Is Tasmania a state of Australia?
Yes. Tasmania is one of Australia's six states. It is an island state south of the mainland across Bass Strait and joined the Commonwealth at Federation in 1901.
Tasmania was originally called Van Diemen's Land, after the Dutch governor who sponsored Abel Tasman's voyage in 1642. It became a separate British colony from New South Wales in 1825 and was renamed Tasmania in 1856.
The state includes the main island and hundreds of smaller ones, such as Bruny, Maria, King and Flinders islands. It has about 570,000 people, and its capital is Hobart. Launceston and Devonport are other main towns.
Wild and green
Almost half of Tasmania is protected in national parks and reserves, including the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The island is known for clean air, cool-climate food and wine, and wildlife such as the Tasmanian devil.
Tasmania has its own Parliament in Hobart, with a House of Assembly and a Legislative Council, and sends twelve senators to Canberra, the same number as every other state.
Did You Know?
Tasmania is about the same size as Ireland or Sri Lanka.