Western Australia border
Encyclopedia
Western Australia
's eastern border is longitude
129° east
. Following the settlement of the Swan River Colony
in 1829
, the colony of Western Australia was commissioned in March 1831
. The eastern boundary was declared to be 129°
, that is coinciding with the western boundary of New South Wales
at the time.
In 1788
, Governor Phillip
claimed the continent of Australia only as far west as the 135th meridian
in accordance with his commission. In 1825
, the western boundary of New South Wales was relocated at 129°
to take in the new settlement at Melville Island
.
It has been suggested that the 1788 claim by the British of 135° east
was in reference to Spain's
claims under the Treaty of Tordesillas
. Spain was seen as no longer having an interest in the area. On the other hand, the other signatories to the treaty, the Portuguese
still had a presence in Macau
and East Timor
. Adoption of 135° east
as a boundary would minimise provocation of the Portuguese. By 1825, however, Britain was powerful enough and found it convenient to adopt the original line of the Portuguese under the treaty, 129° east
.
The actual border is not quite straight, with the WA-NT and WA-SA borders being displaced by 127m due to a survey error. In June 1968, two monuments were erected to mark the borders at Surveyor Generals Corner.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
's eastern border is longitude
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
129° east
129th meridian east
The meridian 129° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, Australia, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
. Following the settlement of the Swan River Colony
Swan River Colony
The Swan River Colony was a British settlement established in 1829 on the Swan River, in Western Australia. The name was a pars pro toto for Western Australia. In 1832, the colony was officially renamed Western Australia, when the colony's founding Lieutenant-Governor, Captain James Stirling,...
in 1829
1829 in Australia
See also:1828 in Australia,other events of 1829,1830 in Australia and theTimeline of Australian history.-Governors:Governors of the Australian colonies:*Governor of New South Wales - Ralph Darling*Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania - Colonel George Arthur...
, the colony of Western Australia was commissioned in March 1831
1831 in Australia
See also:1830 in Australia,other events of 1831,1832 in Australia and theTimeline of Australian history.-Governors:Governors of the Australian colonies:*Governor of New South Wales - Ralph Darling ....
. The eastern boundary was declared to be 129°
129th meridian east
The meridian 129° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, Australia, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
, that is coinciding with the western boundary of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
at the time.
In 1788
1788 in Australia
-Leaders:*Governor of New South Wales – Captain Arthur Phillip*Governor of Norfolk Island – Philip Gidley King*Commanding officer of the colony's marine presence – Major Robert Ross-Events:* 18 January – HMS Supply of the First Fleet arrives in Botany Bay....
, Governor Phillip
Arthur Phillip
Admiral Arthur Phillip RN was a British admiral and colonial administrator. Phillip was appointed Governor of New South Wales, the first European colony on the Australian continent, and was the founder of the settlement which is now the city of Sydney.-Early life and naval career:Arthur Phillip...
claimed the continent of Australia only as far west as the 135th meridian
135th meridian east
The meridian 135° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, Australasia, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
in accordance with his commission. In 1825
1825 in Australia
See also:1824 in Australia,other events of 1825,1826 in Australia and theTimeline of Australian history.- Governors:Governors of the Australian colonies:*Governor of New South Wales – Major-General Sir Thomas Brisbane...
, the western boundary of New South Wales was relocated at 129°
129th meridian east
The meridian 129° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, Australia, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
to take in the new settlement at Melville Island
Melville Island, Northern Territory
Melville Island or Yermalner Island lies in the eastern Timor Sea, off the coast of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is west of the Cobourg Peninsula in Arnhem Land and north of Darwin....
.
It has been suggested that the 1788 claim by the British of 135° east
135th meridian east
The meridian 135° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, Australasia, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
was in reference to Spain's
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
claims under the Treaty of Tordesillas
Treaty of Tordesillas
The Treaty of Tordesillas , signed at Tordesillas , , divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal along a meridian 370 leagueswest of the Cape Verde islands...
. Spain was seen as no longer having an interest in the area. On the other hand, the other signatories to the treaty, the Portuguese
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
still had a presence in Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
and East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
. Adoption of 135° east
135th meridian east
The meridian 135° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, Australasia, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
as a boundary would minimise provocation of the Portuguese. By 1825, however, Britain was powerful enough and found it convenient to adopt the original line of the Portuguese under the treaty, 129° east
129th meridian east
The meridian 129° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, Australia, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
.
The actual border is not quite straight, with the WA-NT and WA-SA borders being displaced by 127m due to a survey error. In June 1968, two monuments were erected to mark the borders at Surveyor Generals Corner.