The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) operates on Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) during winter months, which is 10 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+10). During daylight saving time, observed from the first Sunday in October to the first Sunday in April, the ACT switches to Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), which is UTC+11.
The ACT includes Canberra, Australia's capital city, and the surrounding region. The territory shares the same timezone as New South Wales (which surrounds it), Victoria, and Tasmania. Canberra is home to the Australian Parliament, numerous government departments, and national institutions.
Canberra was purpose-built to serve as Australia's capital, chosen as a compromise between rivals Sydney and Melbourne. The city was designed by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin after an international design competition in 1912. It officially became the capital in 1927.