Is Tasmania a country?

The status of Tasmania is easy to misunderstand. But is Tasmania a country, or something else?

Tasmania is often regarded as being out on its own. And in many ways it is. Tasmania is located below the Australian mainland, separated by the Bass Strait.

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It’s not entirely surprising, therefore, that some people think Tasmania is a country in its own right.

Tasmania status: Is Tasmania a country?

But is Tasmania a country? Well, no. It isn’t. Tasmania is a state of Australia. It’s the smallest state of Australia, and the only island state. But it is still very much part of Australia, the country. And, if you look at the continental plates, it is very much part of Australia, the continent.

Why is Tasmania not a country?

Perhaps a more interesting question is “why isn’t Tasmania a country?” The answer is that it never really has been. Prior to European discovery, several Aboriginal groups lived on the island, with mutually-acknowledged theoretical borders between their lands.

The first European sighting of Tasmania came in 1642, when Dutch explorer Abel Tasman sailed past. He named the island Van Diemen’s Land, in honour of his sponsor.

Tasmania as a colony

Van Diemen’s Land was settled by the British in 1803 as a military outpost of New South Wales. It became a separate colony in 1825, and was renamed as Tasmania in honour of Abel Tasman in 1856.

Until 1901, Tasmania was a British colony. A rough modern day equivalent would be what the Falkland Islands is to the UK now. Or what Puerto Rico and American Samoa are to the US.

Tasmania after Federation

In 1901, however, the six British colonies in Australia federated and became an independent country. Tasmania became the smallest of six Australian states, albeit one that’s slightly bigger than Sri Lanka.

Tasmania’s modern day status is similar, therefore, to that of Delaware or Idaho. Or, perhaps more piquantly, Hawaii. Whichever way you squint at it, however, Tasmania is not a country.