History UsefulNotes / AustralianStatesAndTerritories

Everyone leaves out Tasmania, the smallest state in size and population. It was the second European settlement in the entire country (after New South Wales), and as such the is second oldest as well; but Hobart, its capital, is dwarfed by many cities on the mainland. Except for the pristine, World Heritage forests in the state's west, most mainlanders don't know much about the island or its inhabitants. Tasmanians play Aussie Rules (or rather, watch it, because they don't have a team in the major league) and call that particular sausage "Belgium". Nicknamed "Apple Islanders" or "Taswegians", and often the subject of jokes about inbreeding and locals having two heads. You're more likely to hear older [[UsefulNotes/AustralianSlang slang]] in the younger generation in this area, and even then it's still rarer than in the older generation. Americans: This is Australia's Maine,[[note]]Seriously--besides the climate, rugged terrain, overwhelming whiteness, and greenery, they're also about the same size (70,000-80,000 square kilometers) and have similar nicknames: Tasmania is the "Holiday Isle", while Maine is "Vacationland"[[/note]] but with less lobster and with ''three'' coasts.

* New Zealand is the country equivalent of a little brother: you have a fair bit in common, you really do kind of like them, and it's your sworn duty to pick on them mercilessly.

However, '''be warned''', the following article consists of people bragging about their own state and bashing others. Expect the following stereotypes: Sydneysiders are yuppies, Adelaide is dull as dishwater (which is, incidentally, safer to drink than what comes out of the tap there), Queenslanders are rednecks (or bogans, as they are called here), Tasmanians are inbred, Melburnians are snobs, Western Australia is 3 hours and 30 years behind the rest of the country, and everywhere else is backwards and ignored. [[BlatantLies All of these stereotypes are completely and uniformly accurate.]] Unless it's ''your'' state, in which case, they're all wrong.

'''Motto(s):''' For the Queen, the Law and the People\\

We also think we should mention Wagga Wagga here, mostly because, well, it's a fun name. It also marks the "border" between UsefulNotes/AustralianRulesFootball and UsefulNotes/RugbyLeague's traditional territories and was where Sam Moran, a former member of Music/TheWiggles, grew up. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOpxdUjPiAs Don't call Wagga Wagga Wagga, calling Wagga Wagga Wagga is wrong.]]

** The town of Woden was named by a Norse farmer who named it after the god Odin from Norse mythology.

Technically just Canberra, but also includes a part of the Australian Highlands with several smaller towns. Here we find the House of Parliament, standing on a hill surrounded by the rings of roads and overlooking the artificial Lake Burley Griffin. Canberra was built on a sheep paddock in 1908, which early political satirists seized upon with vigour. It is a planned city, and is also known for being somewhat dull. In many ways, it is (sometimes unfairly) lumped into the category of Southern New South Wales, but it has a distinctiveness which keeps it separate from the surrounding state. Briefly had the license plate slogan "Feel the Power of Canberra", until someone realised that the rest of the country [[JustForFun/IReadThatAs read that as]] "Feel the Power of the Federal Government". It has its own government run along state government lines, but as it is smaller than many city councils, it tends to be a little strange- the Legislative Assembly fills the roles of both state and local government. Canberra is also Australia's porn capital. Yay Canberra! You can call sausage whatever you like. And also unlike practically everywhere else in the country, they {{take a third option}} when it comes to spectator sport: the most popular one there is rugby ''union''.

* Outside of Australia, Tasmania is mostly known for the Tasmanian devil -- or, more accurately, the cartoony whirling dervish that's depicted in ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'', which bears little resemblance to the real animal (which is a real piece of work in its own right).

Technically just Canberra, but also includes a part of the Australian Highlands. Here we find the House of Parliament, standing on a hill surrounded by the rings of roads and overlooking the man-made Lake Burley Griffin. Canberra was built on a sheep paddock in 1908, which early political satirists seized upon with vigour. It is a planned city, and is also known for being somewhat dull. In many ways, it is (sometimes unfairly) lumped into the category of Southern New South Wales, but it has a distinctiveness which keeps it separate from the surrounding state. Briefly had the license plate slogan "Feel the Power of Canberra", until someone realised that the rest of the country [[JustForFun/IReadThatAs read that as]] "Feel the Power of the Federal Government". It has it's own government run along state government lines, but as it is smaller than many city councils, it tends to be a little strange. The 'Fresh Sun-Ripened Tomato Party' is currently in power. Canberra is also Australia's porn capital. Yay Canberra! You can call sausage whatever you like. And also unlike practically everywhere else in the country, they {{take a third option}} when it comes to spectator sport: the most popular one there is rugby ''union''.

Australia has six states and two territories. Well, kinda: The Commonwealth itself goes a lot further, spreading to places like Norfolk Island in the Pacific, Christmas Island a few thousand kilometres southeast of Indonesia and a whole chunk of Antarctica, but everyone just thinks of Australia as just the mainland and Tasmania, much like Americans think the United States is just [[UsefulNotes/TheSeveralStates the 50 states and DC]]. However, this is with good reason: The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory have a much larger population and have much more political power than the smaller Australian territories elsewhere (which is admittedly a pretty low bar). But, for the sake of the article, we'll just say Australia has two territories. Good? Good.