Queensland

"Queensland es uno de los estados (y el segundo más grande) que forman la Mancomunidad de Australia. Se encuentra ubicado en la parte noreste del país, siendo Brisbane su capital. Es el único estado australiano con un sistema legislativo unicameral, llamado Parlamento de Queensland. La zona fue ocupada por primera vez por los indígenas australianos y los isleños del estrecho de Torres, que llegaron entre 40.000-65.000 años, según diversos métodos de datación. Más tarde, Queensland se convirtió en colonia de la Corona Británica, separándose de Nueva Gales del Sur el 6 de junio de 1859, una fecha que ahora se celebra en todo el estado como Día de Queensland. El área que actualmente ocupa la capital del estado, Brisbane, fue originalmente la colonia penal Bahía de Moreton. Posteriormente, el Estado promovió el asentamiento libre, y la economía actual de Queensland está dominada por el turismo, la agrícultura y los sectores de recursos naturales. La población del estado se concentra en el sudeste de Queensland, que incluye: Brisbane, Logan City, Redland City, Ipswich, Toowoomba y la Gold Coast y Sunshine Coast. Otros centros regionales importantes son Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Ingham y Mount Isa. Queensland es a menudo llamado por el apodo de Estado del Sol, ya que goza de un clima cálido y una buena parte del estado está en el trópico."

"Queensland (abbreviated as QLD) is the second-largest and third-most-populous state in the Commonwealth of Australia. Situated in the north-east of the country, it is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean. Queensland has a population of 4,750,500, concentrated along the coast and particularly in the state's South East. The state is the world's sixth largest sub-national entity, with an area of 1,852,642 km2. The capital and largest city in the state is Brisbane, Australia's third largest city. Often referred to as the "Sunshine State", Queensland is home to 10 of Australia's 30 largest cities and is the nation's third largest economy. Tourism in the state, fuelled largely by its warm tropical climate, is a major industry. Queensland was first inhabited by Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. The first European to land in Queensland (and Australia) was Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon in 1606, who explored the west coast of the Cape York Peninsula near present-day Weipa. In 1770, Lieutenant James Cook claimed the east coast of Australia for the Kingdom of Great Britain. The colony of New South Wales was founded in 1788 by Governor Arthur Phillip at Sydney; New South Wales at that time included all of what is now Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania. Queensland was explored in subsequent decades until the establishment of a penal colony at Brisbane in 1824 by John Oxley. Penal transportation ceased in 1839 and free settlement was allowed from 1842. The state was named in honour of Queen Victoria, who on 6 June 1859 signed Letters Patent separating the colony from New South Wales. The 6th of June is now celebrated annually statewide as Queensland Day. Queen Victoria, who went on to become Britain and Australia's second longest reigning monarch, chose an eponymous name for the colony over Cooksland, which had been suggested by the influential local Presbyterian minister John Dunmore Lang in honour of navigator James Cook. Queensland achieved statehood with the Federation of Australia on 1 January 1901."