South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent and with a total land area of 984,377 km² (380,070 sq mi), it is the fourth largest of Australia's states and territories. It is bordered to the west by Western Australia, to the north by the Northern Territory and Queensland, to the east by Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, and along the south by the Great Australian Bight and the Southern Ocean. With 1.5 million people, the state comprises less than 10 per cent of the Australian population and ranks fifth in population among the states and territories. The majority of its people reside in the state capital, Adelaide, with most of the remainder settled in fertile areas along the south-eastern coast and River Murray.

The state's origins were unique in Australia as a freely-settled, planned British province. Official settlement began on 28 December 1836 when the state was proclaimed at The Old Gum Tree by Governor Hindmarsh. The guiding principle behind settlement was that of systematic colonisation, a theory espoused by Edward Gibbon Wakefield that was later employed by New Zealand. The aim was to establish the province as a centre of civilisation for free immigrants, promising civil liberties and religious tolerance. Although its history is marked by economic hardship, South Australia has remained politically innovative and culturally vibrant. Today, the state is known as a state of festivals, and of fine wine.

The state's economy centres on the agricultural, manufacturing and mining industries and has an increasingly significant finance sector as well.

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NEWS.com.au | South Australia

Man jailed for frenzied killings
Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:03:25 -0000
AS his 11-year-old son looked on, Minh Ly Tran attacked his ex-wife in a homicidal frenzy, fatally stabbing her and her younger son.
Man pleads not guilty over fatal crash
Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:51:27 -0000
A MAN has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of four others, including two of his cousins.
Bikie to spend 30 years in jail for killing
Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:44:55 -0000
BIKIE and former boxing champion Edward Yost subjected his partner to a series of sadistic and vicious beatings, before leaving her body to rot in his basement.
Jailed bikie filmed 'trophy' beatings
Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:29:46 -0000
BIKIE and former boxing champion Edward Yost subjected his partner to a series of sadistic and vicious beatings before leaving her body to rot in his basement.
Mum charged with murder, attempted murder
Mon, 07 Dec 2009 07:00:47 -0000
A 47-year-old Adelaide woman has been charged with the murder of her four-year-old son and the attempted murder of his nine-year-old brother.
Mum charged with murder, attempted murder
Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:45:34 -0000
A 47-year-old Adelaide woman has been charged with the murder of her four-year-old son and the attempted murder of his nine-year-old brother.
Man defends attack on Premier charge
Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:50:01 -0000
THE man charged with assaulting South Australian Premier Mike Rann has appeared in court and has indicated he will defend the charge.
'School students to start uni in Year 12'
Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:32:15 -0000
YEAR 12 students will be able to fast-track their way into university and have it count towards their tertiary entrance score, or possibly a degree, in South Australia.
Student delegate heading for Copenhagen
Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:32:24 -0000
A STUDENT delegate to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen says the world must address the issue because the future of the planet is at stake.
Police negotiators called in to hospital
Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:32:30 -0000
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN police negotiators are on scene at the Lyell McEwin Hospital, at Salisbury, where a man has barricaded himself inside a room.

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