New South Wales (abbreviated as NSW) is a state on the east coast of Australia.

It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria to the south , South Australia to t he west, the Tasman Sea to the east and surrounds the whole of the Australian Ca pital Territory. New South Wales's capital city is Sydney, which is also the sta te's most populous city. As of June 2013, the estimated population of New South Wales was 7.4 million,[8] making it Australia's most populous state. Just under two-thirds of the state's population, 4.67 million, live in the Greater Sydney a rea.[9] Inhabitants of New South Wales are referred to as New South Welshmen.[1] [2] The colony of New South Wales was founded in 1788. It originally comprised a lar ger area of the Australian mainland also including Lord Howe Island, New Zealand , Norfolk Island and Van Diemen's Land. During the 19th century, large areas wer e separated to form the British colonies of Tasmania, South Australia, New Zeala nd, Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory (1863). The smaller areas of territory, Norfolk Island, the Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Terr itory, ceded to the federal government of Australia. Lord Howe Island remains pa rt of New South Wales.