 1856-11-01.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 1 November 1856|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|6 June 1859
|The portion of [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]] north of [[29th parallel south|29° south]], the [[Dumaresq River|Dumaresq]] and [[Macintyre River|Macintyre]] Rivers, and several mountain ridges, and east of [[141st meridian east|141° east]], was made the [[Colony of Queensland]].<ref name="doc-s47">{{cite web | url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-47.html | title=Letters Patent erecting Colony of Queensland 6 June 1859 (UK) | publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy | access-date=24 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015816/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-47.html | archive-date=7 November 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1859-06-06.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 6 June 1859|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|10 October 1861
|The portion of [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]] west of [[Colony of South Australia|South Australia]] was transferred to South Australia by letters patent. The act of parliament was passed on 22 July 1861.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|num_act|qlasalea1861n25605|Queensland Legislation and South Australian Land Extension Act 1861}}, 22 July 1861, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1861-07-22.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 22 July 1861|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|13 March 1862
|The portion of [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]] north of [[Colony of South Australia|South Australia]] and east of [[138th meridian east|138° east]] was transferred to [[Colony of Queensland|Queensland]].<ref name="doc-s51">{{cite web | url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-51.html | title=Letters Patent altering the western boundary of Queensland 1862 (UK) | publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy | access-date=24 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015159/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-51.html | archive-date=7 November 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1862-03-13.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 13 March 1862|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|6 July 1863
|The region of [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]] north of [[Colony of South Australia|South Australia]] was transferred to South Australia.<ref name="doc-49">{{cite web | url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-did-49.html | title=Letters Patent annexing the Northern Territory to South Australia, 1863 | publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy | access-date=24 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107005903/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-did-49.html | archive-date=7 November 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1863-07-06.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 6 July 1863|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|30 May 1872
|All islands lying within {{convert|60|mi|km}}<!-- The letters patent specifically use miles, so to avoid false equivalency, displaying miles first --> of [[Colony of Queensland|Queensland]] were annexed to the colony by letters patent.<ref name="torres">{{cite web | url=https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/pdf/inforce/1996-04-11/sl-1879-qciwi | title=Queensland Coast, Islands and Waters Instruments | date=11 April 1996 | pages=11&ndash;20 | publisher=Government of Queensland | access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref> This was done primarily to incorporate the [[Torres Strait Islands]], which were starting to be claimed by [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]]. It is unknown which specific islands may have already been considered part of Queensland, and the map included with the letters patent contained errors, such as including [[Melville Island (Australia)|Melville Island]] in Queensland.<ref name="jstor-torres">{{cite journal |last1=Mullins |first1=Steve |year=1992 |title=Queensland's Quest for Torres Strait: The Delusion of Inevitability |jstor=25169126 |journal=The Journal of Pacific History |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=165–180 |doi=10.1080/00223349208572705}}</ref>
|align="center"|''too vague to map''
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|21 July 1879
|The [[Torres Strait Islands]] were specifically annexed to [[Colony of Queensland|Queensland]].<ref name="torres" /><ref name="jstor-torres" />
|[[File:Australia change 1879-07-21.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 21 July 1879|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|17 June 1880
|[[Macquarie Island]] was made a constituent part of the [[Colony of Tasmania]] through Letters Patent for the Governor of Tasmania.<ref name="Letters Patent for Governor of Tasmania 1880">{{cite web |title=Item BB-AU-490 - Letters patent constituting the office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Tasmania and its Dependencies |url=https://sparc.utas.edu.au/index.php/letters-patent-constituting-the-office-of-governor-and-commander-in-chief-of-the-colony-of-tasmania-and-its-dependencies |publisher=University of Tasmania |access-date=3 October 2023 |ref=Letters Patent for Governor of Tasmania 1880}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1880-06-17.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 17 June 1880|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|4 April 1883
|[[Colony of Queensland|Queensland]] claimed southeast [[New Guinea]] as a dependency, though the British government rejected the claim.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gThY2BW0bowC | isbn=9780521356213 | page=357 | title=Australia, Volume 1 | year=1933 | publisher=Cambridge University Press | access-date=24 October 2017}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1883-04-04.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 4 April 1883|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|6 November 1884
|The [[British Empire]] declared southeast [[New Guinea]] as a [[British protectorate|protectorate]], removing it from immediate [[Colony of Queensland|Queensland]] control, though the colony still largely administered it.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ybLyCAAAQBAJ | pages=11&ndash;12 | title=Documents and Correspondence on New Guinea's Boundaries | author=Van der Veur, Paul W. | year=2012 | publisher=Springer Science & Business Media | isbn=9789401537063 | access-date=24 October 2017}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1884-11-06.png|250px|Map of the change to the founding colonies of Australia on 6 November 1884|alt=Map of British claims to Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|}

=== Federation ===

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Event
!scope="col"|Map
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|1 January 1901
|Six colonies of the United Kingdom [[Federation of Australia|formed]] the Commonwealth of Australia:<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|coaca430|Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref>
* The [[Colony of New South Wales]], becoming the state of [[New South Wales]]
* The [[Colony of Queensland]], becoming the state of [[Queensland]]
* The [[Colony of South Australia|Province of South Australia]], becoming the state of [[South Australia]]
* The [[Colony of Tasmania]], becoming the state of [[Tasmania]]
* The [[Colony of Victoria]], becoming the state of [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]
* The [[Colony of Western Australia]], becoming the state of [[Western Australia]]

Parliament met in [[Melbourne]] until the federal capital could be built.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.victoria.org.au/the%20australian%20capital.htm | title=Melbourne – the seat of government | access-date=25 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312201155/http://victoria.org.au/The%20Australian%20Capital.htm | archive-date=12 March 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1901-01-01.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 1 January 1901|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|1 September 1906
|British New Guinea was transferred from the United Kingdom, becoming the [[Territory of Papua]].<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|pa19059o1905117|Papua Act 1905}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232351916 |title=PROCLAMATION |newspaper=[[Commonwealth of Australia Gazette]] |issue=47 |location=Australia |date=1 September 1906 |access-date=21 May 2019 |page=1141 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1906-09-01.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 1 September 1906|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|1 January 1911
|The [[Australian Capital Territory|Federal Capital Territory]] was split from [[New South Wales]],<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|sogsa1909317|Seat of Government Surrender Act 1909}}, {{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|sogaa1909265|Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909}}; [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232459877 |title=PROCLAMATION |newspaper=[[Commonwealth of Australia Gazette]] |issue=75 |location=Australia |date=8 December 1910 |access-date=21 May 2019 |page=1851 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and the [[Northern Territory]] was split from [[South Australia]].<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|SA|num_act|tntsa946o1907453|Northern Territory Surrender Act 1908}}, {{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|ntaa1910325|Northern Territory Acceptance Act 1910}}; [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232460023 |title=PROCLAMATION |newspaper=[[Commonwealth of Australia Gazette]] |issue=79 |location=Australia |date=24 December 1910 |access-date=21 May 2019 |page=1901 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> While the acts creating it use the term "Territory for the Seat of Government", legislation and proclamations immediately began using the term "Federal Capital Territory."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-119.html | title=Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909 (Cth) | publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy | access-date=11 May 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512041001/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-119.html | archive-date=12 May 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1911-01-01.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 1 January 1911|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|1 July 1914
|[[Norfolk Island]] was transferred from the United Kingdom, becoming the Territory of Norfolk Island.<ref name="norfolkisland1913">{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|nia1913151913185|Norfolk Island Act 1913}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232367482 |title=PROCLAMATION |newspaper=[[Commonwealth of Australia Gazette]] |issue=35 |location=Australia |date=17 June 1914 |access-date=21 May 2019 |page=1043 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1914-07-01.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 1 July 1914|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|4 September 1915
|[[Jervis Bay Territory|A small peninsula]] along [[Jervis Bay]] was ceded to the [[Australian Capital Territory|Federal Capital Territory]] by [[New South Wales]].<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|num_act|sogsa1915n9344|Seat of Government Surrender Act 1915}}, {{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|jbtaa1915323|Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915}}; [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232465869 |title=PROCLAMATION |newspaper=[[Commonwealth of Australia Gazette]] |issue=103 |location=Australia |date=4 September 1915 |access-date=21 May 2019 |page=1710 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1915-09-04.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 4 September 1915|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|17 December 1920
|The [[League of Nations]] [[League of Nations mandate|mandated]] the former [[German New Guinea]] to Australia as the [[Territory of New Guinea]]<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|nga1920251920138|New Guinea Act 1920}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref><ref>[http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1920/2.html Australian Treaty Series 1920 No 2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517231845/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1920/2.html |date=17 May 2007 }}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref> and the [[Mandate of Nauru]],<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|niaa191981919250|Nauru Island Agreement Act 1919}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref><ref>[http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1923/11.html Australian Treaty Series 1923 No 11] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120604232116/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1923/11.html |date=4 June 2012 }}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref> with [[New Zealand]] and the United Kingdom as co-trustees of Nauru.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Blakeslee |first1=George H. |year=1922 |title=The Mandates of the Pacific |jstor=20028201 |journal=Foreign Affairs |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=98–115|doi=10.2307/20028201 }}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1920-12-17.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 17 December 1920|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|1 February 1927
|The [[Northern Territory]] was split at [[20th parallel south|20° south]] into the territories of [[Central Australia (territory)|Central Australia]] and [[North Australia (territory)|North Australia]].<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|naa1926161926245|Northern Australia Act 1926}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232518535 |title=PROCLAMATION. |newspaper=[[Commonwealth of Australia Gazette]] |issue=7 |location=Australia |date=27 January 1927 |access-date=21 May 2019 |page=137 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1927-03-01.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 1 March 1927|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|9 May 1927
|Parliament began meeting in [[Canberra]], formally moving the capital there from [[Melbourne]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp0001/01rp25 | title=As it was in the Beginning (Parliament House in 1927) | publisher=Parliament of Australia | access-date=4 August 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731020457/http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp0001/01rp25 | archive-date=31 July 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232519319 |title=Government Gazette Notices |newspaper=[[Commonwealth of Australia Gazette]] |issue=48 |location=Australia |date=9 May 1927 |access-date=21 May 2019 |page=901 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1927-05-09.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 9 May 1927|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|12 June 1931
|The territories of Central Australia and North Australia were merged to become the [[Northern Territory]].<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|nta193151931443|Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1931}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232192788 |title=PROCLAMATION |newspaper=[[Commonwealth of Australia Gazette]] |issue=46 |location=Australia |date=11 June 1931 |access-date=21 May 2019 |page=931 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1931-06-12.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 12 June 1931|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|10 May 1934
|The [[Ashmore and Cartier Islands]] were transferred from the United Kingdom and became the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands. A British [[order-in-council]] dated 23 July 1931 had stated that the islands would be placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia when Australia passed legislation to accept them.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|aaciaa1933308|Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232619421 |title=PROCLAMATION. |newspaper=[[Commonwealth of Australia Gazette]] |issue=28 |location=Australia |date=10 May 1934 |access-date=21 May 2019 |page=761 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1934-05-10.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 10 May 1934|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|24 August 1936
|The United Kingdom transferred the portion of its claim to [[Antarctica]] between [[45th meridian east|45° east]] and [[136th meridian east|136° east]], and [[142nd meridian east|142° east]] and [[160th meridian east|160° east]], to Australia, where it became the [[Australian Antarctic Territory]].<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|aataa1933407|Australian Antarctic Territory Acceptance Act 1933}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232607160 |title=ACTS OF PARLIAMENT ASSENTED TO. |newspaper=[[Commonwealth of Australia Gazette]] |issue=39 |location=Australia |date=22 June 1933 |access-date=21 May 2019 |page=896 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1936-08-24.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 24 August 1936|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|29 July 1938
|The [[Ashmore and Cartier Islands|Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands]] was annexed to the [[Northern Territory]].<ref>''[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C1938A00011 Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1938] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107020815/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C1938A00011 |date=7 November 2017 }}'' (Cth), Government of Australia, retrieved 20 May 2019</ref>

The Federal Capital Territory was renamed the [[Australian Capital Territory]].<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|sogaa1938121938292|Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1938}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1938-07-29.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 29 July 1938|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|26 August 1942
|The [[Mandate of Nauru]] was [[Japanese occupation of Nauru|captured]] by Japan.<ref name="naurujapan">
[http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AUIntLawNews/1990/18.pdf "ICJ – Application of the Republic of Nauru" &#91;1990&#93; AUIntLawNews 18; (1990) Australian International Law News 156] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107020830/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AUIntLawNews/1990/18.pdf |date=7 November 2017 }}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019
</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1942-08-26.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 26 August 1942|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|14 September 1945
|The Japanese garrison in the [[Mandate of Nauru]] surrendered.<ref name="naurujapan" />
|[[File:Australia change 1945-09-14.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 14 September 1945|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|13 December 1946
|The [[Territory of New Guinea]] was reconstituted as a [[United Nations trust territory]].<ref name="untrust" />
|[[File:Australia change 1946-12-13.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 13 December 1946|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|1 November 1947
|The [[Mandate of Nauru]] was reconstituted as the United Nations [[Trust Territory of Nauru]].<ref name="untrust">[http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/pdf/decolonization/decon_num_39-2.pdf Decolonization No 30 Part 2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912235101/http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/pdf/decolonization/decon_num_39-2.pdf |date=12 September 2016 }}, [[United Nations]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1947-11-01.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 1 November 1947|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|26 December 1947
|[[Heard Island and McDonald Islands]] were transferred from the United Kingdom. The receipt was confirmed in letters exchanged on 19 December 1950.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gordon-Walker |first1=P.C. |year=1951 |title=Administration of Heard Island and the McDonald Islands |journal=Polar Record |volume=6 |issue=42 |pages=275–276 |doi=10.1017/S0032247400040808 |doi-access=free |bibcode=1951PoRec...6..275G }}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1947-12-26.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 26 December 1947|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|1 July 1949
|The [[Territory of New Guinea]] and [[Territory of Papua]] were merged into the [[Territory of Papua and New Guinea]], mainly for administrative purposes; the act makes it clear that the identities of New Guinea as a [[United Nations Trust Territory]] and Papua as a possession of [[the Crown]] remain intact.<ref>''[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2004C05837 Papua New Guinea Act 1949] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107020802/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2004C05837 |date=7 November 2017 }}'' (Cth), Government of Australia, retrieved 20 May 2019</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232810058 |title=PROCLAMATION |newspaper=[[Commonwealth of Australia Gazette]] |issue=48 |location=Australia |date=30 June 1949 |access-date=21 May 2019 |page=1897 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1949-07-01.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 1 July 1949|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|24 April 1953
|[[Heard Island and McDonald Islands]] were formally declared the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|hiamia195371953277|Heard Island and McDonald Islands Act 1953}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1953-04-24.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 24 April 1953|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|23 November 1955
|The [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]] were transferred by the United Kingdom from the [[Colony of Singapore]], becoming the Territory of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.<ref>''[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C01088 Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107060813/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C01088 |date=7 November 2017 }}'' (Cth), Government of Australia, retrieved 20 May 2019</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232902258 |title=PROCLAMATION |newspaper=[[Commonwealth of Australia Gazette]] |issue=58 |location=Australia |date=10 November 1955 |access-date=21 May 2019 |page=3665 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1955-11-23.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 23 November 1955|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|1 October 1958
|[[Christmas Island]] was transferred by the United Kingdom from the [[Colony of Singapore]], becoming the Territory of Christmas Island.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|cia1958175|Christmas Island Act 1958}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_930_2005-01-11.html |title=Handover of Christmas Island to Australia |publisher=Infopedia |date=1 September 2014 |access-date=29 September 2022}}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1958-10-01.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 1 October 1958|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|31 January 1968
|The [[Trust Territory of Nauru]] [[Nauru Independence Act 1967|became independent]] as the [[Nauru|Republic of Nauru]].<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|nia19671031967204|Nauru Independence Act 1967}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.naurugov.nr/parliament-of-nauru/constitution-of-nauru.aspx | title=Constitution of Nauru | publisher=Government of Nauru | access-date=3 August 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806205835/http://naurugov.nr/parliament-of-nauru/constitution-of-nauru.aspx | archive-date=6 August 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1968-01-31.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 31 January 1968|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|30 September 1969
|The [[Coral Sea Islands|Coral Sea Islands Territory]] was created from [[Queensland]].<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|csia1969158|Coral Sea Islands Act 1969}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1969-09-30.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 30 September 1969|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|27 December 1971
|The [[Territory of Papua and New Guinea]] was renamed Papua New Guinea.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|pnga19711231971188|Papua New Guinea Act 1971}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1971-12-27.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 27 December 1971|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|31 December 1973
|The peninsula along [[Jervis Bay]] belonging to the [[Australian Capital Territory]] was formally named the [[Jervis Bay Territory]]; at this time, it was still considered part of the ACT.<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2004C05001 Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915&ndash;1973] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120151034/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2004C05001 |date=20 November 2017 }}, Government of Australia, retrieved 15 November 2017</ref>
|align="center"|''no change to map''
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|11 September 1975
|The [[Republic of the North Solomons]] declared the independence of the region surrounding [[Bougainville Island]] in [[Territory of Papua and New Guinea|Papua New Guinea]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/1998/01/29/chronology-bougainville-civil-war | title=Chronology of Bougainville Civil War | publisher=Pacific Islands Report | access-date=20 May 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203202452/http://www.pireport.org/articles/1998/01/29/chronology-bougainville-civil-war | archive-date=3 December 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1975-09-11.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 11 September 1975|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|16 September 1975
|[[Territory of Papua and New Guinea|Papua New Guinea]] [[Papua New Guinea Independence Act 1975|became independent]] as the [[Papua New Guinea|Independent State of Papua New Guinea]],<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|pngia1975247|Papua New Guinea Independence Act 1975}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref> rendering the dispute with the [[Republic of the North Solomons]] moot.
|[[File:Australia change 1975-09-16.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 16 September 1975|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|1 July 1978
|The [[Ashmore and Cartier Islands]] were split from the [[Northern Territory]], becoming the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|aaciaaa1978388|Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Amendment Act 1978}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1978-07-01.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 1 July 1978|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|3 March 1986
|The [[Australia Act 1986]] made Australia completely independent of the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-did-32.html | title=Australia Act 1986 (Cth) | publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy | access-date=22 April 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422204352/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-did-32.html | archive-date=22 April 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|align="center"|''no change to map''
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|11 May 1989
|[[Jervis Bay Territory]] was split from the [[Australian Capital Territory]] to become its own territory.<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2004C00956 A.C.T. Self-Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120151021/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2004C00956 |date=20 November 2017 }}, Government of Australia, retrieved 15 November 2017</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1989-05-11.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 11 May 1989|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|-
!scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;"|7 July 1997
|[[Elizabeth Reef]] and [[Middleton Reef]] were transferred from [[New South Wales]] to the [[Coral Sea Islands|Coral Sea Islands Territory]].<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|esatlaa1997595|Environment, Sport and Territories Legislation Amendment Act 1997}}, [[Australasian Legal Information Institute]], retrieved 20 May 2019</ref>
|[[File:Australia change 1997-07-07.png|250px|Map of the change to Australia on 7 July 1997|alt=Map of Australia; for details, refer to adjacent text]]
|}

== Proposed boundary change to the Australian Capital Territory ==
In September 2022, it was announced the border between the [[Australian Capital Territory]] and [[New South Wales]] would change for the first time since it 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 for 330 hectares of land.<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>

== See also ==
* [[Northern Territory borders]]
* [[Proposals for new Australian states]]
* [[Queensland borders]]
* [[South Australian borders]]
* [[States and territories of Australia]]
* [[Western Australian borders]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://statoids.com/uau.html States of Australia] – Statoids.com
* The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies provides a [https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/map-indigenous-australia map of estimated territorial boundaries of the various First Nations of Australia]

{{Territorial evolution of the world}}
{{States and territories of Australia}}
{{Australia topics}}
{{Featured list}}

[[Category:States and territories of Australia]]
[[Category:Territorial evolution by country|Australia]]
[[Category:Borders of Australia]]