Australian Capital Territory

Federal territory of southeastern Australia, an enclave in the state of New South Wales; it includes Jervis Bay Territory (the site of Canberra's port on the coast) for administrative purposes; area 2,400 sq km/926 sq mi (Jervis Bay 73 sq km/28 sq mi); population (2001 est) 311,500. Government administration and defence employs almost half of the population of Australian Capital Territory; retail, property, and business services are also important. Canberra is the main city in the territory.

Australian Capital Territory was the site of capital chosen in 1908. The territory was ceded to the Commonwealth of Australia by New South Wales in 1911; Jervis Bay area, on the New South Wales south coast, ceded in 1915 to provide the site for the port of Canberra. It is the seat of the Australian Government, which moved from Melbourne to Canberra in 1927.