Australian Central Time Zone - ACT

Australian Central Time or ACT is a blanket term used to describe the local time observed in both the Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT) and Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) zones. Because of that, Australian Central Time is not static and it switches depending on whether or not Daylight Saving is active.

Australian Central Daylight Time

Australian Central Daylight Time or ACDT has a UTC offset of +10:30. This means that the time zone is 10 and a half hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. The time zone is primarily observed by territories and states in Australia during the summer months when Daylight Saving is active. After Daylight Saving is over – during the winter – the affected territories switch to Australian Central Standard Time or ACST.

Australian Central Standard Time

Australian Central Standard Time or ACST has a UTC offset of +9:30. This means that the time zone is 9 and a half hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. The time zone is primarily observed by territories and states in Australia during the winter months when Daylight Saving is inactive. As soon as Daylight Saving begins – during the summer – the affected territories switch to Australian Central Daylight Time or ACDT.

Australian Central Standard Time and Australian Central Daylight Time are non-standard half-hour time zones. This means there is a 30 minute difference in local time from the actual one-hour time zone interval you’d usually see if traditional time standards were used.

Locations in Australian Central Time Zone

This time zone is active in:

• Australia

  • New South Wales in Yancowinna County

  • South Australia

  • Northern Territory

It is worth noting that the Northern Territory remains on Australian Central Standard Time all year long as they do not observe Daylight Saving.