New South Wales

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

New South Wales

Role / Field:

Australia's most populous state, featuring Sydney and rich coastal history.

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

New South Wales is an eastern Australian state situated along the coast bordering the Coral and Tasman Seas. It shares borders with Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia, and contains internal territories like the Australian Capital Territory. The region was established as a British penal colony starting in 1788.

Key Developments & Impact

The state's capital is Sydney, which currently holds the title of Australia's most populous city. As of 2025 projections, New South Wales has surpassed eight and a half million residents, with the Greater Sydney area housing nearly two-thirds of the population. The initial colonial boundaries were defined by setting the western limit at the 129th meridian east in 1825.

Enduring Legacy

The original colony encompassed several island territories, including Van Diemen's Land and Norfolk Island. Throughout the nineteenth century, portions of this vast territory were separated to form distinct British colonies that eventually became modern Australian states and territories. This process fundamentally shaped the political geography of the continent.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1788: 1788 Milestone — The region was established as a British penal colony starting in 1788.
2. 1825: 1825 Milestone — The initial colonial boundaries were defined by setting the western limit at the 129th meridian east in 1825.
3. 2025: 2025 Milestone — As of 2025 projections, New South Wales has surpassed eight and a half million residents, with the Greater Sydney area housing nearly two-thirds of the population.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: New South Wales

True or False: “Did the original boundaries of the Colony of New South Wales encompass the entire Australian mainland?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The original colony comprised more than half of the mainland, but its western boundary was later set at the 129th meridian east in 1825.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Arthur Schopenhauer — Historical peer (Born in 1788) (1788): Pioneering philosopher known for 'The World as Will and Representation' and philosophical pessimism.
• Augustin-Jean Fresnel — Historical peer (Born in 1788) (1788): Pioneering optical physicist known for the wave theory of light and the invention of the Fresnel lens.
• Alasdair MacIntyre — Historical peer (Died in 2025) (2025): Influential Scottish-American philosopher known for virtue ethics and political theory.
• Alfred Brendel — Historical peer (Died in 2025) (2025): Czech-born Austrian pianist, composer, and scholar renowned for Beethoven.
• A. P. Hill — Historical peer (Born in 1825) (1825): Confederate general who distinguished himself in the American Civil War.
• Adelaide Anne Procter — Historical peer (Born in 1825) (1825): English poet and philanthropist known for her work on poverty and faith.

Frequently Asked Questions about New South Wales