Queensland is the Australian state that occupies the north-eastern corner of the continent. The state is bordered by the Northern territory, South Australia and New South Wales and is the second largest state in Australia only beaten by Western Australia. Furthermore, Queensland is the third most populous state in Australia after Victoria and New South Wales. Queensland was like most of the Australian states and territories already populated by Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, when the British arrived, but the state got its name when it was separated from New South Wales in 1859. Queensland is also the home of the famous tourist destination and city, Brisbane. Brisbane, or at least the area on which Brisbane is situated was originally a penal colony and the city is located in the south-eastern corner of the state where the Queensland population is concentrated. Take advantage of cheap car hire in Brisbane or a cheap rental car in Cairns and use these destinations as a base for exploring Queensland.