NSW Fact Sheet
What is the origin of the name 'New South Wales'?
New South Wales
was named by Captain James Cook, who thought it looked like South Wales
in Britain.
Flag. The flag of New South Wales is a British Blue Ensign 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 centre of the cross is a golden lion
passant guardant. It was adopted on 18 February 1876.
State colours.
Sky blue.
Floral emblem.
Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)
Animal emblem. Platypus.
(Ornithorhynchus anatinus) The
adult male's average length is about 50cm and its weight is
approximately 1.7kg. The female, however, is smaller and will reach an
average length of 44cm and weigh about 0.9kg.
Marine emblem. Blue Groper.
(Achoerodus viridis) A member of the wrasse family, the Blue
Groper grows to 1.2m in length.
Bird emblem. Kookaburra. (Dacelo
novaeguineae) At 47 cm tall and 500 grams in weight, one of the
largest members of the kingfisher family. The Kookaburra is a member of
the subfamily Daceloninae, the forest or wood kingfishers.
Population.
6,663,700
Aboriginal population. 121, 142 (28.7% of all
Aboriginal people in Australia).
Longest river.
The Murray-Darling River: 4,685 km
Highest mountain. Mount Kosciuszko: 2,228 m
Tallest waterfalls. Wollomombi 220 m (100m as single drop), Ellenborough 200 m (single drop)
Hottest temperature. 52.8 degrees Celcius at Bourke
Coldest temperature. minus 23.0 degrees Celcius at Charlotte Pass (not far from Mount Kosciuszko).
Greatest temperature range. The area with the greatest difference between its highest and lowest recorded temperatures is White Cliffs, in western NSW, with an extreme range of 57.2 degrees Celcius.
Wettest town. Dorrigo, with an average rainfall of 2,004mm per year.
Total Area. 800,628 square km (800 642 including islands)
Border Length. 4,635 km (adjoining Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory)
Coastline. 2,007 km (stretching from Cape Howe in the south to Tweed Heads in the north)
National Parks.
More than 140 national parks, covering about 4 million hectares.
Capital. Sydney
Main exports.
Agriculture: dairy products, fruit, honey, mutton, poultry, sugar, wheat, wool.
Forestry: timber, woodchips.
Manufacturing and processing: iron and steel, machinery, motor vehicles, paper, agricultural implements, chemicals, clothing, fertilizer, glassware, textiles
Mining: coal, copper, gems, lead, mineral sands, silver, tin, zinc.
Oldest building. Cadmans Cottage, The Rocks