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
Looking forward to the rest of this series!
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