Year 2 · Geography · Geographical knowledge and understanding
Australia's states and territories
Children locate Australia's six states and two mainland territories and their capital cities on a map.
Awaiting educator review. This material was drafted by our content team with AI assistance and is waiting for review by a qualified educator. Please check it suits your child before using it. Created 10 October 2026.
Learning goals
Learners will
- Name and locate Australia's states and mainland territories.
- Match each state and territory to its capital city.
Success looks like
- I can name the six states and two mainland territories.
- I can find my own state or territory on a map.
- I can match capital cities to states and territories.
The big idea
Australia is divided into states and territories. There are six states and two mainland territories.
- New South Wales: capital Sydney
- Victoria: capital Melbourne
- Queensland: capital Brisbane
- Western Australia: capital Perth
- South Australia: capital Adelaide
- Tasmania: capital Hobart. Tasmania is an island state.
The two mainland territories are the Australian Capital Territory, where Canberra, the capital city of Australia, is located, and the Northern Territory, whose capital is Darwin. Western Australia is the largest state and Tasmania is the smallest. State borders were drawn during colonial times and do not match the boundaries of First Nations Countries, of which there are many more.
Worked examples
Finding my state
Find your state or territory on the map and colour it in.
- Find the name of where you live on the map.
- Trace its border with your finger.
- Colour it in and mark its capital city with a dot.
Answer: A coloured map showing the child's state or territory and capital city.
Matching capitals
Which state has Perth as its capital?
- Find Perth on the map: it is on the west coast.
- The state it is in is Western Australia.
Answer: Western Australia.
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
What is the capital city of Australia?
Canberra — Canberra, in the ACT, is Australia's capital.
Which is the largest state?
Western Australia — Western Australia is the largest state.
What is the capital of Queensland?
Brisbane — Brisbane is Queensland's capital.
Which state is an island?
Tasmania — Tasmania is an island state.
What is the capital of the Northern Territory?
Darwin — Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory.
How many states does Australia have?
6 — There are six states.
What is the capital city of Victoria?
Melbourne — Melbourne is Victoria's capital.
What is the capital city of South Australia?
Adelaide — Adelaide is South Australia's capital.
Watch out for
- Many people think Sydney is the capital of Australia. It is the capital of New South Wales; Canberra is the national capital.
- Children may think state borders show where First Nations groups live. First Nations Countries existed long before and do not follow state borders.
Tips for parents
- Put a map of Australia on the wall and mark places you have visited or where relatives live.
- To show that Australia has many First Nations Countries, look at the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia together, noting that its boundaries are approximate and that local communities are the best source of information about their Country.
- Use a puzzle map of Australia; these are widely available and very effective.
Go further
- Make a fact card for each state and territory with its capital and one interesting feature.
- Plan an imaginary road trip visiting three capital cities.
- Find out the name of the First Nations people whose Country your capital city is on.