Australia's Coldest Recorded Temperature

Australia's official lowest temperature is −23.0 °C (−9.4 °F), recorded at Charlotte Pass (Kosciuszko Chalet) in the Snowy Mountains, New South Wales, on 29 June 1994.

Correction of Common Misconception

The frequently cited −23 °C at "Mt. Nunnery" (Northern Territory) on 21 June 1981 is not recognized by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). The NT site was non-standard; Charlotte Pass is a professional BoM station.

Other Notable Extremes

• Lowest Inhabited: −19.6 °C at Perisher Valley (NSW), 20 Jul 2019.
• Lowest Capital City: Canberra −10.0 °C (11 Jul 1971).
• Tasmania: −14.2 °C at Liawenee (12 Aug 2020).

Why So Cold?

Charlotte Pass (1,837 m) sits in a topographic "cold trap" — radiative cooling on clear, calm winter nights pools dense cold air in the valley. Snow cover enhances it.

Australia's cold extremes are alpine; the vast interior rarely drops below −5 °C.