South Australia

South Australia occupies the south-central part of mainland Australia , and the state covers some of the most arid areas of the continents. It is bordered by Western Australia , Northern Territory and Queensland , New South Wales and Victoria . South Australia have a population of 1.5 million and the majority of the population lives in the state capital Adelaide . Other populous areas of South Australia can be found along the Murray River and in some of the more fertile areas on the south-eastern coast. Unlike many of the other states and territories, South Australia did not start as a penal colony, but was rather a planned province where settlement originally began in 1836. The state has a history of agriculture, manufacturing and mining and although these industries are still vital for the survival of South Australia , a growing financial sector is becoming increasingly important for the continued growth and prosperity for South Australia.