The Territory was formally ceded to the Government of Australia by the Government of New South Wales in 1909 and additional land at Jervis Bay was also surrendered to the Commonwealth for the establishment of a sea port for the capital.
Tharwa is the oldest official settlement in the AustralianCapitalTerritory, having being proclaimed in 1862.
In 1974 the Council became a fully elected LegislativeAssembly, advising the Department of the CapitalTerritory, and in 1979 this became a House of Assembly of 18 elected members.