Queensland

Queensland is best known as Australia's "Sunshine State" and as such enjoys a reputation both within Australia and internationally as a popular tourist spot for those looking to explore natural areas such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays and Fraser Island. It is, in fact, Australia's no. 1 tourist destination. As of the end of March 2012, Queensland had a population of 4,537,700, making it the third most populated state in Australia, after New South Wales and Victoria.

The majority of Queenslanders reside in the state's capital of Brisbane. Because of its warm, and in some areas quite tropical, climate, Queensland's main industry is tourism and residents as well as visitors enjoy the state's many beaches, theme parks and natural beauty.

Country singer and current American Idol host Keith Urban and the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin are amongst two of the most well known people to come from Queensland.