The Oldest Town in New South Wales Is 113 Years Older Australia Itself

Australia is known for its unique wildlife, ecology, and history. The massive island continent was isolated until Great Britain began colonizing it in the late 18th century. Colonization by Great Britain resulted in a dramatic change for the Australian continent and Aboriginal Australian people, its first inhabitants. This article explores the rich and complicated history of the oldest town in New South Wales.

New South Wales is one of the five states of Australia. It is nicknamed The First State due to the fact that it was the first colony of Great Britain on the Australian continent. As such, the oldest town in New South Wales is also the oldest town in Australia. This town grew from its unusual origins to eventually become the most populous city in Australia.

The Oldest Town in New South Wales

New South Wales was originally founded by Great Britain as the Colony of New South Wales. Its oldest city dates back to this early colonial period. The oldest town in New South Wales is Sydney, the state’s capital. Sydney was first settled by Great Britain in 1788. Let’s discover the unusual and complicated history of Sydney.

Sydney was first established in 1788 as a penal colony of Great Britain. A penal colony is a distant place where prisoners are transported for punishment by isolation and forced labor. Penal colonies have a long history, with states around the world using them from the 18th century to the present day. They were once commonly used by countries in Europe and South America. Penal colonies are still widely used in Russia, where there are around 700 of these communities. Additionally, Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a present-day penal colony of the United States. This practice of sending prisoners to an isolated place traces back to Great Britain’s use of the Australian continent.

How Sydney Became a British Penal Colony

Before the Thirteen Colonies gained independence in 1783, Great Britain sent convicts to the colonies to be sold into slavery. After independence, Great Britain could no longer send its convicts overseas. Britain searched for a new place to send them, eventually choosing the Australian continent. In January 1788, the First Fleet of 11 British ships arrived in Botany Bay. The ships were led by Captain Arthur Phillip and carried convicts and settlers. They established their settlement at Sydney Cove, on the southern shore of the Sydney Harbor. Second and Third Fleets arrived in 1790 and 1791, bringing more convicts, settlers, and supplies. Settlers began to develop a town around the penal colony, and that town eventually grew into the massive metropolis it is today. Sydney has a population of 5,297,089, making it the most populous city in Australia.

Although Sydney was first settled in 1788, Australia did not become an independent country until over a century later. Let’s explore how Australia became a country.

How Australia Became a Country

Long before Australia became a country, it was the original home of Aboriginal Australians who have lived there for at least 65,000 years. Then, with their first settlement in 1788, Great Britain began the process of transforming the Australian continent into British colonies. Great Britain went on to establish six colonies on the Australian continent: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. Eventually, these six colonies sought more autonomy from Great Britain. On January 1, 1901, the Governor-General of the Australian colonies proclaimed the Commonwealth of Australia. The first capital city of the Commonwealth of Australia was Melbourne in Victoria, until 1927 when it moved to Canberra in New South Wales. When the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed in 1901, Sydney became the capital of New South Wales, and still remains so.

Since Sydney was settled in 1788, and Australia did not become a country until 1901, Sydney is 113 years older than Australia itself.

What Is the Oldest Town in Australia?

The oldest town in Australia is Sydney, first settled in 1788. After Sydney, the second-oldest town is Parramatta, which was also settled in 1788. Parramatta is 10 months younger than Sydney. Since the soil in Sydney was not suitable for farming, settlers established Parramatta around 25 miles west of Sydney. Parramatta was established at the furthest point inland on the Parramatta River navigable by boat.

Which City is Older: Sydney or Melbourne?

Melbourne is the second-most populous city in Australia, after Sydney. While Sydney was first established in 1788, Melbourne was not established until 1835. This makes Sydney 47 years older than Melbourne.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Maurizio De Mattei/Shutterstock.com