- Territorial evolution of Australia
This is a list of the evolution of the borders of the colonies and later states of
Australia . It lists each change to the internal and external borders of Australia before and after Federation.Pre-Federation
;
January 26 1788 The colony ofNew South Wales is founded.New South Wales , according to Arthur Phillip's amended Commission dated 25 April 1787, includes "all the islands adjacent in the Pacific Ocean" and running westward to the 135th meridian.;
July 16 1825 New South Wales 's western border is extended to 129° E. ;December 3 1825 The colony ofVan Diemen's Land is proclaimed;
May 2 1829 Swan River Colony is declared byCharles Fremantle for Britain. [Acting under instructions from England, Captain Fremantle took possession of the Swan River, to found a new colony; and formally laid claim to "all that part of New Holland which is not included within the territory of New South Wales".];
February 6 1832 Swan River Colony has its name changed toWestern Australia .;
December 28 1836 The colony ofSouth Australia is proclaimed with its western border set at 132° E.;
May 21 1840 New Zealand is formally annexed to New South Wales. ;Nov 16 1840 The colony of New Zealand is proclaimed by Letters Patent. Although not represented on a map here, New South Wales was significantly reduced in size by this proclamation. Separation was effected onMay 3 1841 ;
February 17 1846 The colony ofNorth Australia was proclaimed by Letters Patent on17 February . This was all of New South Wales north of 26° S.;
April 15 1847 The colony of North Australia was revoked and reincorporated into New South Wales;
July 1 1851 The colony of Victoria is proclaimed.;
January 1 1856 Van Diemen's Land name is changed toTasmania .;
June 6 1859 The colony ofQueensland is proclaimed by Letters Patent, with its western border set at 141° E, and settlement began onDecember 10 that year.;1860South Australia border changed from 132° E to 129° E.
;1862Queensland's western border is moved to 139° E.
;
July 6 1863 That part of New South Wales to the north of South Australia was annexed to South Australia as the Northern Territory by Letters Patent.Post-Federation
;
January 1 1901 TheCommonwealth of Australia was formed, uniting the British colonies ofNew South Wales ,Queensland ,South Australia ,Tasmania , Victoria, andWestern Australia . Note that theNorthern Territory was under South Australian administration at Federation.;
January 1 1911 The Federal Capital Territory was created withinNew South Wales , and theNorthern Territory was split off fromSouth Australia .;
July 12 1915 The coastal area now known as theJervis Bay Territory is added to the Federal Capital Territory.;
March 1 1927 TheNorthern Territory was split into the territories ofNorth Australia andCentral Australia .;
June 12 1931 North Australia andCentral Australia were reunited as theNorthern Territory .;
July 29 1938 The Federal Capital Territory's name is changed to theAustralian Capital Territory .;
May 11 1989 TheJervis Bay Territory becomes Australia's third mainland territory when the Australian Capital Territory is granted self government.External Territories
July 1 1914 –Norfolk Island is transferred from New South Wales to the Commonwealth of AustraliaJuly 23 1931 -Ashmore Island and theCartier Islands are transferred from Britain to AustraliaJune 13 1933 – TheAustralian Antarctic Territory is transferred from BritainJune 26 1947 –Heard Island and theMcDonald Islands are transferred from BrtiainNovember 23 1955 - TheCocos (Keeling) Islands are transferred from Singapore to AustraliaOctober 1 1958 -Christmas Island is transferred from BritainSeptember 30 1969 - TheCoral Sea Islands Territory is transferred from Queensland to the Commonwealth of AustraliaFormer External Territories
*
Territory of Papua (1906-42)
*Territory of New Guinea (1920-42)
* Territory ofNauru (1920-68)
*Territory of Papua and New Guinea (1942-71)
* Territory ofPapua New Guinea (1971-75)See also
*
States and territories of Australia
*Proposals for new Australian States References
External links
* [http://statoids.com/uau.html States of Australia] - Statoids.com
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