93-508: Willagee is a suburb of Perth , Western Australia 15 kilometres (9 mi) south-southwest of the Perth central business district . It is within the local government area of City of Melville , and the electoral district of Willagee , which takes its name from the suburb. Willagee is named after Willagee Swamp, the Noongar name of a now-reclaimed feature in the area. The suburb originally comprised
186-485: A 244-metre (801 ft) office building for Anglo-Australian mining company BHP . Perth's metropolitan area extends along the coast to Two Rocks in the north and Singleton to the south, a distance of approximately 125 kilometres (80 mi). From the coast in the west to Mundaring in the east is a distance of approximately 50 kilometres (30 mi). The Perth metropolitan area covers 6,418 square kilometres (2,478 sq mi). The built-up urban area of Perth
279-463: A ban that lasted until 1954. In 1933, two-thirds of Western Australians voted in a referendum to secede from the Australian Federation . However, the state general election held at the same time as the referendum had voted out the incumbent "pro-independence" government, replacing it with a government that did not support the independence movement. Respecting the result of the referendum,
372-433: A convict-supported settlement at King George's Sound (later Albany ) on the south coast of Western Australia in 1826, responding to rumours of potential French annexation, Perth marked the first comprehensive European settlement in the western third of the continent of Australia in 1829. Officially designated as "Western Australia" in 1832, the colony retained the informal moniker "Swan River Colony" for many years, after
465-501: A diverse influx of people, including Italians , Greeks , Dutch , Germans , Turks , Croats , and Macedonians . The Italian influence in the Perth and Fremantle area has been substantial, evident in places like the "Cappuccino strip" in Fremantle featuring many Italian eateries and shops. In Fremantle, the traditional Italian blessing of the fleet festival is held every year at the start of
558-621: A founding state of Australia". It was the last of the Australian colonies to agree to join the Federation, and it did so only after the other colonies had offered several concessions, including the construction of a transcontinental railway line from Port Augusta in South Australia to Kalgoorlie to link Perth with the eastern states. In 1927, Indigenous people were prohibited from entering large swathes of Perth under penalty of imprisonment,
651-728: A housing estate known as "Willagee Park", created by the State Housing Commission. Willagee was brought into existence "primarily to provide accommodation for employees in the new industrial area being developed by the Fremantle City Council ." Surveying and clearing of the land had commenced in December 1950, with a number of "first-class roads" constructed by the Melville Roads Board in 1951. A number of dwellings were prefabricated homes imported from Austria. The suburb
744-563: A maximum tidal amplitude of about 1 metre (3 ft 3 in), although water levels are also subject to barometric pressure fluctuations. Before the Tertiary , when the sea level was much lower than at present, the Swan River curved around to the north of Rottnest Island , and disgorged itself into the Indian Ocean slightly to the north and west of Rottnest. In doing so, it carved a gorge about
837-658: A pattern of development less in line with the British experience and more in line with North America. This was encouraged by the opening of the Narrows Bridge and the gradual closure of the Perth-Fremantle Tramways . The mining-pastoral boom of the 1960s only accelerated the pace of urban growth in Perth. In 1962, Perth received global media attention when city residents lit their house lights and streetlights as American astronaut John Glenn passed overhead while orbiting
930-447: A population of more than 100,000 is Adelaide , over 2,100 km (1,305 mi) away. Perth is geographically closer to both East Timor (2,800 km or 1,700 mi), and Jakarta , Indonesia (3,000 km or 1,900 mi), than to Sydney (3,300 km or 2,100 mi). Perth is Australia's fourth-most-populous city, having overtaken Adelaide in 1984. In June 2023 there was an estimated resident population of 2,309,338 in
1023-531: A protruding spit that extends up to 800 metres (2,600 ft) into the river, forcing river traffic to detour around it. The river narrows between Chidley Point and Blackwall Reach, curving around Point Roe and Preston Point before narrowing into the harbour. Stirling Bridge and the Fremantle Traffic Bridge cross the river north of the rivermouth. The Swan River empties into the Indian Ocean at Fremantle Harbour. Plant and animal life found in or near
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#17330851229111116-596: A sizeable part of the potable water requirements for Perth and the surrounding regions. The Avon River contributes the majority of the freshwater flow. The climate of the catchment is Mediterranean, with mild wet winters, hot dry summers, and the associated highly seasonal rainfall and flow regime. The Avon rises near Yealering , 221 kilometres (137 mi) southeast of Perth: it meanders north-northwest to Toodyay about 90 kilometres (56 mi) northeast of Perth, then turns southwest in Walyunga National Park – at
1209-450: A substantial number of Parsees who emigrated from Bombay – Perth being the closest Australian city to India – in 2021 those with Indian ancestry accounted for 3.5% of Perth's population Perth is also home to the largest population of Anglo-Burmese in the world; many settled here following the independence of Burma in 1948 with immigration taking off after 1962. The city is now the cultural hub for Anglo-Burmese worldwide. There
1302-425: A year after the establishment of the colony, the river rose 6 metres (20 ft) above its normal level. New settlers were still arriving in steady numbers and few permanent buildings had been constructed, with most living in tents and other temporary accommodation. These included caves along the river's edge and many found their belongings washed away and livestock drowned. Other abnormal flooding events occurred in
1395-476: Is 1,722 square kilometres (665 sq mi), the same as Wuhan or Salt Lake City and slightly smaller than London , making Perth the 67th largest urban area in the world. Perth is also the 50th least densely populated out of the 990 urban areas in the world with a population above 500,000. The metropolitan region is defined by the Planning and Development Act 2005 to include 30 local government areas , with
1488-513: Is 8.8 °C (47.8 °F) on 26 June 1956. It occasionally gets cold enough for frost to form. While snow has never been recorded in the Perth CBD, light snowfalls have been reported in outer suburbs of Perth in the Perth Hills around Kalamunda , Roleystone and Mundaring . The most recent snowfall was in 1968. The rainfall pattern has changed in Perth and southwest Western Australia since
1581-460: Is also a substantial Anglo-Indian population in Perth, who also settled in the city following the independence of India. At the 2021 census, 2% of Perth's population identified as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander . At the 2021 census, 74% of inhabitants spoke only English at home, with the next most common languages being Mandarin (2.3%), Italian (1.1%), Vietnamese (1.0%), Punjabi (0.9%) and Cantonese (0.9%). 41.8% of
1674-482: Is located at the intersection of Leach Highway and Stock Road, in the north-west corner of the suburb. Caralee Community School was formed in 2005 from a merger of Willagee Primary School and Carawatha Primary School, and is currently attended by approximately 300 students. The school is located in Melville Senior High School 's catchment area. The Fremantle Language Development Centre is also located at
1767-578: Is located on the edge of the Darling Scarp, flowing downhill across the coastal plain to its mouth at Fremantle. The Swan begins as the Avon River, rising near Yealering in the Darling Range , approximately 175 kilometres (109 mi) from its mouth at Fremantle. The Avon flows north, passing through the towns of Brookton , Beverley , York , Northam and Toodyay . It is joined by tributaries including
1860-418: Is now characterised by demountable, wooden cottages with stilts(spears), although it is in the midst of a sweeping redevelopment plan, which is supposed to improve the quality of the housing. The suburb is bounded by Leach Highway to the north, Garling Street to the south, Stock Road to the west and North Lake Road to the east. Willagee borders Melville and Myaree to the north and north-east, Winthrop to
1953-674: Is on generally flat, rolling land, largely due to the high amount of sandy soils and deep bedrock . The Perth metropolitan area has two major river systems, one made up of the Swan and Canning Rivers, and one of the Serpentine and Murray Rivers, which discharge into the Peel Inlet at Mandurah . The Perth-Gingin Shrublands and Woodlands and Banksia Woodlands of the Swan Coastal Plain straddle
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#17330851229112046-757: Is part of the South West Land Division of Western Australia, with most of Perth's metropolitan area on the Swan Coastal Plain between the Indian Ocean and the Darling Scarp . The city has expanded outward from the original British settlements on the Swan River , upon which its central business district and port of Fremantle are situated. Perth was founded by Captain James Stirling in 1829 as
2139-587: Is within the traditional territory of the Mooro , a Noongar clan, led by Yellagonga at the time of the British settlement. The Mooro was one of several Noongar clans based around the Swan River, known collectively as the Whadjuk . The Whadjuk themselves were one of a larger group of fourteen tribes that formed the south-west socio-linguistic block known as the Noongar (meaning 'the people' in their language ), also sometimes called
2232-777: The Australian Bureau of Statistics ' Perth (Major Statistical Division). The metropolitan extent of Perth can be defined in other ways – the Australian Bureau of Statistics Greater Capital City Statistical Area, or Greater Perth in short, consists of that area, plus the City of Mandurah and the Pinjarra Level 2 Statistical Area of the Shire of Murray , while the Regional Development Commissions Act 1993 includes
2325-652: The Australian Institute of Architects , and Colorbond . St Georges Terrace is the area's prominent street, with a large amount of office space in the CBD. Hay Street and Murray Street have most of the retail and entertainment facilities. The city's tallest building is Central Park , the twelfth tallest building in Australia . The CBD until 2012 was the centre of a mining-induced boom, with several commercial and residential projects being built, including Brookfield Place ,
2418-582: The British House of Commons , Sir George Murray . Murray's association with the city was included in Stirling's proclamation of the colony, read in Fremantle on 18 June 1829, which concluded with the statement, "Given under my hand and Seal at Perth this 18th Day of June 1829. James Stirling Lieutenant Governor". The only contemporary information on the source of the name comes from Charles Fremantle 's diary entry for 12 August 1829, which records that they "named
2511-767: The Dale River , the Mortlock River and the Brockman River. The Avon becomes the Swan as Wooroloo Brook enters the river near Walyunga National Park. More tributaries including Ellen Brook , Jane Brook , Henley Brook, Wandoo Creek, Bennett Brook , Blackadder Creek, Limestone Creek, Susannah Brook, and the Helena River enter the river between Wooroloo Brook and Guildford ; however, most of these have either dried up or become seasonally flowing due to human impacts such as land clearing and development. Between Perth and Guildford
2604-708: The Perth Mint . The city is served by Fremantle Harbour and Perth Airport . It was a naval base for the Allies during World War II and today, the Royal Australian Navy 's Fleet Base West is located on Garden Island . All five of Western Australia's universities are based in Perth. The name of the city is taken from Perth, Scotland in honour of the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies , and Member for Perthshire in
2697-454: The Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale in the Peel region . The largest river flowing through Perth is the Swan River, named for the native black swans by Willem de Vlamingh , captain of a Dutch expedition and namer of WA's Rottnest Island , who discovered the birds while exploring the area in 1697. This water body is also known as Derbarl Yerrigan . The city centre and most of the suburbs are on
2790-791: The Western Australian Government and the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council negotiated the South West Native Title Settlement. This settlement, including the Whadjuk Indigenous Land Use Agreement over the Perth region, was finalised by the Federal Court on 1 December 2021. As part of this agreement, the Noongar (Koorah, Nitja, Boordahwan) (Past, Present, Future) Recognition Act was passed in 2016, officially recognising
2883-532: The 1920s. Successive state governments, beginning with the Willcock Labor Government (1936–1945), determined to change this. Planning for post-war economic development was initially driven by Russell Dumas , who as Director of Public Works (1941–1953) drew up plans for Western Australia's major post-war public-works projects, including the raising of the Mundaring and Wellington dams, the development of
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2976-433: The 2021 census respondents in Perth had no religion, as against 38.4% of national population. In 1911, the national figure was 0.4%. Swan River (Western Australia) The Swan River ( Nyungar : Derbarl Yerrigan ) is a major river in the southwest of Western Australia. The river runs through the metropolitan area of Perth , Western Australia's capital and largest city. The Swan River estuary flows through
3069-468: The Bayswater – Bassendean area. Remedial sites works are still ongoing in these areas to remove the toxins left to leach into the river. During the summer months there are problems with algal blooms killing fish and caused by nutrient run-off from farming activities as well as the use of fertilisers in the catchment areas. The occasional accidental spillage of sewage and chemicals has also caused sections of
3162-630: The Bibbulmun. On 19 September 2006, the Federal Court of Australia ruled in the case of Bennell v State of Western Australia [2006] FCA 1243 that Noongar native title persisted over Perth metropolitan area. An appeal was subsequently filed, and in 2008, the Full Court of the Federal Court upheld parts of the appeal by the Western Australian and Commonwealth governments. Following this appeal,
3255-622: The Earth on Friendship 7 . This led to its being nicknamed the "City of Light". The city repeated the act as Glenn passed overhead on the Space Shuttle in 1998. Perth's development and relative prosperity, especially since the mid-1960s, has resulted from its role as the main service centre for the state's resource industries, which extract gold, iron ore, nickel, alumina, diamonds, mineral sands, coal, oil, and natural gas. Whilst most mineral and petroleum production takes place elsewhere in
3348-495: The Greater Perth area, representing an increase of approximately 3.6% from the 2022 estimate of 2,228,020, the highest growth rate of Australia's capital cities. At the 2021 census, the most commonly nominated ancestries were: Perth's population is notable for the high proportion of British- and Irish-born residents. At the 2021 Census, 169,938 England-born Perth residents were counted, ahead of even Sydney (151,614), despite
3441-508: The Noongar people and the Europeans arose due to these events. Agricultural development on the land restricted the traditional hunter-gatherer practices of the native Whadjuk Noongar, compelling them to camp in designated areas, including swamps and lakes north of the European settlement. Third Swamp , known to them as Boodjamooling , remained a primary campsite for the remaining Noongar people in
3534-469: The Noongar people as the traditional owners of the south-west region of Western Australia. On 10 January 1697, Dutch Captain Willem de Vlamingh conducted the first documented exploration by a European of the present-day Perth region. His crew initially explored the area on foot, leading them to what is now central Perth. Continuing, they travelled up the Swan River in search of native inhabitants. They named
3627-470: The Noongar people escalated due to conflicting land-value systems and increased land use as the colony expanded. These confrontations resulted in multiple events, including the murder of settlers (such as Thomas Peel 's servant Hugh Nesbitt ), the execution without trial of Whadjuk elder Midgegooroo , the killing of his son Yagan in 1833, and the Pinjarra massacre in 1834. The strained relations between
3720-410: The Perth area for at least 48,000 years; according to Noongar tradition, they have occupied the area since "time immemorial". Noongar country encompasses the southwest corner of Western Australia, with particular significance attached to the wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain , both spiritually (featuring in local mythology ) and as a source of food. The current central business district location
3813-400: The Perth region, also accommodating travellers, itinerants, and homeless individuals. During the gold rush in the 1890s, miners on their way to the goldfields joined this community. In 1850, at a time when penal transportation to Australia's eastern colonies had ceased, Western Australia was opened to convicts at the request of farming and business people due to a shortage of labour. Over
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3906-546: The Swan River. These are (from Fremantle, heading upstream ): The earliest club was the West Australian Rowing Club . The Swan River Rowing Club started in 1887. The Fremantle Rowing Club had started by the 1890s. There are currently fifteen yacht clubs along the Swan River, with most on Melville Water , Freshwater Bay and Matilda Bay . Royal Perth Yacht Club , on Pelican Point in Matilda Bay , staged
3999-473: The Swan-Canning Estuary include: The river was named Swarte Swaene-Revier by Dutch explorer, Willem de Vlamingh in 1697, after the famous black swans of the area. Vlamingh sailed with a small party up the river to around Heirisson Island . A French expedition under Nicholas Baudin also sailed up the river in 1801. Governor Stirling's intention was that the name "Swan River" refer only to
4092-726: The Trust have been absorbed by the subsequent Western Australian Environmental protection authorities, the most recent change being in 2017, to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions . In the earliest days of the Swan River Settlement, the river was used as the main transport route between Perth and Fremantle. This continued until the establishment of the Government rail system between Fremantle and Guildford via Perth. There are currently 22 road and railway bridges crossing
4185-615: The Willagee Bears Rugby League Football Club and the Winnacott Kats Junior Football Club. Much of the suburb's facilities are centred along two main thoroughfares: Winnacott Street, running north–south, and Archibald Street, running east–west. A large precinct, consisting of a library, community centre, an IGA , post office and various other stores, is located at the junction of these two roads. A smaller shopping centre, Willagee Supermarket,
4278-637: The administrative centre of the Swan River Colony . The city is situated on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people, where Aboriginal Australians have lived for at least 45,000 years. Perth was named after the city of Perth in Scotland . Perth was proclaimed as a city by Queen Victoria in 1856, although the City of Perth currently governs only a small area around the central business district. Substantial population growth occurred during
4371-453: The area's major watercourse. On 4 June 1829, newly arriving British colonists had their first view of the mainland. Captain James Stirling, aboard Parmelia , noted that the site was "as beautiful as anything of this kind I had ever witnessed". On 12 August that year, Helen Dance, wife of the captain of the second ship, Sulphur , felled a tree to commemorate the town's founding. From 1831 onward, confrontations between British settlers and
4464-535: The broader parts of the Swan River ... Parts of the river required dredging with the material dumped onto the mud flats to raise the adjoining land. An exceptionally wet winter in 1862 saw major flooding throughout the area – the effect of which was exacerbated by the extent of the reclaimed lands. The first bucket dredge in Western Australia was the Black Swan , used between 1872 and 1911 for dredging channels in
4557-573: The city and South Perth, is separated from the main estuary by the Narrows, over which the Narrows Bridge was built in 1959. The river then opens up into the large expanse of the river known as Melville Water. The Canning River enters the river at Canning Bridge in Applecross from its source 50 kilometres (31 mi) south-east of Armadale . The river is at its widest here, measuring more than 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from north to south. Point Walter has
4650-567: The city of Perth . Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow. The Swan River drains the Avon and coastal plain catchments , which have a total area of about 121,000 square kilometres (47,000 sq mi). It has three major tributaries, the Avon River , Canning River and Helena River . The latter two have dams ( Canning Dam and Mundaring Weir ) which provide
4743-528: The city's population. These are supported by the Australian Eurasian Association of Western Australia, which also serves a community of Portuguese-Malacca Eurasian or Kristang immigrants. Middle Eastern immigrants have a presence in Perth. They come from a variety of countries, including Saudi Arabia , Syria , Iran , Iraq , Israel , Lebanon , The United Arab Emirates , Oman , Yemen , and Afghanistan . The Indian community includes
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#17330851229114836-415: The confluence of the Wooroloo Brook, it becomes the Swan River. The Canning River rises from North Bannister , 100 kilometres (62 mi) southeast of Perth and joins the Swan at Applecross , opening into Melville Water . The river then narrows into Blackwall Reach , a narrow and deep stretch leading the river through Fremantle Harbour to the sea . The estuary is subject to a microtidal regime, with
4929-499: The east, Kardinya to the south-east and south, O'Connor to the south and south-west, and Palmyra to the west and north-west. There are ten parks and reserves located in Willagee: Arthur Kay Reserve, Harmony Park, Harry Bailey Park, Joan Williams Park, Roy Neal Reserve, Tony Zevela Park, Walter West Reserve, Webber Reserve, William Reynolds Reserve and Winnacott Reserve. The largest of these are Webber Reserve and Winnacott Reserve, which are both used by local sporting clubs, including
5022-623: The fishing season. In Northbridge every December is the San Nicola (Saint Nicholas) Festival, which involves a pageant followed by a concert, predominantly in Italian. Suburbs surrounding the Fremantle area, such as Spearwood and Hamilton Hill , also contain high concentrations of Italians, Croatians, and Portuguese. Perth has also been home to a small Jewish community since 1829 – numbering 6,331 in 2021 – who have emigrated primarily from Eastern Europe and more recently from South Africa. A more recent wave of arrivals includes White South Africans . South Africans overtook those born in Italy as
5115-468: The form of short-lived thunderstorms, weak cold fronts and on occasions decaying tropical cyclones from Western Australia's northwest, which can bring heavy rain. Temperatures above 35 °C (95 °F) occur, on average, 26 days per year and rise above 40 °C (104 °F) on 5 days per year. The highest temperature recorded in Perth was 46.2 °C (115.2 °F) on 23 February 1991, although Perth Airport recorded 46.7 °C (116.1 °F) on
5208-529: The fourth-largest foreign group in 2001. By 2016, there were 35,262 South Africans residing in Perth. Many Afrikaners and Anglo-Africans emigrated to Perth during the 1980s and 1990s, with the phrase "packing for Perth" becoming associated with South Africans who choose to emigrate abroad, sometimes regardless of the destination. As a result, the city has been described as "the Australian capital of South Africans in exile". The reason for Perth's popularity among white South Africans has often been attributed to
5301-418: The late 19th century, Western Australia experienced a mining boom. Perth became a key hub for supplying the goldfields, and the newfound prosperity helped finance the construction of important public buildings, roads, and railways. Perth's population grew from approximately 8,500 in 1881 to 61,000 in 1901. After a referendum in 1900, Western Australia joined the Federation of Australia in 1901, and "became
5394-451: The late 19th-century Western Australian gold rushes , and the city has continued to expand, particularly after World War II due to a high net migration rate . Post-war immigrants were predominantly from the British Isles and Southern Europe, while more recent arrivals see a growing population of Asian descent. During the late 20th and early 21st centuries, a series of mining booms in various regions of Western Australia propelled Perth into
5487-446: The latter having well over twice the population. The ethnic make-up of Perth changed in the second part of the 20th century when significant numbers of continental European immigrants arrived in the city. Prior to this, Perth's population had been almost completely Anglo-Celtic in ethnic origin. As Fremantle was the first landfall in Australia for many migrant ships coming from Europe in the 1950s and 1960s, Perth started to experience
5580-538: The location, the vast amount of land, and the slightly warmer climate compared to other large Australian cities – Perth has a Mediterranean climate reminiscent of Cape Town . Since the end of the White Australia policy in 1973, Asia has become an increasingly significant source of migrants, with communities from Vietnam , Malaysia , Indonesia , Thailand , Singapore , Hong Kong , Mainland China , and India all now well-established. There were 112,293 persons of Chinese descent in Perth in 2016 – 5.3% of
5673-620: The metropolitan area. Perth receives moderate, though highly seasonal, winter-based rainfall. Summers are generally hot, sunny and dry, lasting from December to March, with February generally the hottest month. Winters are relatively mild and wet, giving Perth a hot-summer Mediterranean climate ( Köppen climate classification Csa ). Perth has an average of 8.8 hours of sunshine per day, which equates to around 3,200 hours of sunshine and 138.7 clear days annually, making it Australia's sunniest capital city. Summers are typically hot and dry but not completely devoid of rain, with sporadic rainfall in
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#17330851229115766-485: The mid-1970s. A significant reduction in winter rainfall has been observed with a greater number of extreme rainfall events in the summer, such as the slow-moving storms on 8 February 1992 that brought 120.6 millimetres (4.75 in) of rain, heavy rainfall associated with a tropical low on 10 February 2017, which brought 114.4 millimetres (4.50 in) of rain, and the remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Joyce on 15 January 2018 with 96.2 millimetres (3.79 in). Perth
5859-513: The name Byerbrup for "the highland stretching along from Mount Eliza through the centre of the town of Perth". In 1947, Ludwig Glauert posited that Lyon may have misunderstood his sources and that "boorloo" or "belo" (now transcribed as "bilya") is simply the Noongar word for "river". Another source has interpreted Boorloo to mean "big swamp", describing the chain of lakes where the central business district and Northbridge are situated. Archaeological evidence attests to human habitation in
5952-433: The new Perth Airport, and the development of a new industrial zone centred on Kwinana. The advent of the McLarty Liberal Government (1947–1953) saw the emergence of something of a consensus on the need for continuing economic development. Economic growth was fuelled by large-scale public works, the post-war immigration program, and the success that various state governments had in attracting substantial foreign investment into
6045-446: The new government nonetheless petitioned the Imperial Parliament at Westminster. The House of Commons established a select committee to consider the issue but after 18 months of negotiations and lobbying, finally refused to consider the matter, declaring that it could not legally grant secession. Perth entered the post-war period with a population of approximately 280,000 and an economy that had not experienced sustained growth since
6138-457: The next eighteen years, 9,721 convicts arrived in Western Australia aboard 43 ships , outnumbering the approximately 7,300 free settlers. The designation of Perth as a city was formally announced by Queen Victoria in 1856. However, despite this recognition, Perth remained a tranquil town. A description from 1870 by a Melbourne journalist depicted it as: a quiet little town of some 3000 inhabitants spread out in straggling allotments down to
6231-416: The north to Singleton in the south, and 45 kilometres (28 mi) from the west coast to Sawyers Valley in the east. Beyond the central business district, predominant urban centres within the metropolitan area include Armadale , Fremantle , Joondalup , Midland , and Rockingham . Most of those were originally established as separate settlements and retained a distinct identity after being subsumed into
6324-408: The outer extent being the City of Wanneroo and the City of Swan to the north, the Shire of Mundaring , City of Kalamunda and the City of Armadale to the east, the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale to the southeast and the City of Rockingham to the southwest, and including Rottnest Island and Garden Island off the west coast. This extent correlates with the Metropolitan Region Scheme , and
6417-452: The region, interspersed with clear and sunny days where minimum temperatures tend to drop below 5 °C (41 °F). The lowest temperature recorded in Perth was −0.7 °C (30.7 °F) on 17 June 2006. The lowest temperature within the Perth metropolitan area was −3.4 °C (25.9 °F) on the same day at Jandakot Airport , although temperatures at or below zero are rare occurrences. The lowest maximum temperature recorded in Perth
6510-435: The river Swarte Swaene-Revier , a reference to the black swans prevalent in the region. After Vlamingh's observations, other Europeans conducted further voyages of exploration in the period between 1697 and 1829. However, as with Vlamingh's assessments, they judged the area inhospitable and unsuitable for the agriculture necessary to sustain a European-style settlement. Despite the Colony of New South Wales establishing
6603-425: The river or south of the river distinctions in the Perth metropolitan region over time, especially in the time up to the completion of the Causeway and Narrows bridges, due to the time and distances to cross the river. The river was the site of the City of Perth Skyworks , a fireworks show held each year on Australia Day from 1985 until 2022, with spectators crowding the foreshore, Kings Park , and on boats on
6696-546: The river goes through several loops. Originally, areas including the Maylands Peninsula, Ascot and Burswood , through Claise Brook and north of the city to Herdsman Lake were swampy wetlands. Most of the wetlands have since been reclaimed for land development. Heirisson Island , upon which The Causeway passes over, was once a collection of small islets known as the Heirisson Islands. Perth Water , between
6789-446: The river to be closed to human access. The river has survived all this and is in relatively good condition considering on-going threats to its ecology. In 2010 the Western Australian government imposed restrictions on phosphorus levels in fertilisers due to concerns about the health of the Swan and Canning river system. Data collection of flood events in the estuary has been performed since European arrival in 1829. In July 1830, barely
6882-479: The river, as well as reclamation. A number of features of the river, particularly around the city, have reshaped its profile since European settlement in 1829: The river has been used for the disposal all kinds of waste. Even well into the 1970s, various local councils had rubbish tips on the mud flats along the edge of the river. Heavy industry also contributed its share of waste into the river from wool scouring plants in Fremantle to fertiliser and foundries sited in
6975-469: The role of the regional headquarters for significant mining operations . Ranked as one of the world's most liveable cities , Perth was classified by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network as a Beta global city in 2020. As of 2021, Perth is divided into 30 local government areas , comprising over 350 suburbs . The metropolitan contours span 115 kilometres (71 mi) from Two Rocks in
7068-582: The same day. On most summer afternoons a sea breeze , known locally as the Fremantle Doctor , blows from the southwest, providing relief from the hot northeasterly winds. Temperatures often fall below 30 °C (86 °F) a few hours after the arrival of the wind change. In the summer, the 3 pm dewpoint averages at around 12 °C (54 °F). Winters are mild and wet, with most of Perth's annual rainfall between May and September. Winters see significant rainfall as frontal systems move across
7161-479: The sandy and relatively flat Swan Coastal Plain , which lies between the Darling Scarp and the Indian Ocean . The soils of this area are quite infertile. Much of colonial Perth was built on the Perth Wetlands , a series of freshwater wetlands running from Herdsman Lake in the west through to Claisebrook Cove in the east. To the east, the city is bordered by a low escarpment called the Darling Scarp. Perth
7254-561: The site. Willagee is served by the 140, 160 and 502 Transperth bus routes from Fremantle . All services are operated by Transdev WA . [REDACTED] Media related to Willagee, Western Australia at Wikimedia Commons Perth Perth ( Nyungar : Boorloo ) is the capital city of Western Australia . It is the fourth most populous city in Australia , with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth as of 2023 . It
7347-514: The size of the Grand Canyon . Now known as Perth Canyon , this feature still exists as a submarine canyon near the edge of the continental shelf . The Swan River drains the Swan Coastal Plain, a total catchment area of over 100,000 square kilometres (39,000 sq mi) in area. The river is located in a Mediterranean climate, with hot dry summers and cool wet winters, although this balance appears to be changing due to climate change. The Swan
7440-541: The state, beginning with the construction of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Refinery at Kwinana in 1951–52. The result of this economic activity was the rapid growth of the population of Perth and a marked change in its urban design. Commencing in the 1950s, Perth began to expand along an extensive highway network laid out in the Stephenson-Hepburn Report , which noted that Perth was beginning to resemble
7533-426: The state, the non-base services provide most of the employment and income to the people of Perth. Perth experienced a period of recovery in 1990. In July 1994, the state government separated the city's CBD from its suburban districts, creating the City of Perth and three other local government areas. The central business district of Perth is bounded by the Swan River to the south and east, with Kings Park on
7626-476: The town Perth according to the wishes of Sir George Murray". Since 2019, the Noongar name Boorloo has been recognised as denoting the central business district , the local government area , or the capital city in general. The name Boorloo was initially recorded by Robert Menli Lyon as Boorlo in 1833, which was interpreted as "Perth, properly Point Fraser" (a location in East Perth ). He also gave
7719-633: The unsuccessful 1987 America's Cup defence, the first time in 132 years it had been held outside of the United States. Royal Perth Yacht Club and the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club are the only two clubs to be granted a royal charter . There are also many anchorages and marinas along the lower reaches near Fremantle . The river is a significant part of Perth culture, with many water sports such as rowing, sailing, and swimming all occurring in its waters. There have been some north of
7812-542: The washing away of the Upper Swan Bridge and a section of the Fremantle Railway Bridge. The Fremantle bridge partially collapsed on 22 July 1926, five minutes after a train containing schoolchildren had passed over. No one was injured in the collapse; however, it created major disruption to commerce for several months. Repairs were completed and the bridge reopened on 12 October 1926. The Swan River Trust
7905-467: The water owing to the force of the incoming seas at the mouth of the river presented a scene of a great lake, all the jetties were submerged, the high roads to Fremantle covered, and passage traffic rendered impossible quantities of sandalwood lying along the banks of river were washed away, and the inhabitants of the suburban villas on the slopes of Mount Eliza obliged to scramble up the hill sides to get into Perth. The flood of July 1926 (ARI=30) resulted in
7998-453: The water's edge, intermingled with gardens and shrubberies and half rural in its aspect ... The main streets are macadamised, but the outlying ones and most of the footpaths retain their native state from the loose sand — the all pervading element of Western Australia — productive of intense glare or much dust in the summer and dissolving into slush during the rainy season. With the discovery of gold at Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie in
8091-461: The watercourse upstream of the Heirisson Islands. All of the rest, including Perth Water, he considered estuarine and which he referred to as "Melville Water". The Government notice dated 27 July 1829 stated "... the first stone will be laid of a new town to be called 'Perth', near the entrance to the estuary of the Swan River." Almost immediately after the Town of Perth was established, a systematic effort
8184-474: The western end and the railway reserve as the northern border. A state and federally funded project named Perth City Link sank a section of the railway line to allow easy pedestrian access between Northbridge and the CBD. The Perth Arena is an entertainment and sporting arena in the city link area that has received several architectural awards from institutions such as the Design Institute of Australia ,
8277-555: The wider metropolitan area. Mandurah , Western Australia's second-largest city, forms a conurbation with Perth along the coastline. Despite this, it is generally regarded as an independent city. Perth features several important public buildings, as well as cultural and heritage sites . The city has various notable government buildings, including the Parliament House , Government House , the Supreme Court Buildings and
8370-686: The winters of 1847 and 1860, while the most recent flooding occurred in 2017. Later events have since been assessed for probability of recurrence: The largest recorded flood event was in July 1872 which had a calculated ARI of 100. This approximately equates to a 100-year flood event. At the Helena River, the 1872 flood level was 690 millimetres (2 ft 3 in) higher than the 1862 event (ARI=60). An account in The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal on 26 July 1872 reported In and about Perth,
8463-610: Was a state government body, within the ambit of the Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) – that was constituted in 1989 after legislation passed the previous year, that reports to the Minister for the Environment. It brings together eight representatives from the community, State and local government authorities with an interest in the Swan and Canning rivers to form a single body responsible for planning, protecting and managing Perth's river system. The functions of
8556-526: Was also hit by a severe thunderstorm on 22 March 2010, which brought 40.2 mm (1.58 in) of rain, and large hail and caused significant damage in the metropolitan area. The average sea temperature ranges from 18.9 °C (66.0 °F) in October to 23.4 °C (74.1 °F) in March. With more than two million residents, Perth is one of the most isolated major cities in the world. The nearest city with
8649-462: Was underway to reshape the river. This was done for many reasons: Perth streets were often sandy bogs which caused Governor James Stirling in 1837 to report to the Secretary of State for Colonies: At the present time it can scarcely be said that any roads exist, although certain lines of communication have been improved by clearing them of timber and by bridging streams and by establishing ferries in
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