What are the States and Territories of Australia?

Australia is made up of six states (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania) and two main mainland territories (the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory). Each state has its own constitution, parliament and premier. The states began as separate British colonies. New South Wales was founded in 1788, and Tasmania, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Queensland were established or separated from it between 1825 and 1859. On 1 January 1901 the six colonies federated to form the Commonwealth of Australia. The Northern Territory was transferred from South Australia to the federal government in 1911, and the Australian Capital Territory was created the same year for Canberra.