New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a state on the east coast of Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria to the south, and South Australia to the west. Its coast borders the Coral and Tasman Seas to the east. The Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory are enclaves within the state. New South Wales' state capital is Sydney, which is also Australia's most populous city. In June 2020, the population of New South Wales was over 8.1 million, making it Australia's most populous state. Just under two-thirds of the state's population, 5.3 million, live in the Greater Sydney area.The Colony of New South Wales was founded as a British penal colony in 1788. It originally comprised more than half of the Australian mainland with its western boundary set at 129th meridian east in 1825. The colony then also included the island territories of Van Diemen's Land, Lord Howe Island, and Norfolk Island. During the 19th century, most of the colony's area was detached to form separate British colonies that eventually became the various states and territories of Australia. However, the Swan River Colony was never administered as part of New South Wales.
Lord Howe Island remains part of New South Wales, while Norfolk Island has become a federal territory, as have the areas now known as the Australian Capital Territory and the Jervis Bay Territory.
Penal transportation or transportation was the relocation of convicted criminals, or other persons regarded as undesirable, to a distant place, often a colony, for a specified term; later, specifically established penal colonies became their destination. While the prisoners may have been released once the sentences were served, they generally did not have the resources to return home.
1840May, 22
The transportation of British convicts to the New South Wales colony is abolished.
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Events on 1840
- 10Feb
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom marries Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. - 11Feb
La fille du régiment
Gaetano Donizetti's opera La fille du régiment receives its first performance in Paris, France. - 22May
New South Wales
The transportation of British convicts to the New South Wales colony is abolished. - 23Jul
Act of Union 1840
The Province of Canada is created by the Act of Union. - 11Oct
Bashir Shihab II
The Maronite leader Bashir Shihab II surrenders to the Ottoman Empire and later is sent to Malta in exile.