New South Wales is in the south-east of the country and is the most populous and heavily industrialized state in Australia with its capital Sydney. It is Australia's largest city with a total area of 802,000 square kilometers with a population of 5,400,00 people and has the largest population of any Australian state. The combined territories of Austria, Denmark, Germany, Holland, UK and Switzerland fit inside its boundaries.
In 1770 Captain Cook took possession for the British of all Australian Territories east of the 135th meridian of the east longitude and named them New South Wales. Today the founding State has shrunk somewhat and occupies just 10 per cent of the continent.
New South Wales is the most varied of all states with four main zones and these are as follows. Seaboard and coastal lowlands which has over 1300 kilometers of coastline, the Table-lands formed by the Great Dividing Range and comprising of an almost unbroken series of plateau varying in width from 50 kilometers to 160 kilometers. The Snowy Mountains region has the highest peak on the continent, Mount Kosciusko, which is 2228 meters. The Western slopes which is a fertile region with the rivers flowing inland including the and Murray River which in 1900 kilometers long, and the Western plains comprising of almost two thirds of the state. This area has poor rainfall and limited river water thus causing the fertile soil to fall short of its potential.
Its climate is a temperate climate and is generally free of extreme heat and cold, however the Snowy Mountains experience snow and winter frosts over long periods of time.
New South Wales flag was adopted on 18 February 1876. The flag of New South Wales is a British Blue Ensign defaced with the state badge. The badge depicts the cross of St George in red on a white disc. At the extremity of each arm of the cross is an eight pointed gold star, and in the center of the cross is a golden lion passant guardant.
The first fleet of convicts and military guards arrived in Sydney Harbour on 26th January 1788. When Captain Phillip raised the Union Jack New South Wales was christened by five volleys of gunfire and a thousand mugs of rough Rio spirit. After the initial setbacks the settlement became a thriving and almost self supporting by 1792 and in 1793 the first free settlers began to arrive.
COAT of ARMS
In 1906 King Edward VII granted the Coat of Arms to the State of New South Wales.
The arms is a Kangaroo and Lion.
The Motto Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites which means Newly Risen, How Bright Thou Shinest.
FLORAL EMBLEM of the State of New South Wales is the WARATAH (Telopea speciosissima).
In 1962 the Waratah was proclaimed as the floral emblem. From the Greek word telopos (Telopea), it means "seen from afar" and from the Latin word speciosus, the meaning is showy and issimus. This plant usually grows in to an upright shrub to about 3 meters but is often shorter. The flowers occur in a tight cluster at the ends of the erect stems and are normally blood red, but some variations to the color are normal. Flowering occurs from mid spring to early summer.
The leaves are large, leathery and may be irregularly serrated. , overall, the inflorescence can be 150mm or more in diameter. Large, leafy bracts occur at the base of the inflorescence. They are up to 250mm long.
FAUNAL EMBLEM of the State of New South Wales is the KOOKABURRA Dacelo gigas)
In 1971 the Kookaburra was named one of the states faunal emblems. The Kookaburra is about 45 cm (18 ins) long and weighs about 1/2 kilogram (1 lb). Its got a big square head and really huge beak. It is the worlds biggest kingfisher. The Kookaburra eats insects, mice, fish, snakes, frogs, and other small animals. They have weak feet, but very strong necks. They kill their food by thrashing it against a tree, or by dropping it from a high distance.
Kookaburra's live in most of Australia except for the dry parts. The Kookaburra has dark brown wings with creamy white streaks, and it has a creamy white tummy.
The Kookaburra has a very strange voice. It almost sounds like a person laughing. That's why it is sometimes called a Laughing Kookaburra.
FAUNAL EMBLEM of the State of New South Wales is the PLATYPUS (Ornithorhynchus anatinus).
The platypus was proclaimed as a faunal emblem in 1971. It is found only on the edges of rivers and freshwater lakes in eastern Australia.
Platypus are most active for several hours after dusk and before dawn as during the day they rest in a burrow by the bank. Platypus are known for their excellence in the water as both a divers and swimmers. Whilst underwater the Platypus has its eyes and ears shut and being buoyant, it must continuously swim downwards with its webbed forefeet to remain submerged. Webbing on the front feet extends well beyond the claws, forming large paddles for swimming. The hind-feet of the Platypus are also webbed but are employed in steering or braking - not in propulsion. Platypus can swim underwater for two minutes, but may 'rest' underneath a submerged object for up to 10 minutes. Dense fur fibres trap a layer of air next to the skin, giving excellent insulation for an animal that spends up to 12 hours each day in water as cold as 0 degrees Celsius.
Sydney hit the record books by being the first country to have a 'surf lifesaving association' in 1906. These people were volunteers and they patrolled the beach on weekends and holidays when the number of bathers were high.
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