New South Wales

New South Wales, oldest state of Australia, lying in southeastern Australia between the Great Dividing Range and the Pacific Ocean. Because of its mild climate, good harbors, sandy beaches, and fertile land, it is the most populous state in Australia. Agriculture, mining (coal, silver, zinc), and manufacturing are the major components of the economy. Sydney, its capital and coastal city, contains the majority of the population, made up of people of British and other European descent, native Aborigines, and Asian immigrants. James Cook, an English navigator, was the first European to reach New South Wales (1770). With a group of English convicts, Captain Arthur Phillip established the first English settlement (1788).

See also: Australia.