The top Australian cities, that is the State capitals, are home to 15 million of Australia’s 20 million people. In other words, three-quarters of Australian live in one of its eight capital cities. This is a much more polar situation than we are used to in Europe, where there are many more cities, closer together, with outlying satellite towns.

The distances involved mean that commuting between cities is impossible – it’s an hour’s flight between Sydney and Melbourne or Brisbane (or 12 hours’ drive), so the population throng around their urban metropolises like bees around a hive.  So the State capital becomes synonymous with the State, which is very different from the British concept of cities within counties.

The top Australian cities lead and feed the rest of the State, and stamp their own identity on it. Although some capital cities are little bigger than a British county town, they are still the focal point of the sometimes vast borders surrounding them. There’s only one capital city per state, although satellite developments issue forth from each.

The Australian capital cities

State	City	Population
New South Wales	Sydney	4.3 million
Australian Capital Territory	Canberra (National Capital)	340,000
Victoria	Melbourne	3.7 million
Tasmania	Hobart	210,000
South Australia	Adelaide	1.1 million
Western Australia	Perth	1.47 million
Northern Territory	Darwin	121,000
Queensland	Brisbane	1.85 million

Click on our Australian city guides for an idea of the layout, vibe and character of each city, along with its top sights, must-do moments, maps and more. Our guide to the Gold Coast is here.

The top Australian cities are located on the map below.

If you’re thinking of emigrating to Australia and want to find out about the best places to live, then check out our migration city guides for the lowdown on everything you need to consider when deciding where to live, from house prices to transport links.