States of Australia – New South Wales

This is the first of an occasional series going through the 6 States of Australia in alphabetical order to check out how they got named, what their flag is like and other things of interest.  Unlike the States the first state begins with 'N'!

Australia is a federal country with a written constitution. It is part of the Commonwealth and it's Head of State is HM The Queen.

Location – New South Wales is on the East Coast of Australia – Queensland is to the north and Victoria to the south.  About 8 million people live in NSW.

Origin of name – New South Wales began life as a British penal colony in 1788.  At that time the colony also encompassed the modern day New Zealand – a set of islands way to the East (3 hours flight)  Captain Cook named the colony first up New Wales (after, you guessed it, Wales) but later changed it to New South Wales.

Nicknames – the First State, the Premier State (note the classic Australian modesty)

Capital – Sydney (also the biggest city in the country let alone the State)

Flower – Waratah

Bird - Kookaburra

Sport – Rugby League and, in the summer, Cricket

Signature foods in Australia – Vegemite, Macademia nuts, Chiko Rolls and Meat Pies

Byron Bay

Famous places to visit – Byron Bay, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Opera House, Blue Mountains, Jervis Bay

Famous businesses/brands – Woolworths (not related to the UK co), AMP (insurance etc), Dick Smith Electronics, Harvey Norman (furniture etc)

Famous people from NSW – Nicole Kidman (but born in Hawaii of Australian parents), Hugh Jackman, Toni Colette, Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee), Donald Bradman, Colleen McCullough (author), Clive James