Jervis Bay Territory
The Jervis Bay Territory (/ˈdʒɜːrvɪs, ˈdʒɑːr-/; JBT) is an internal territory of Australia. It was established in 1915 from part of New South Wales (NSW), in order to give the landlocked Australian Capital Territory (ACT) access to the sea.
Jervis Bay Territory | |
|---|---|
Location of the Jervis Bay Territory in Australia Coordinates: 35°8′55″S 150°42′49″E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Separation from New South Wales | 1915 |
| Named for | John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent |
| Largest city | Jervis Bay Village |
| Government | |
• Administered by | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts |
| Parliament of Australia | |
• Senate | represented by Australian Capital Territory senators |
| included in the Division of Fenner | |
| Area | |
• Total | 67.8 km2 (26.2 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• March 2022 estimate | 313 |
• Density | 5.8/km2 (15.0/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+10:00 (AEST) |
| UTC+11:00 (AEDT) | |
| Postcode | NSW 2540 |
It was administered by the Department of the Interior (and later by the Department of the Capital Territory) as if it were part of the ACT, although it has always been a separate Commonwealth territory. The perception that it is part of the ACT stems from the fact that under the terms of the Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915, the laws of the ACT apply to the Jervis Bay Territory. In 1989, when the ACT achieved self-government, the Department of the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories took over responsibility for the JBT's administration; it has since been administered by various Commonwealth departments responsible for territories.