Civil liberties and religious tolerance: These are the two principles that South Australia, a state of the Commonwealth of Australia, was founded on. Planned by British authorities according to the 'systematic colonisation' model that was used to settle New Zealand, South Australia is unique among the Commonwealth's states in that it was pioneered by freemen and homesteaders who owned their own property and were expected to partake in representative government, a situation that was quite different from that found in the continent's neighboring penal colonies. Today, that enlightened, idealistic, and responsible spirit continues in both the economy and culture of this stable, lightly populated state, as its capital of Adelaide is ranked by The Economist as one of the "Top Ten Most Livable Cities in the World". Indeed, the high quality of life found within South Australia extends even to more rural areas that, though noted for the arid plains and dry lakes that spread toward the shared border with the Northern Territory, begin to take on a hilly, lush feel along the coast of the loosely defined Southern Ocean. The Mediterranean climate of South Australia's seaside regions, which include Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, the McLaren Vale, and Coonawarra, has in fact become known throughout the world for the fine wines it effortlessly yields. Among these fertile vineyards are a number of country homes, both of contemporary and traditional design, that are perfectly suited to fulfill the role of luxury estates. Likewise, many of Adelaide's largest homes, which have been built according to a variety of Modernist styles, have been crafted with both comfort and 'green' considerations in mind. When the quality of this housing stock, the excellence found in the local school system, and the general economic and political stability of Australia are all considered, choosing to live in South Australia becomes an easy decision for anyone who values liberty and a land within which it can be truly enjoyed.