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Australian Central Time (ACT)

Also known as: Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) and Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT)

Time zone map of ACDT
Currently observing ACDT.
Areas with same time currently (UTC +10:30).
Currently observing ACDT – Australian Central Daylight Time.
Currently has same time zone offset as ACDT (UTC +10:30) but different time zone name.

The term Australian Central Time (ACT) is often used to denote the local time in areas observing either Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT) or Australian Central Standard Time (ACST).

In other words, in locations observing Daylight Saving Time (DST) during part of the year, Australian Central Time is not static but switches between ACDT and ACST.

Australian Central Time UTC Offset

See Time Zone Map

What Is Australian Central Time?

Australian Central Time (ACT) is the time zone in the middle of Australia. It is used in three Australian states and territories: New South Wales, South Australia, and the Northern Territory.

In New South Wales, it is only used in Broken Hill (Yancowinna County).

Australian Central Time shares a border with Australian Eastern Time (AET) in the east and Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) in the west. It also shares a border with Australian Central Western Standard Time (ACWST), a time zone only used in Eucla.

What Does ACT Time Zone Mean?

Unlike other time zone denominations, which have a fixed time, Australian Central Time refers to a geographical area where the time changes twice yearly as Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins and ends. Australian Central Standard Time is UTC+9:30, while Australian Central Daylight Time is UTC+10:30.

Only two of these generic time zones in Australia include standard and daylight time: Australian Eastern Time (AET) and Australian Central Time (ACT). The country has a complex set of time zones, some of which have an unusual UTC offset.

Converting ACT to Other Australian Time Zones

Australian Central Time (ACT) is 30 minutes behind Australian Eastern Time (AET).
To convert ACT to AET, add half an hour.

Where and when is Australian Central Time observed?

Australia

Australian states/territories using ACST in the winter and ACDT in the summer

  • New South Wales - only in Yancowinna County
  • South Australia

ACST all year round

Some locations, such as the ones below don't switch and are in ACST all year long.

Australia

Australian states/territories using ACST all year

  • Northern Territory