Western Australia Map

Located in Australia, Western Australia (WA) is the largest state in the country with an enormous land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (approximately one third of the continent). This alone makes it bigger than a number of countries, including the Indian state of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, as well as Maharashtra, combined or the size of Western Europe. Western and Northern Australia is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the West and North, the Southern Ocean to the South and the Northern Territory to the Northeast and South Australia to the southeast. The coast of the state is over 12,000 kilometres long with pure beaches, rocky peninsulas and reefs.

The capital, Perth, is located on the banks of the Swan River and hosts most of the citizens of state. Perth is usually portrayed as one of the most remote major cities in the world; one could rather describe it as it is located closer to Bali than Sydney, but at the same time, it is one of the most liveable cities on the planet. A is notable for being endowed with large mineral resources reserves, diverse plant and animal life, as well as its cultural diversity. It is an economic giant due to the activities of mining, petroleum, farming and tourism, and the land includes tropical wilderness, arid deserts and temperate forests.

History

The settlement of Western Australia dates back tens of thousands of years: Aborigines arrived in the region. Archaeological evidence indicates that human beings inhabited the area 50,000 - 70,000 years ago, perhaps one of the longest-lived cultures on the planet. Rock art of Murujuga (Burrup Peninsula) contains artwork at least 30,000 years old in the form of animals, humans, and religious figures.

The first known Europeans to make contact with the island were the Dutch explorer, Dirk Hartog, in 1616, on the island named after him. He left a pewter dish with the details of his visit, some of the most important maritime history in Australia. The west coast was charted by Dutch navigators in the earlier centuries that were followed by Englishmen like William Dampier in 1688 and 1699. In 1826 British created a military colony in King George Sound (Albany) to acquire the territories against potential French interests. In 1829, the Swan River Colony was the foundation of modern Perth and Fremantle was founded by Captain James Stirling three years later.

Early settlers had herculean tasks ahead of them, including not having proper soil, a lack of fresh water, and profound remoteness from the other colonies. The economic prospects of the colony were transformed after the late 19th century with the discovery of gold in the Kimberley (1885), Pilbara (1888) and in Coolgardie-Kalgoorlie (1892-1893). These gold rushes resulted in thousands of gold-seeking men, spurred the development of infrastructure, and a great increase in population.

In 1890, WA became responsible self‑governing territory and in 1901 became part of the Commonwealth of Australia. Displeasure with the federal economic policies, however, resulted in a referendum that saw almost 68 per cent of voters vote on the option of secession in 1933. The Parliament of Britain refused to intervene, and WA did not become independent. The aftermath of World War II became characterised by the influx of migrants arriving in the state of New Zealand, including Britain, Italy, Greece and subsequently migrants of Asian origin. In the 1960s, the large-scale mining of iron ore, bauxite and natural gas transformed WA into an economic powerhouse of the nation.

Culture

The culture of Western Australia is rich with Indigenous influences, colonial heritage and multicultural influences. More Aboriginal nations are found in the state, including the Noongar in the southwest, the Yamatji in the mid-west, and the Bardi and Nyikina and Yindjibarndi in the north. The language customs and Dreamtime stories that are shared within the group vary, and each group has its own language and traditions. These are ancient stories used to pass on to the next generation. Native art, music and dance are also important cultural expressions, and major artists like Rover Thomas and Queenie McKenzie are nationally and internationally recognised artists of WA.

Cultural life in Perth is centred on such institutions as the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the WA Museum Boola Bardip, and the State Theatre Centre. The Perth Festival, which began in 1953, is the longest-running international arts festival in Australia and Fringe World has grown to be one of the biggest expos of fringe events in the Southern Hemisphere. There are also regional festivals which honour regional heritage and diversity. The port town of Broome celebrates its Japanese pearling heritage with the Shinju Matsuri, and the Kimberley has its own musical and culinary event in the Ord Valley Muster, at Kununurra. The Carnarvon Fascine Festival and the St Barbara Festival at Kalgoorlie-Boulder celebrate town history and mining heritage.

Food and beverages seem to be the focus of the WA life. The Margaret River wine area grows some of the best wines in the world, and the Great Southern area is characterised by cool‑climate wines. Local cuisine is dominated by fresh seafood, local varieties of Exmouth prawns and Albany oysters. Sport is a unifying power. The most popular sport is Australian Rules Football, which has teams the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers. The state is also well-known as a cradle of cricket, surfing, sailing and other outdoor-related activities due to its warm climate and immense natural fun-and-wonderland.

Language

In Western Australia, English, in particular Australian English with regional variations, is the main language spoken. The feature of Australian English is that it has its own place in terms of history, geography and multicultural influences, so it reflects in the terms and expressions in language. To illustrate, the piece of ground between the roadway and footpath is known to the locals as a “verge”, a swimsuit as a “bathers” and a house inspection as a home open. A “middy” is a 285- Imperial beer glass; in other states, it might be called a “pot” or “schooner”.

The Australian Aboriginal languages, especially the Noongar language, have left colossal words in WA vocabulary. Such words as gilgie (small freshwater crayfish), gidgee (spear), boondy (lump of sand or rock) are everyday domestic usage. Immigration also results in linguistic diversity. After English, common languages include Italian, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Arabic. Languages that were traditionally spoken in the Kimberley and Pilbara include Martu Wangka, Yindjibarndi and Bardi; most are endangered.

Geography

Western Australia is large and diverse, with coastal tropical regions, desert landscapes, fertile agricultural regions, and mountainous forests. The Kimberley region in the far north is also spectacular in sandstone cliffs, deep gorges and seasonal waterfalls such as Mitchell Falls. The weather is tropical, with distinct wet and dry seasons: November to April and May to October, respectively. The Abdur River Irrigation Scheme sustains farming, and the crops raised include melons, mangoes and sandalwood.

To the south of Kimberley is the Pilbara, a terrain covering red, endured earth, extinct rocks and some of the richest deposits of iron ore. The Hamersley Range has the highest elevation in WA, Mount Meharry (1,249 m). The Pilbara regions are rugged in beauty, and the Karijini National Park has deep holes and clear pools. The region of the Midwest is a mix of coastal plains with wildflower strains inland, as well as the mining towns. In spring, huge carpets of wildflowers are in full bloom and are a magnet to visitors all over the world.

The Wheatbelt is the agricultural centre of WA, growing wheat, barley, canola and sheep. It also boasts of beautiful granite outcrop features such as the Elachbutting Rock and the Wave Rock. The South West boasts a Mediterranean climate and includes tall forests of jarrah, marri and karri trees, plus vineyards and surf beaches. The area is a global hotspot of biodiversity, and thousands of plant species are represented in the area.

The interior of WA consists of inland deserts, namely the Great Sandy, Little Sandy, Gibson, and Great Victoria deserts, extending across the state. These regions are hostile to life, but they are home to unusual wildlife like the spinifex‑hopping mice and the thorny devils. The coastline is also very different and takes in coral reefs of Ningaloo, where each year the whale sharks congregate and also the cliffs of Bunda Cliffs on the Great Australian Bight. The warm Leeuwin Current runs along the west coast and then in a southward direction, affecting marine life and fisheries.

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