New South Wales
New South Wales (NSW) is a state on the east coast of Australia with a total area of 809,952 km2 (312,724 sq mi).
The southeastern coast of the continent was first sighted by Europeans in 1770 on the first voyage of Capt. James Cook took possession of what he called New South Wales in the name of King George III.
On May 13, 1787, British Captain Arthur Phillip set sail from Portsmouth, England, to establish a convict colony in Australia.
He sailed with 11 ships, 759 convicts – 191 of whom were female – 13 children of convicts, 211 marines, 46 wives and children of marines, and his staff of nine.
Phillip landed at Botany Bay on the eastern coast of Australia on January 18, 1788, travelled some kilometres north to find a more suitable place for settlement and came ashore at Sydney Cove on January 26 in what is now the historic Rocks area at the southern end of today’s Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Having established Port Jackson, he then named the settlement Sydney after British Home Secretary Lord Sydney, who was responsible for the colony.
The first Australian penal colony was to be established by the British in 1788. Phillip was to be its governor. He remained as governor until 1792.
New South Wales also includes Lord Howe Island, 360 miles (580 km) east of the continent.
For more on New South Wales https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_New_South_Wales
Map of New South Wales
Coat of Arms for New South Wales.
The official coat of arms of the Australian state of New South Wales was granted by royal warrant of King Edward VII dated 11 October 1906.
For more on the Coat of Arms https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_New_South_Wales
Flag for New South Wales
The current state flag of New South Wales was officially adopted by the government of New South Wales in 1876.
The flag is based on the defaced British Blue Ensign with the state badge located in the fly. The badge, based on the coat of arms, is a white disc with the cross of St George, a golden lion passant guardant in the centre of the cross and an eight-pointed gold star on each arm of the cross.
For more on the flag https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_New_South_Wales
The Emblems of New South Wales
Mammal Emblem
The animal emblem of New South Wales is the platypus. Adopted in 1971 the platypus is a furry creature, about 30cm – 38cm long, it has webbed feet and a large duck-like bill which it uses to gather its food from the bottom of rivers.
Faunal Emblem
The Kookaburra is the bird emblem of New South Wales. This great brown kingfisher is sometimes called a ‘laughing jackass’ because of its distinctive territorial laughing call. Meat eaters, hunt snakes, lizards, fish and insects and live at forest edges, in clearings.
Floral Emblem
The Waratah is the floral emblem of New South Wales, a large (10-12cm across) and spectacular scarlet flower growing in the bush in clumps of tall stems. The Waratah is protected by law.
Fish Emblem
The Blue Groper was proclaimed the State fish of New South Wales in 1998. A friendly but powerful coastal fish that often follows divers. It can be up to a metre long and weigh between 2 and 15kg, though some specimens may reach 40kg or more.
Gemstone Emblem
The Black Opal was proclaimed the State gemstone of New South Wales in 2008. It is the rarest and most valuable type of opal. The name opal is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word Upala, which means ‘jewel’, and later the Greek derivative opállios, which means ‘to see a change in colour’.
Fossil Emblem
Mandageria fairfaxir is an extinct lobe-finned fish that lived during the Late Devonian period (Frasnian – Famennian). It is related to the much larger Hyneria; although Mandageria was smaller, it probably hunted in the same way.
For more on New South Wales Emblems https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbols_of_New_South_Wales
Colour Emblem
Sky Blue, White and Navy Blue
For more on New South Wales Colour Emblems
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_state_and_territory_colours