What has made New South Wales the place it is today and what makes it different from other Australian states? Ideal for everyone who needs an introduction to the history of this state, this book offers readers a concise chronicle of events from the first fleet to the present day.

The history of New South Wales and Australia once seemed interchangeable. But since at least the 1850s New South Wales has had a unique history, partly growing out of its origins as a convict colony at Port Jackson, and largely shaped by natural resources that produce a wealth and a home for an ever increasing population. Ideal for students and general readers who need an introduction to the history of New South Wales, this book offers readers a concise chronicle of events from the first fleet to the present day.