Location of actual borders 1770 to present
The animated diagram depicts the borders of the separate colonies and eventual States from early settlement of the latter part of the 1770s to the present day.
The initial colony of New South Wales included all territories west to the 135th meridian.
South Australia was first to separate from New South Wales in 1834. Victoria and Queensland separated as new colonies in 1851 and 1859 respectively.
Queensland's western boundary at this point in time was thought to traverse the 141st meridian. It wasn't until 1862 that Queensland was extended further west to incorporate the 138th meridian as its boundary.
Return to Establishing Queensland’s borders
Last updated: 22 June 2009