States, territories and capitals
Australian citizenship test study notes, summarised from page 10 of Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, the official booklet the test is based on.
- Australia is a federation of six states and two mainland territories. Canberra is the national capital.
- New South Wales — Sydney. First British colony; Sydney is the largest city. Icons: Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House.
- Victoria — Melbourne. Smallest mainland state; gold-rush wealth built fine buildings. Icons: MCG, 12 Apostles, Royal Exhibition Building.
- Queensland — Brisbane. Second-largest state. Torres Strait Islands to the north; Great Barrier Reef on the east coast.
- Western Australia — Perth. Largest state. Desert east, agricultural/wine south-west, many mines. Icons: Ningaloo Coast, Margaret River, the Kimberley.
- South Australia — Adelaide. Rugged coastline, famous wine regions, colonial architecture. Icons: Barossa Valley, Flinders Ranges.
- Tasmania — Hobart. Smallest state, separated from the mainland by Bass Strait. Icons: Cradle Mountain, Port Arthur, Bay of Fires.
- Australian Capital Territory — Canberra. Between Sydney and Melbourne; home of Parliament House and the High Court.
- Northern Territory — Darwin. Tropical north, red desert south. Icons: Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon.
Our Common Bond, p. 10
Sample practice questions
Try these, then check your answer. They’re our practice questions, not the real test questions.
1. How many states does Australia have?
- Eight
- Six
- Seven
Show answer
Answer: B. Six
There are six states and two mainland territories.
Our Common Bond, p. 10
2. Which is Australia’s largest city?
- Brisbane
- Sydney
- Canberra
Show answer
Answer: B. Sydney
Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and the nation’s largest city.
Our Common Bond, p. 11
3. Much of which state has unspoilt wilderness landscapes?
- Victoria
- New South Wales
- Tasmania
Show answer
Answer: C. Tasmania
Tasmania is the smallest state, and much of the island has unspoilt wilderness landscapes.
Our Common Bond, p. 11
Practise all 37 questions on this topic