What is a Territory or a Commonwealth place?

Any land within Australia’s national border that is not part of one of the states is called a territory.

Mainland

The Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory are mainland territories.

External

Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, and Norfolk Island are external territories.

The Australian Antarctic Territory and the sub-Antarctic Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands are also external territories (however they are governed differently to the other external territories).

Commonwealth place means a place acquired by the Commonwealth for public purposes, other than the seat of government (Canberra).[1]