New South Wales (abbreviated as NSW) is a state on the east coast of Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria to the south, and South Australia to the west. Its coast borders the Tasman Sea to the east. The state capital is Sydney, which is also Australia’s most populous city. In March 2018, there were over 7.9 million people living in New South Wales, which made up 32% of Australia’s population.
The first European settlers in New South Wales were British convicts who arrived in 1788 aboard the First Fleet ships: HMS Sirius, HMS Supply, and eleven other vessels. Most of these first settlers had committed crimes in Britain and had been sentenced to transportation for life. They established a penal colony at Port Jackson, which became known as Sydney Cove. This site was chosen because it had a good natural harbour and was not inhabited by Aboriginal Australians. The colony grew quickly and by 1825 it had a population of 35,000 people.
Today, New South Wales is one of Australia’s most populous and economically important states. It is home to a diverse range of industries including agriculture, manufacturing, mining, finance, and tourism. The state has a strong service sector with many world-class universities and hospitals located here. Sydney is also one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations with its iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge attracting visitors from all over the globe