new south wales

English - English

Definition of new south wales in English English dictionary: The original name conferred on Australia by Captain James Cook, and used to describe the entire eastern portion of the continent; The colony that was founded in 1788, which grew progressively smaller as other colonies were separated from it, and became a state in 1901; One of the six states of Australia, situated in the south-eastern part of the continent, with its capital at Sydney; NSW a state in southeast Australia, next to the Pacific Ocean, which has the largest population and the most industry of any state in Australia. It produces steel, coal, grain, and wool, and its capital city, Sydney, is Australia's main business and financial centre. State (pop., 2001: 6,609,304), southeastern Australia. Bounded by Queensland, the Pacific Ocean, Victoria, and South Australia, it has an area of 309,130 sq mi (800,640 sq km); the capital is Sydney. The dominant geographic feature is the Great Dividing Range. Inhabited from prehistoric times, New South Wales was claimed for Britain by Capt. James Cook in 1770. The colony included the entire continent except for Western Australia. The interior was explored throughout the 19th century and colonies were set up there, separate from New South Wales. In 1901 it became part of the Commonwealth of Australia. The state ceded the area of the Australian Capital Territory in 1911. New South Wales is the centre of commercial farming, industry, and culture in Australia; region in southeastern Australia; an Australian state in southeastern Australia; nsw