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Difficulty: Very hardAustralian Capital Territory

The creation of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) resolved a long-standing competition between Sydney and Melbourne over which city should host the federal government. Considering this historical and geographical context, which statement accurately describes the ACT’s position within the continent?

  1. The territory is an inland region positioned between Sydney and Melbourne and is completely encompassed by the state of New South Wales.Answer
  2. B
    The territory is an inland region between Sydney and Melbourne that was formed from land specifically ceded by both New South Wales and Victoria.
  3. C
    The territory is the seventh Australian state, established as a coastal enclave between Victoria and New South Wales to allow for a national harbor.

Answer

The Australian Capital Territory is an inland region located between Sydney and Melbourne that is completely surrounded by the state of New South Wales.
The correct answer is accurate because the Australian Capital Territory is an inland territory (not a state) that was established on land ceded by New South Wales. It is geographically located between Sydney and Melbourne and is entirely enclosed by New South Wales.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the geographical context of the ACT.
The ACT is located between Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne.
The location was a compromise between the competing interests of these two cities.
2
Determine the land's origin and surrounding state.
The territory is an enclave entirely surrounded by New South Wales.
The land for the national capital was ceded by New South Wales to the Commonwealth.
3
Differentiate between its constitutional status and that of a state.
It is a Territory, not a State.
Under the Australian Constitution, Territories like the ACT and the Northern Territory have different governing powers than the six original states.

Key Concept

Geographical and political status of the Australian Capital Territory

Hints

1
Think about whether the ACT is one of the six states or something else.
2
Recall which single state physically surrounds the nation's capital.
3
The ACT was created as a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne, but the land was taken from the state where Sydney is located.

Practice More

Review the differences in governance between an Australian State and a Territory to understand why the ACT's status is significant.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Australian Capital Territory

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