| Country: | Australia |
|---|---|
| Long Name: | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Abbreviations: | AU, AUS |
| Capital: | Canberra |
| Time Zones: | 6 (Main Country) |
| Total Time Zones: | 9 (with dependencies) |
| Dial Code: | +61 |
Time Zones Currently Being Used in Australia
| Offset | Time Zone Abbreviation & Name | Example City | Current Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTC +8 | AWST | Australian Western Standard Time | Perth | Thu, 9:27:57 am |
| UTC +8:45 | ACWST | Australian Central Western Standard Time | Eucla | Thu, 10:12:57 am |
| UTC +9:30 | ACST | Australian Central Standard Time | Darwin | Thu, 10:57:57 am |
| UTC +10 | AEST | Australian Eastern Standard Time | Brisbane | Thu, 11:27:57 am |
| UTC +10:30 | ACDT | Australian Central Daylight Time | Adelaide | Thu, 11:57:57 am |
| UTC +11 | AEDT | Australian Eastern Daylight Time | Sydney | Thu, 12:27:57 pm |
| LHDT | Lord Howe Daylight Time | Lord Howe Island | Thu, 12:27:57 pm | |
How Many Time Zones Are There in Australia?
There are 6 time zones in Australia. Adding the country's 3 dependencies (see table below) brings the total to 9 time zones.
Australia's mainland states and territories are divided into 5 standard time zones. As Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory don't use Daylight Saving Time (DST), there are only 3 corresponding DST time zones.
Generalized Time Zones in Australia
| Time Zone Abbreviation & Name | Offset | Current Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | Australian Central Time | UTC +9:30 / +10:30 | Thu, 11:57:57 am |
| AET | Australian Eastern Time | UTC +10:00 / +11:00 | Thu, 12:27:57 pm |
Time zones in mainland Australia are often referred to by their generic name, without differentiating between standard time and Daylight Saving Time designations. For example, Australian Central Time (ACT) refers to both Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) and Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT), depending on which is currently in use.
Note: Local time in these time zones changes when Daylight Saving Time begins and ends.
Time Zone Not Currently Being Observed in Australia
| Offset | Time Zone Abbreviation & Name | Commences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTC +10:30 | LHST | Lord Howe Standard Time | Apr 6, 2025 |
The above time zone is used during other parts of the year. It will become active again after the next clock change as Daylight Saving Time begins or ends.
Daylight Saving Time is used in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria.
Lord Howe Island is a part of New South Wales. It uses Lord Howe Standard Time (LHST) as standard time and Lord Howe Daylight Time (LHST) during DST.
Time Zones Being Used in Dependencies of Australia
| Offset | Time Zone Abbreviation & Name | Dependency | Type | Current Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTC +6:30 | CCT | Cocos Islands Time | Cocos Islands | Territory | Thu, 7:57:57 am |
| UTC +7 | CXT | Christmas Island Time | Christmas Island | Territory | Thu, 8:27:57 am |
| UTC +12 | NFDT | Norfolk Daylight Time | Norfolk Island | Territory | Thu, 1:27:57 pm |
The Australian dependencies don't use DST.
Time Zones in Australia
Australia has a complex set of time zones, some of which have an unusual UTC offset.
Some locations, including Eucla and Broken Hill, observe time zones that are different from the state they are located in.
Australian Time Zone History
Australia standardized its civil time in 1895. Until then, each location in the country observed its own solar time. From 1895 Australia based its local times on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), then the world's time standard.
Time Zone News
- 8/28/2024 – October 2024: DST starts in Australia
- 3/7/2024 – DST Ending in Australia
- 8/30/2023 – Australia & New Zealand Start DST
- 3/3/2023 – Australia & New Zealand End DST
- 8/26/2022 – Australia & New Zealand Start DST
More Information
- Time Zone Converter
- Meeting Planner
- Event Time Announcer/Fixed Time
- Time Zone Abbreviations
- Time Zone News
- Daylight Saving Time
Time Zone Map
