New South Wales borders

Borders of New South Wales

New South Wales (NSW), a state on the east coast of Australia, shares its borders with three other Australian states and territories:

• North: Queensland
• South: Victoria
• West: South Australia

The eastern border of NSW is formed by the coastline of the Pacific Ocean, specifically the Coral and Tasman Seas.

Internal Borders:

NSW also completely surrounds two internal territories:

• Australian Capital Territory (ACT): This territory contains the national capital, Canberra.
• Jervis Bay Territory: A small coastal territory that was surrendered by NSW to the Commonwealth Government to provide a seaport for the ACT.

Border Features:

The borders of NSW are marked by a variety of geographical features, including:

• Rivers: The Murray River forms a significant portion of the border with Victoria. Other rivers that delineate parts of the border include the Macintyre and Barwon Rivers with Queensland, and the Murray River with South Australia.
• Mountain Ranges: The Great Dividing Range runs along much of the NSW coastline and forms part of the border with Queensland. The Snowy Mountains, part of the Great Dividing Range, mark the southern border with Victoria.
• Man-made Markers: In some areas, the border is simply marked by straight lines surveyed across the land.

Border Towns:

There are several towns located on or near the borders of NSW, including:

• Queensland Border: Mungindi, Tenterfield
• Victorian Border: Albury-Wodonga (twin towns straddling the border), Eden
• South Australian Border: Broken Hill

Historical Context:

The borders of NSW have evolved over time. Originally, the colony of New South Wales encompassed a much larger area, including what is now Queensland, Victoria, and parts of South Australia. As these areas were settled and developed, they were separated from NSW to form their own colonies and, eventually, states.

Significance of Borders:

State borders in Australia have administrative and legal significance, affecting areas such as:

• Jurisdiction of state laws and government: Each state has its own parliament and laws.
• Taxation: Different states have different tax rates and regulations.
• Service provision: Responsibility for services like health and education generally lies with the state government.

This article provides a basic overview of the borders of New South Wales. For more detailed information, please refer to specific articles on the individual borders and border towns.