New South Wales (better known as NSW) is the first state; the pioneer state of Australia. NSW was established when the first penal colony was settled in Australia in the late eighteenth century. Since these early days people have continued moving from all parts of the world to enjoy the weather and make their cultural contribution to this state characterised by encouraging diversity and acceptance. NSW is definitely a state for the professional looking to move to warmer climate and fantastic beaches.
NSW at a glance
NSW is the biggest state by population and the oldest state by settlement. Its regional areas offer diversity in climate, industry, and recreation. The state offers something for everyone, even beyond its capital and biggest city, Sydney.
Population
NSW is home to just under eight million people. Sydney, the largest city in the state and Australia overall, has 5.7 million residents. The second two largest cities Newcastle and Wollongong have just under 500,000 and just over 200,000 people respectively. This means that over four out of every five people in NSW live in one of these three cities.
Main Regions
The following are some of the more popular regions of NSW, and for what the area is most well-known.
Greater Sydney
The Sydney area is diverse in population, with the city being the main destination for many immigrants. The Sydney area is packed with tourism destinations, such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, and the Centrepoint Tower. The city is constantly home to festivals and excitement. The city itself pays homage to its multiple cultures with a perfect melting-pot of cuisine and cultural experiences available across the city and in many of its suburbs.
Newcastle and The North Coast
The north coast of NSW is home to terrific beaches for surfing, great waters for fishing, and plentiful with opportunity. The city of Newcastle itself has a rich tradition in mining and steelwork which has given way to the technological innovation of the future. The city also serves as a major trading hub, with Newcastle harbour being the main port for both coal and grain to be shipped out from northern NSW.
Wollongong and The South Coast
Wollongong is Newcastle’s southern equivalent. The south coast is packed with popular holiday destinations and small bespoke rural towns rich in early history. The climate is milder than the northern half of the state. Wollongong is also a city on the rise, boasting itself as being a new hub for technology, art, food, and entertainment.
Northwest and Central West
Northern inland regional NSW is well known as the industrial and economic backbone of the state where coal is mined and agriculture continues to deliver some strong exports for the nation. Often affected by drought, this rich history of survival has become characteristic of the region.
Riverina
The Riverina region of NSW boasts some of the most pleasant landscapes and most fertile lands in the country. The majority of the wine grapes grown in NSW come from this region, along with a decent proportion of the state’s food production for both grains and livestock. The Riverina enjoys a more comfortable and favourable growing condition compared to the northern part of the state.
Climate
NSW is somewhat varied in temperature with well-defined summer and winter seasons. The state enjoys the cooler winters of the southern states, especially on the coast where the arctic air is more influential. NSW is often subjected to hot summer days that get more intense further to the north. Some parts of NSW can experience snow and frost during winter. One defining component of the rainfall in NSW is the Great Dividing Range; mountains that divide the coast from inland Australia.
Lifestyle
NSW has a broad and rich cultural atmosphere, on account of the various nationalities that have moved to the state to call Australia home. NSW, more than many other parts of Australia, has become a place of diversity and acceptance.
Sports
NSW has many sporting traditions. Many people in NSW follow the National Rugby League (NRL), where a strong rivalry is held with northern neighbour Queensland. Once per year the two states compete in the NRL State of Origin to find out which state produces the best NRL players. NSW also participates in Australian Rules Football. Its many residents enjoy a broad range of sporting pastimes including golf, lawn bowls, netball, cricket, and field hockey. Like many parts of Australia, sport is cherished.
Cuisine
The cuisine of NSW is influenced by those who have moved there. The most traditional and classic of meals served in a NSW pub is a simple steak or schnitzel, served with either mash and steamed vegetables or hot chips and salad, and with your choice of gravy. From the British influence, fish and chips or a meat pie is a culinary staple. From the Italian influence every NSW home is capable of making a version of spaghetti bolognaise and there is a pizza shop in virtually every small town. The middle eastern influence gave every regional city and small town a kebab shop. City and regional NSW is also home to many Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, and Korean cuisine stops. Even Japanese sushi and ramen (also known as 2 minute noodles) have become a popular choice for NSW residents.
Beverages
The many wineries spotting the countryside give rise to the bespoke vineyards in the Hunter, Mudgee, and Orange regions producing small batches of beloved wines. NSW is also home to Tooheys, one of the more popular lagers of the nation. A customary part of life for any Australian at work or home is the ‘cuppa’ break; offering either tea or coffee seemingly regardless of the heat of the day.
Cost of Living
Sydney is the most expensive city in Australia to live in, although with the highest opportunity for earning. If considering living in Sydney it is best to move there with well-defined and marketable skills. The cities of Newcastle and Wollongong to the north and south also offer competitive wages although with more affordable costs of housing. Sydney is some of the most expensive housing in the country, but that’s also because it is worth it.
Main Places of Interest
The state of NSW is home to many amazing landmarks and natural formations that are a must-see for any resident or tourist. There is no shortage of things to see and do in NSW.
Sydney’s Many Things to Do
The city of Sydney is more than just the largest city, it is packed with activities for both day and night. With two casinos, multiple contemporary and historical landmarks, and cultural offerings across the city, it is a place where weeks could be spent while still discovering new areas. The Opera House and Harbour Bridge are both incredible to see by day or night. Sydney’s nightlife also has much to offer, with plenty of shows and festivals at any time of the year.
Lithgow
Historic Lithgow is situated just a few hours west of Sydney. Lithgow is packed with stunning architecture and the surroundings are home to natural wonders such as the Three Sisters rock formation and the Jenolan Caves. The heritage-listed ZigZag Railway is an engineering wonder. There are also many bushwalks in the area as well as windy mountainous terrain drives to enjoy.
Coffs Harbour
On the north coast of NSW is the coastal city of Coffs Harbour, home to popular NSW tourist destination and landmark, The Big Banana. This is a common theme with any road trip across Australia; to visit a town that has a large sculpture. Coffs Harbour was originally home to banana plantations but is now a great family destination with a broad range of activities including fishing, swimming with dolphins, or enjoying the small town of Dorrigo; a small hub of arts and culture just to the south of Coffs Harbour.
Sydney or Dubbo Taronga Zoo
Both Sydney City and the regional city of Dubbo are home to Taronga Zoo. As well as being Australia’s main zoo attraction with giraffes, elephants, lions, tigers, and a broad range of other animals, both zoos provide the opportunity to sleep at the zoo to enjoy the sounds of the African savanna. It may not be the most Australian thing to do in Australia, but it’s still exciting.
Main Industries
The bulk of the industry in NSW is based around the city of Sydney being a hub for the Australasian market and Australia as a whole. There is also some strength in the regional areas of NSW.
Financial and Insurance Services
Having financial and administrative dominance in Australia, the banking and financial services sector is a major part of Sydney’s economic strength, and therefore a major industry for NSW. This means a high need for a broad range of skills including accounting, marketing, human resource management, and administration, just to name a few.
Professional, Scientific, and Technical
With many of the nation’s universities in NSW, there is a great strength in scientific and technical contributions to the economy. Many NSW universities are world renown for engineering, and as a result these institutions have developed advances in technology especially used in mining and energy production worldwide.
Manufacturing
There continue to be many parts of NSW that show strength in manufacturing and production, especially with the desire for Australian steel in the Asian markets. NSW continues to exercise dominance in this industry.
Agriculture
Agriculture continues to be a strong part of the NSW economy, with a large amount of wheat and cotton being produced, especially for the export market. NSW is also known for livestock farming producing export-quality beef, as well as dairy and lamb’s wool.
Education
NSW provides education in both state and private schools up until year twelve. From a tertiary perspective, there is plenty of opportunity to learn hands-on trades in the many TAFE and technical colleges. NSW is also home to some of the leading Australian universities, especially when it comes to the engineering disciplines.
Fun Facts about NSW
- NSW originally included the entire eastern coast of Australia. Victoria separated in 1851 and Queensland in 1859.
- The Sydney Harbour Bridge opened in 1932 was built over eight years by 1400 workers. It now holds eight lanes of traffic and two train lines.
- NSW is the birthplace of many Australian actors including Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Rebel Wilson, Rose Byrne, and Toni Collette.
- The state has the longest border in Australia at 4,635km.
- The Sydney Opera House has one million tiles covering its roof.
Top Five Reasons to Live in NSW
- Diversity. In NSW, you can experience almost any culture.
- Regional Economy. NSW has one of the strongest regional economies in all of Australia.
- Laid back. Especially regional NSW is known for its laid back and relaxed attitude.
- Beaches. Whether surfing, swimming, or fishing NSW is known for some of the safest and most exciting beaches in the country.
- Pay. Across the board NSW is recognised as having a higher average pay compared to other states.
Closing Thoughts
NSW is home to a rich lifestyle and heritage. Its diverse population gives the opportunity to enjoy multiple cultures in just one state. With the highest population, there is also the greatest opportunity for employment as well as activities to do outside of the work day. NSW also offers a moderate climate to live in, offering a cool relief from Australia’s famous hot weather. NSW isn’t simply the first state in terms of settlement, but should also be the first state to consider moving to in Australia.
Visa options for New South Wales
In terms of skilled migration visas, New South Wales offers several pathways. The entire NSW region outside the Sydney metropolitan area is considered “regional”, including Wollongong and Newcastle. This means you can settle there using one of the regional visa subclasses. You can find general information about Australian skilled migration visas here.
In addition, some regions in New South Wales also have a DAMA agreement in place. This gives potential migrants with occupations that do not appear on the standard Australian skilled occupation lists a pathway to an employer-sponsored visa. You can find more information about DAMA in our blog article.
What can the visa pathway look like?
There are different ways to make the dream of living and working in Australia a reality. The key is choosing the strategy that brings you closest to your goal — meaning the visa option that provides the strongest prospects in your individual circumstances. Each visa subclass has its own requirements and comes with specific rights and conditions.
The best approach will depend entirely on your personal situation.
That’s why it’s essential to approach your Australian visa pathway in a structured way and clarify the key requirements in advance, to avoid complications during the application process. Visapath Australia is here to help you map out your personalised pathway to an Australian work visa. We advise you on the different options and support you step by step along the way.
