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Australian Territories: Australian Capital Territory

FACT SHEET JANUARY 1995



Topography - Climate - Flora and fauna - Reserves - Government - Education -
Transport - Employment and industry - Tourism

The Australian Government took possession of 2 357km2 of land from NewSouth
Wales (NSW) in 1911 to form the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) as the
site for the Australian national capital. That capital, Canberra, lies
between Sydney, 307km north-east, and Melbourne 655km south-west. The total
ACT population is 300 912. The majority live and work in Canberra
(population 293 602).

A second territory, at Jervis Bay, was acquired from NSW in 1915. This
transfer was in accordance with the Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1908
which stated that the seat of government (ACT) should have access to the
sea. The Jervis Bay territory was to be that access.

Jervis Bay is administered by the Department of the Environment, Sport and
Territories on behalf of the Australian Government. It has been used for
defence activities, grazing, forestry, water catchment purposes,
conservation and recreation. Its total area is 7360ha.

Topography

The ACT has three contrasting landforms. In the north, where urban
development has taken place, it is a lowland of undulating hills including
the floodplains of the Murrumbidgee and Molonglo Rivers, mostly below 600m.
Beyond this are forested mountain slopes rising to 1200m divided by numerous
tributaries of the Murrumbidgee. In the south and extreme west is an upland
of steep ridges and mountain peaks rising above 1800m.

Climate

The lowland, including the city of Canberra, has an average annual rainfall
of 630mm, unevenly distributed throughout the year. In most years there are
light snowfalls in winter. Strong winds are frequent, mainly from the west
and north-west. The mean maximum temperature in Canberra is 19.70C, with the
highest on record 42.20C. The mean minimum is 6.90C, with the lowest on
record, -100C.

On the mountain slopes the rainfall is higher but very uneven, due to
variations of aspect.

The mountain ridges have an even higher rainfall which may reach 1500mm
annually. During much of the winter the ground temperature is near or below
freezing point. Snow falls frequently and may persist for some months.

Flora and fauna

In the lowlands, extensive natural grass country has been covered by urban
development, crops and introduced pasture grasses. Much of the plain is
grassy woodland where eucalyptus trees dominate, but acacias (wattles) are
common and casuarinas grow along the water courses. The largest hills are
covered with dry sclerophyll forest of eucalyptus, and casuarinas. However,
some of the natural forest has been replaced with plantations of exotic
pines.

Animal life in the ACT is varied and interesting. The only egg-laying
mammals in the world, the platypus and echidna, are locally common. Numerous
species of marsupials, including possums, wombats and four species of
kangaroos and wallabies can be seen. Significant reptile and amphibian fauna
live in the region. No fewer than 263 species of birds have been recorded in
the district, nearly a third of the total for Australia.

Reserves

The Namadgi National Park covers about 40 per cent of the ACT. It reaches to
the border of the NSW Kosciusko National Park, and together with parks in
Victoria, is part of a series of reserves which protect most of Australiaâs
alpine and sub-alpine areas.

The Namadgi National Park incorporates the Gudgenby Nature Reserve and a
substantial part of the Cotter River Valley. The Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve,
where many Australian animals and birds have been reintroduced, adjoins the
Namadgi National Park.

The Australian National Botanic Gardens, on the slopes of Canberraâs Black
Mountain, are planted entirely with native trees and plants. An area of
rainforest also has been developed.

Government

Until 1989, the ACT was administered by the federal Government, with the
federal Minister for Territories making all decisions relating to the ACT.
However, in the late 1980s, the federal Government made the decision that
the ACT should be granted self-government. The federal Parliament passed the
Australian Capital Territory (Self Government) Act in 1988, along with other
related legislation which established self-government in the ACT. The first
ACT election was held on 4 March 1989 and the ACT Legislative Assembly held
its inaugural sitting on 11 May 1989.

The ACT has a unicameral, or one house, form of parliament. The ACT
Legislative Assembly consists of 17 members, referred to as MLAs (Members of
the Legislative Assembly). All members vote to elect a Chief Minister, who
then in turn selects a further three ministers to form a cabinet.

The ACT is also represented in the federal Parliament by two Senators and
two Members of the House of Representatives.

Education

In 1995 there were 80 preschool centres with 4282 enrolments. The combined
total of primary, high schools and secondary colleges including
non-government schools is 138, with 61 566 students.

The Australian National University is comprised of the Institute of Advanced
Studies (IAS), six faculties and the Schools of Art and Music. The six
faculties are Arts, Asian Studies, Economics and Commerce, Law, Engineering
and Information Technology, and Science. A total of 10 540 students enrolled
at the university in 1995.

The University of Canberra has more than 9300 students studying in its six
faculties - Applied Science, Communication, Education, Environmental Design,
Information Sciences and Engineering, and Management. The university also
offers professional education as well as seven research centres.

The Canberra Institute of Technology is a multi-disciplinary, multi-campus
tertiary education institution. It provides vocational education and
training for the ACT and its region with an increasing national and
international market.

Transport

Canberra is served by the major domestic airlines and feeder services from
nearby provincial cities. Long-distance buses and modern express trains run
daily services to Sydney and Melbourne.

Canberra's internal transport system is based on a network of commuter
buses. However, many residents prefer to travel by private cars, using the
city's well developed wide roads and freeways.

Employment and industry

Although Canberra is Australia's national capital, the private sector
accounts for 52 per cent of the workforce in the territory.

Industries such as hospitality and tourism and advanced technology-
including computing, electronics and communication - are having strong
growth. Research and development activities are strongly represented,
reflecting the solid research base provided by the various institutions in
the ACT.

Tourism

Tourism is Canberra's major growth industry with more than 1.25 million
visitors a year, staying more than one night in the national capital.

In order of popularity, the most visited attractions are Parliament House,
the War Memorial, the National Gallery, Telecom Tower, and the Science and
Technology Museum. Parliament House alone receives more than 1.25 million
visitors annually and the Old Parliament House, re-opened at the beginning
of 1993 is also a very popular attraction.

Tourist accommodation varies from international standard hotels, serviced
apartments and units to budget accommodation such as youth hostels, caravan
parks and camping grounds.

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