Jervis Bay Territory: Size, population, location and is it in the ACT?
The area of the Jervis Bay Territory is just 67 square kilometres. The political oddity exists because it was felt the Australian Capital Territory needed a port.
The Jervis Bay Territory is one of Australia’s political oddities. This small exclave of New South Wales has a population of under 400 people, and is run by the Commonwealth of Australia. The area of the Jervis Bay Territory is tiny, too – it covers just 67 square kilometres.
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The Jervis Bay Territory area doesn’t even cover the whole of Jervis Bay, either. Popular holiday spots such as Hyams Beach, Huskisson and Callala Beach are outside the territory, in New South Wales.
What is the Jervis Bay Territory?
The size of the Jervis Bay Territory might make it seem more than a little pointless. But there was some logic when it was carved out. Go to the National Capital Exhibition in Canberra, and you’ll learn that the Australian Capital Territory was created after Australia federated. This was to stop squabbling between the two most powerful states – New South Wales and Victoria. An agreement was made – a new federal territory would be cut out of New South Wales to house the new federal capital.
However, that territory was well inland, and it was felt that the new capital should have a port. So, a separate federal territory would be excised from New South Wales, too. Jervis Bay was picked as the best location for this, and New South Wales ceded control in 1915.
If that’s not confusing enough, wait for the rest of the story. The Jervis Bay Territory was never part of the Australian Capital Territory. It was administered separately, and has been passed between various government departments over the years. It was effectively regarded as being part of the ACT, and managed under the same umbrella. Then, in 1989, the Australian Capital Territory was granted self-government status.
Governance of the Jervis Bay Territory
The Jervis Bay Territory did not become self-governing, and is currently under the stewardship of the
Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities. Its laws largely follow those of the Australian Capital Territory, but some ACT laws – most notably the Canberra cannabis decriminalisation laws – do not apply in the Jervis Bay Territory.
Is the Jervis Bay Territory part of the ACT?
The Jervis Bay Territory is counted as part of the ACT for political representation purposes, and uses the Australian Capital Territory courts. But most local services are contracted to neighbouring councils in New South Wales.
Within the Jervis Bay Territory are the Royal Australian Navy College, HMAS Creswell, and the Wreck Bay Aboriginal community.
But about 90% of the Jervis Bay Territory is taken up by the Booderee National Park. This is home to plenty of native wildlife and enjoyable walking trails to white sand beaches such as Murrays Beach.
6 Jervis Bay experiences worth booking now
- See the dolphins and lounge above the water on a dolphin cruise with boom netting.
- Explore the beaches, spotting wildlife on the way, with a sea kayaking tour.
- Watch sunset on the beach, then explore the heavens with an astrophysicist on an evening stargazing experience.
- Admire the migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.
- Try cycling on the sand on a Culburra Beach fat-biking tour.
- Discover the lesser-visited hideaways on a hidden secrets cruise.
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