Situated on the banks of Western Australia’s Swan River, and
just a short drive from popular beaches at the edge of the
Indian Ocean, Perth and neighbouring Fremantle offer visitors a visually
appealing and culturally diverse travel destination.
Sporting events, arts and cultural festivals, and music and theatre
fill the annual calendar of this city that is geographically
removed from eastern Australia’s population centres by thousands of miles of
bush.
Perth is known for its friendly locals, clean streets, white
sand beaches, sparklingly clear ocean waters and unique flora
and fauna. This is Australia’s wildflower centre, which is clearly evident in
spring as the area’s gardens, parks, fields and forests burst into bloom.
Western Australia is also home to the oldest wine growing region
in the country, with the Swan Valley producing some of Australia’s best
wines and attracting growing numbers of tourists.
Just off the coast, and a short boat ride from the mainland, is
scenic Rottnest Island. The island is home to the quokka, one
of Australia’s unique marsupials. The quokka is a type of wallaby,
living only on Rottnest. Bicycles are the only form of
transport allowed on the island, but exploring on foot will
make it more likely that quokkas will seek you out. These cute creatures are
quite used to being around humans and often interact with visitors.
Perth is a charming place to visit, and offers tourists a full
range of
accommodation options in the city and along the coast. There are
guesthouses, family
hotels and
full-service resorts to choose from. Regardless of your choice, the warm welcome
you will get will reflect the wonderful hospitality of the
people of Western Australia.
Visit this website for further information about
Western Australia.
Although Perth is one of the earth’s most isolated urban areas,
it has drawn immigrants from around the globe over the years and embraces its
ethnic diversity today. You’ll experience this cultural and ethnic
diversity in the choice of restaurants, the city’s markets and its many
events and festivals that are held throughout the year.
History
Prior to the first European settlements in Perth, the area was occupied
by numerous tribes for thousands of years. The Nyoongar,
Nyungar, Noongar, Wajuk and Wudjari tribes and their ancestors were resident
here for over 40,000 years before the colonists arrived.
At the end of 1696, the first Europeans arrived from the
Netherlands in three ships that they anchored just off Rottnest Island. One
month later, a party that was fully prepared for combat landed
at Cottesloe Beach and headed eastward to the Swan River. They attempted to make
contact with the Nyoongar, but were unsuccessful, and sailed in a northerly
direction, after naming the river they encountered the Swan.
Perth was founded in 1829, and named the Swan River Settlement.
It grew quite slowly until mid-century, when convicts were shipped
in to provide much needed labour. As the area that the new settlers
occupied was of ceremonial and economic importance to the native Nyoongar,
fighting broke out in 1834. In the Battle of Pinjarra that same year,
many Aboriginals were murdered.
Perth's development was much slower than that of eastern
Australian cities – at least until gold was discovered in the
1890s, when the population quadrupled in one decade.
Growth continued through the 20th century, with
building booms early on in the gold rush period, again during WWII and more
recently as well. By the 1980s, Perth was reputed to have more
millionaires per capita than anywhere else in Australia. Business
empires sprung up at a rate that was disproportionate to the population, and
Perth grew in status. Perth’s reputation as a place of riches
didn’t extend, unfortunately, to the local Nyungars, who remain disadvantaged to
this day.
More attention was drawn to the area in 1987, when the Fremantle Yacht
Club hosted the America’s Cup, bringing the port city
to the attention of tourists. Today the city has a graceful feel about it.
Although it’s not as bustling a metropolis as some of Australia’s other state
capital cities, it has plenty to offer visitors. There’s
vibrant nightlife, fantastic beaches, great shopping and excellent and varied
dining opportunities. Whatever brings you to Australia’s west coast, a visit to
Perth is a must.
Weather
Perth enjoys more hours of sunshine annually than any other
major Australian city, averaging at eight hours each day. Western Australia
experiences distinct seasonal changes. Winters tend to be short
and mild, with minimum temperatures seldom dropping below 8˚C.
The wet season runs from late autumn to early spring (May to September). The
peak of the rainy period falls at the end of June. The highest summer
temperatures reach approximately 32˚C in late February.
If weather is a consideration in timing your visit to Perth, then a
visit in the spring or autumn would be your best choice.
Summers can be quite hot and dry, and winters can be rather wet and gloomy. On
the other hand, there are interesting and unique events that
are scheduled in the area throughout the year, so if you’re not concerned about
the heat of the summer or the rains of the winter, it can be worthwhile to time
your visit to coincide with a special festival, such as the Festival of
Perth at the end of February.
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