Western Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Western Australia
State
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  The Golden State The Wildflower State The State of Excitement
Qld. NSW ACT WA NT SA Vic. Tas. Location of Western Australia in Australia 26°S 121°E / 26°S 121°E / -26; 121
Country	Australia
Before federation	Colony of Western Australia
Established as the Swan River Colony	2 May 1829
Responsible government	21 October 1890
Federation	1 January 1901
Capital and largest city	Perth
Administration	139 local government areas
Demonym(s)	Western/West Australian West Aussie Sandgroper (colloquial)
Government	Federated parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Monarch	Charles III
• Governor	Chris Dawson
• Premier	Roger Cook (Labor)
Legislature	Parliament of Western Australia
• Upper house	Legislative Council
• Lower house	Legislative Assembly
Parliament of Australia
• Senate	12 senators (of 76)
• House of Representatives	16 seats (of 150)
Area
• Total	2,527,013 km2 (975,685 sq mi) (1st)
Highest elevation (Mount Meharry)	1,249 m (4,098 ft)
Population
• December 2024 estimate	3,008,700 (4th)
• Density	1.11/km2 (2.9/sq mi) (7th)
GDP (nominal)	2022 estimate
• Total	A$377.257B (4th)
• Per capita	A$135,320 (1st)
HDI (2023)	0.973 very high · 2nd
Time zone	UTC+08:00 (AWST) UTC+08:45 (Eucla, Cocklebiddy, Madura, Mundrabilla, Caiguna); DST not observed)
Postal abbreviation	WA
ISO 3166 code	AU–WA
Symbols
Mammal	Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus)
Bird	Black swan (Cygnus atratus)
Fish	Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)
Flower	Red and green kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos manglesii)
Fossil	Gogo fish (Mcnamaraspis kaprios)
Colour	Black and gold

Western Australia, often called WA, is the largest state in Australia. It covers the western part of the continent. Imagine a land so big it's the second-largest area of its kind in the world! It touches the Indian Ocean to the north and west, and the Southern Ocean to the south. To its east are the Northern Territory and South Australia.

This huge state has many different climates. You can find tropical weather in the north, vast deserts in the middle, and a pleasant Mediterranean climate along the southwest coast. As of June 2024, about 2.965 million people live here. Most of them (over 90%) live in the southwest corner. About 80% live in the capital city, Perth. This means much of the state is very empty!

Indigenous Australians have lived here for tens of thousands of years. European explorers, like the Dutch in the 1600s, were among the first to visit. The British started the Swan River Colony in 1829, which became Perth. Later, gold discoveries brought many new people. Western Australia joined the other Australian colonies in 1901 to form the country we know today.

Western Australia's economy is strong, thanks to its natural resources. It's famous for mining things like iron ore, gold, and natural gas. Farming, fishing, and growing crops like wheat are also very important.

Western Australia's Journey Through Time

Western Australia has a long and fascinating history. The first people to live here were Indigenous Australians. They arrived from the north many thousands of years ago. They lived across the entire land for a very long time.

Early Explorers and Settlements

The first Europeans to visit were Dutch explorers in the 1600s. Dirk Hartog landed on Dirk Hartog Island in 1616. Other explorers, including British and French sailors, mapped the coast. They sometimes called this land "New Holland."

In 1827, the British set up a small settlement at King George III Sound. This place later became Albany. Then, in 1829, Captain James Stirling started the Swan River Colony. This colony grew into the cities of Perth and Fremantle.

Gold Rushes and Growth

For many years, the population grew slowly. But in the 1890s, everything changed! Huge amounts of gold were found near Kalgoorlie. This brought many new people to Western Australia.

In 1890, Western Australia gained the right to govern itself. John Forrest became its first leader, called the Premier. To help the goldfields, a massive pipeline was built. This Goldfields Water Supply Scheme carried water 530 km from Perth to Kalgoorlie. It was a huge engineering feat and helped the state grow a lot.

Finally, on 1 January 1901, Western Australia joined the other Australian colonies. Together, they formed the country of Australia.

Western Australia's Amazing Landscape

Western Australia is a huge state with a very long coastline. It has 20,781 km of coastline, including many islands. The state's eastern border with South Australia and the Northern Territory is 1,862 km long.

Ancient Land and Unique Soils

Most of Western Australia sits on incredibly old land. It's made of ancient rock formations called cratons. These cratons were once part of one of Earth's oldest supercontinents, formed billions of years ago.

Because the land is so old, it has been worn down over time. There are no very high mountains, with the tallest point being Mount Meharry at 1,249 meters. Much of the state is a low, flat plateau.

The soils here are often not very fertile. Farmers need to add special plant food to help crops grow. Large areas of land have been cleared for farming. This has changed the homes for many native plants and animals. The southwest part of the state is a "biodiversity hotspot." This means it has many unique plants and animals found nowhere else.

Western Australian cities, towns, settlements and road network

Weather Wonders: From Tropical to Desert

Western Australia has a wide range of climates:

• Southwest Coast: This area has a Mediterranean climate. It gets good rainfall in winter and is dry in summer. It was once covered in tall forests, including karri trees, which are among the tallest in the world. This region is also rich in marine life, with some of the world's most southerly coral reefs.
• Central Deserts: The middle two-thirds of the state are very dry. This arid region has little rain and is sparsely populated. Mining is the main activity here.
• Northern Tropics: The Kimberley region in the north has a hot, wet season with heavy rains from cyclones. It also has a very long dry season.

Snow is very rare in Western Australia. It usually only falls in the Stirling Range near Albany. The highest temperature ever recorded was 50.7 °C (123.3 °F) in Onslow in January 2022. The lowest was −7.2 °C (19.0 °F) at Eyre Bird Observatory in August 2008.

Wildlife and Plants of Western Australia

Western Australia is home to many unique animals and plants.

A quokka on Rottnest Island

The black swan is the state bird of Western Australia.

Amazing Birds

You can find about 630 different kinds of birds here. About 15 of these birds live only in Western Australia. The best places to see birds are the southwest corner and around Broome in the Kimberley.

Unique Plants

The state has over 10,000 types of native plants. Many of these plants are found only in Western Australia. The southwest region has one of the highest numbers of plant species in the world for its size.

Some of Western Australia's natural areas include:

• Kimberley: Sandstone gorges and tropical grasslands.
• Pilbara: Dry shrublands.
• Southwest: Forests, shrublands, and coastal plains.
• Deserts: Huge desert areas like the Great Sandy Desert and Great Victoria Desert in the interior.

Who Lives in Western Australia?

The metropolitan area of Western Australia's capital and largest city, Perth, is home to more than 80% of the state's population.

Population growth 1829–2010

People started settling permanently in Western Australia in 1826. The Swan River Colony was founded in 1829 by British and Irish settlers. Later, many people came to work, including those sent from other parts of Australia.

In the 1890s, the gold rush brought a huge number of people. After World War II, many immigrants came from countries like Italy, Croatia, and Macedonia. Today, many people from Britain still choose to live here.

Most of Western Australia's population lives in the capital city, Perth. In June 2017, Perth and nearby Mandurah had over 2 million people. Other important towns include Bunbury, Geraldton, and Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Family Backgrounds and Languages

At the 2016 census, many people said their family background was English (40.7%) or Australian (33.2%). Other common backgrounds included Irish, Scottish, and Italian. About 3.1% of the population identified as Indigenous Australians.

Most people (75.2%) speak only English at home. Other languages spoken include Mandarin, Italian, and Vietnamese.

Beliefs and Religions

According to the 2021 census, Christianity is the main religion in Western Australia. About 41.1% of people follow Christianity. However, the number of people who say they have no religious belief has grown to 42.9%. Smaller groups follow Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

How Western Australia Makes Money

Brockman 4, an iron ore mine in the Pilbara

Western Australia's resource commodity mix, 2007

Major commodity mix, 2008–2009

Western Australia's economy is mostly about digging up and processing minerals and oil. This makes the state very strong in these areas.

• Western Australia provides about 58% of Australia's mineral and energy exports.
• The state's economic output per person is higher than any other Australian state.
• It sells many different products, which helps protect its economy from price changes.
• Growing global demand for minerals, especially from China and Japan, has helped the economy grow.

In 2019, Western Australia's exports made up 46% of Australia's total. Key exports include iron ore, oil, gold, and wheat.

Western Australia is the world's largest producer of iron ore. It also produces a lot of gold. Other important minerals include bauxite (used to make alumina) and lithium. The state also has large amounts of offshore oil and natural gas.

Farming is another big part of the economy. Western Australia produces about half of Australia's wheat. Other farm products include wool, beef, and barley. The state also exports live animals to other countries.

The growth in mining has created many jobs. This has encouraged people to move to Western Australia from other parts of Australia and overseas.

Albany's Historic Whaling Station

The Kwinana area, south of Perth, has many factories. It used to have Australia's largest oil refinery, which closed in 2021. Kwinana also has plants that process alumina and nickel. It supports mining and oil industries with engineering and metal work.

Western Australia has a big fishing industry. They catch western rock lobsters, prawns, crabs, and tuna. They also harvest pearls in the Kimberley region.

The state also grows sandalwood trees. These trees are used to make sandalwood oil and incense. Western Australia provides about 40% of the world's sandalwood oil.

Tourism: Exploring WA's Beauty

Camel rides are a popular tourist activity at Cable Beach in Broome.

Tourism is becoming more and more important. Many visitors come from the UK, Singapore, and New Zealand. They come to enjoy holidays and vacations. Tourism adds $9.3 billion to Western Australia's economy. It also supports 94,000 jobs.

Tourism WA is a government group that promotes Western Australia as a great place to visit.

How Western Australia is Governed

Parliament House

Western Australia has its own government, which started in 1890. It has a Parliament in Perth with two parts:

• The Legislative Assembly (lower house) has 59 members.
• The Legislative Council (upper house) has 36 members.

Everyone over 18 years old must vote.

When Australia became a country in 1901, Western Australia joined as a state. This meant some powers went to the national (Commonwealth) government. Other powers stayed with the state government.

The head of state is Charles III, the King of Australia. His representative in Western Australia is the Governor, currently Chris Dawson. The real power lies with the Premier and ministers. They are chosen from the political party that wins the most seats in the Legislative Assembly. Roger Cook became the Premier in June 2023.

Local Government

Western Australia is divided into 139 Local Government Areas. These include Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. These local governments manage things like local roads and parks.

Learning in Western Australia

University of Western Australia

Education in Western Australia starts with one year of pre-school for 4 or 5-year-olds. Then, students have six years of primary school. After that, they go to secondary school for six years. Students must attend school until they are 16. If they are 16 or 17, they must be in school, training, or working.

After Year 10, students can go to a TAFE college. Or they can continue to Year 12 for university or vocational courses.

Western Australia has five universities. Four are public universities in Perth: the University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, and Murdoch University. There is also one private university in Fremantle, the University of Notre Dame Australia.

News and Entertainment in WA

Print Media

Seven West Media's Newspaper House, where The West Australian newspaper is produced

Western Australia has two daily newspapers: The West Australian and the Kalgoorlie Miner. There are also many weekly community newspapers. The Australian is a national newspaper also available here. WAtoday is an online newspaper focused on Perth and Western Australia.

Television

Perth has five main TV stations: ABC TV WA, SBS TV WA, Seven Network Perth, Nine Network Perth, and Network Ten Perth. Regional areas also have similar TV channels. These include Golden West Network (GWN7), WIN Television WA, and West Digital Television.

ABC studios in East Perth

Many digital channels are also available, offering more choices for viewers. Pay TV services are provided by Foxtel.

Radio

Perth has many radio stations on both AM and FM. ABC stations include ABC NewsRadio, ABC Radio Perth, Radio National, ABC Classic, and Triple J. There are also commercial stations like Triple M, Nova 93.7, Mix 94.5, Gold 96FM, 6PR, 6IX, and 6MM. Community radio stations like Curtin FM and RTRFM are also popular.

Fun and Culture in Western Australia

Arts and Entertainment

WA Museum Boola Bardip

Art Gallery of Western Australia

Western Australia is home to the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Many famous musicians and bands come from here, including Tame Impala, Birds of Tokyo, and John Butler Trio. Actors like Heath Ledger and Sam Worthington also grew up in WA.

Many films and TV shows have been made in Western Australia, such as Rabbit-Proof Fence and Red Dog. Indigenous painters like Jack Dale Mengenen are also well-known.

The West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) performs at the Perth Concert Hall. Other places for shows include His Majesty's Theatre and Perth Arena.

Sports and Teams

Matches between the two Western Australian teams, the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers, are known as the Western Derby.

Western Australia loves sports! Here are some of the teams and events:

• Australian Rules Football: The West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers play in the Australian Football League (AFL).
• Basketball: The Perth Wildcats (men) and Perth Lynx (women) play in national leagues.
• Cricket: The Western Australia team plays in state competitions, and the Perth Scorchers play in the Big Bash League.
• Soccer: Perth Glory has both men's and women's teams in the A-League.
• Tennis: The Hopman Cup is an international tennis tournament held here.

The largest sports stadium is Perth Stadium, also known as Optus Stadium. It can hold over 60,000 people.

Delicious Wines

The Margaret River region is known for its wine production.

Western Australia produces less than 5% of Australia's wine. However, it is known for making very high-quality wines. Major wine regions include Margaret River, The Great Southern, and Swan Valley.

Special Days Off: Public Holidays

The table below shows all the public holidays in Western Australia.

*Indicates a nationwide holiday

Friends Around the World: Sister States

Western Australia has five sister states. These are special agreements to build friendships and cultural ties with other regions around the world.

• East Java, Indonesia
• Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
• Andhra Pradesh State, India
• Tuscany Region, Italy
• Zhejiang Province, China

For example, Western Australia and Hyōgo Prefecture in Japan became sister states in 1981. This helped improve cultural connections. When a big earthquake hit Hyōgo in 1995, people from Western Australia helped with relief efforts.

Images for kids

• 

  Map first drawn in 1618 by Hessel Gerritsz, showing the charted coast of Australia.

• 

  Melchisédech Thévenot's Hollandia Nova—Terre Australe map from 1664.

• 

  John Forrest was the first Premier of Western Australia.

• 

  Köppen climate types in Western Australia

See also

In Spanish: Australia Occidental para niños

• Outline of Australia
• Government of Western Australia
• Mining in Western Australia
• Petroleum in Western Australia

Lists

• List of Western Australian towns
• List of statues in Western Australia
• Local Government Areas of Western Australia
• Category:Lists of people from Western Australia