Time in Australia is divided into three separate time zones across four states, including two continental landmass states, and two island states.
Time in Australia is divided into three separate time zones across four states, including two continental landmass states, and two island states.
As a country, Australia is divided into three separate time zones across four states. The eastern states of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria are in the Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) zone, while Western Australia and South Australia are in the Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) zone. The Northern Territory is home to a third time zone known as Australian Western Standard Time (AWST).
Australia’s first inhabitants were Aboriginal peoples who had no formal method of telling time. They found their way around by following the sun or moon and observing nature’s rhythms—the seasons changing with each passing year, for example.
The indigenous population did not have a single concept of “time” but rather believed that there were two types: “dreaming time” and “waking up time.” Dreaming refers to dreaming about past experiences; waking up refers to thinking about future events such as taking care of children or growing crops on their land so they will have food later when it comes harvest season again next year..
Australian Central Standard Time (ACST)
Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) is the time zone that is used in the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, and Northern Territory. Its 10 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
ACST is a daylight saving time (DST) time zone. The DST period for ACST begins on the first Sunday in October at 2:00 am local time and ends on the first Sunday in April at 3:00 am local time.
During this period of time, ACST becomes Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), which is 11 hours ahead of UTC.
Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)
Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) is 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Its used in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. AEST is the same as the North American Eastern Time Zone (ET).
Australian Western Standard Time (AWST)
The time zone used in the Australian states of Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory is called Australian Western Standard Time (AWST). Its eight hours ahead of UTC, which means it is one hour ahead of the Eastern Standard Time in North America.
There are three time zones in Australia.
There are three time zones in Australia: ACST, AEST and AWST. These all have the same offset from UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)—UTC+9:30 for ACST, UTC+10:00 for AEST and UTC+10:30 for AWST. The state of Victoria uses both time zones along with New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia. Queensland and the Northern Territory use only one time zone—AEST or ACST respectively. The Australian Capital Territory is located in between them both so it has two official times—either 9 hours behind UTC during winter or 10 hours behind during summer depending on daylight saving hours (DLSH).
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed learning about the time zones in Australia.