Perth

Perth is the capital city of Western Australia.

It serves as a vital administrative and economic hub for the region. The city is part of the South West Land Division. Most of the metropolitan area sits on the Swan Coastal Plain. This plain lies between the Indian Ocean and the Darling Scarp. Perth is considered one of the most isolated major cities in the world.

It is the fourth-most populous city in Australia. The Greater Perth region contains over 2.3 million people.

The metropolitan area is vast and highly organized. It is divided into 30 local government areas. These areas contain more than 350 individual suburbs. The city limits reach from Two Rocks in the north to Singleton in the south. To the east, the area extends to Sawyers Valley.

Major urban centres include Armadale, Fremantle, Joondalup, Midland, and Rockingham. Mandurah is the second-largest city in Western Australia. It forms a conurbation, or a cluster of cities, with Perth along the coast. Many of these urban centres began as separate settlements. They kept their own identities even after being joined into the metropolitan area.

Long before European arrival, the Whadjuk Noongar people inhabited this land. They are part of the Noongar people, a group of fourteen tribes.

Archaeological evidence shows humans lived here for at least 48,000 years. Noongar tradition says they have been here since "time immemorial." The Whadjuk clans lived around the Swan River. They viewed the wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain as spiritually significant. These areas also provided essential food sources. The name Boorloo is sometimes used for the city or its central district. Different interpretations of Boorloo exist in the Noongar language. It has been described as meaning "river" or "big swamp."

European exploration began with Dutch Captain Willem de Vlamingh in 1697.

He explored the Swan River and named it after the black swans found there. However, later explorers found the area unsuitable for European-style agriculture. British settlement began in 1829 under Captain James Stirling.

Stirling founded the Swan River Colony. He named the settlement after Perth in Scotland. This was done to honour Sir George Murray, a British politician. The colony was initially a free settlement. However, it began accepting transported convicts in 1850 to provide labour. These convicts helped build important public works and infrastructure. Queen Victoria officially proclaimed Perth a city in 1856.

Significant historical events shaped the growth of the city. In the late 19th century, gold was discovered at Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie.

This triggered massive gold rushes across Western Australia. Perth became a central hub for supplying these goldfields. The resulting prosperity funded new roads, railways, and public buildings. The population rose from 8,500 in 1881 to 61,000 by 1901. In 1901, Western Australia joined the Federation of Australia. It was the last colony to join. This required the construction of a transcontinental railway to link it to the eastern states.

Modern Perth is a global city with a diverse population. After World War II, the city saw high rates of net migration. Early post-war immigrants came from the British Isles and Southern Europe. More recently, the population has seen a growing number of people of Asian descent. The city also serves as a regional headquarters for the mining industry.

Mining booms in the late 20th and early 21st centuries drove this growth. In 2020, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network classified Perth as a Beta global city. It is also ranked as one of the world's most liveable cities.

Perth offers many natural and cultural attractions. Kings Park and Botanic Garden is one of the largest inner-city parks globally.

Other popular sites include Cottesloe Beach and Rottnest Island. The city is home to all five of Western Australia's universities.

Important heritage sites include the Perth Mint and the World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison.

The city is connected to the world via Perth Airport and Fremantle Harbour.