Western Australia

G'day and welcome to my Western Australia information page. Here you will find some information about the Northern Territory, some sights from around the state (eventually) as well as links to other related sites.

The state of Western Australia, is Australia's face on the Indian Ocean. Its capital; Perth is closer to Singapore and Jakarta than it is to Canberra (Australia's capital). The majority of people live in and around Perth, the state's capital.

Western Australia is the largest Australian State. It occupies a third of Australia spanning 2 400km from north to south, with an area of more than 2 500 000 sq km, and a coastline of 12 500 km.

The narrow Timor Sea separates its northern coastline from equatorial islands of Indonesia. To the south is the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. When Napoleon was planning his conquest of England, he also anticipated conquering it's colonies. He had planned to invade Australia via Western Australia at a time when large parts of the inland were still unexplored by Europeans.

Western Australia has a relatively small population and has the lowest population density of any state in Australia (and perhaps the world). Occupying an area of approximately 2.5 million km² it has a population just over 1.7 million, most of whom live in Perth. The population in this state has remained small due to the large area of desert and semi arid areas that prevail throughout the state. These areas are not suitable for cultivation and have limited expansion into the state's inland.

Largest Cities

From its tropical north, to the temperate areas in its south-west corner, Western Australia experiences a variety of climatic conditions.

As the distance from the coast increases, the rainfall decreases and temperature variations are more pronounced. Most of inland Western Australia consists of large deserts that suffer extremes of heat during the day and are very cold at night.

Perth averages eight hours sunshine per day and 118 clear days per year. Mean monthly maximum temperatures range from 17ºC in July to 30ºC in February. Even in the coldest months, minimum temperatures rarely fall below 5ºC. Most of its 802mm annual rainfall occurs in the winter months.

Rural Production

The State's vast area provides soils and climates suited to a variety of agricultural production from open range grazing and broad acre cereal cropping to irrigated pastures and horticulture, orchards and vineyards.

Wheat, wool, beef and lamb are the main products. Tropical and temperate horticultural products and stockfeed are also important.

Recognition of new specialised markets in Asia has allowed farmers to take advantage of seasonal differences with the northern hemisphere. This has allowed them to provide a variety of Asian foods at times when the products are scarce locally in Asia.

The diverse and efficient agriculture sector provides the raw material for a rapidly growing range of processed exports. These include wine, ice cream, barley malt, noodles and fine leather. Instead of being just a primary producer, Western Australia is now increasing it's range of value added products and manufactured goods.

Western Australia's fisheries are major world suppliers of lobsters, prawns and pearls. With a decline in fish stocks in other parts of the world, the steadily growing aquaculture industry is successfully providing high value products to specialist markets. Pearl farming at Broome has boomed in recent years with high quality cultured pearls and Mother of Pearl being exported to Japan and Europe.

The forestry industry generates approximately $500 million annually. It produces hardwood and softwood timbers and woodchips from natural forests and plantations. The possibility of a sustainable pulp mill being established is currently being examined.

Minerals

Western Australia's extensive natural gas reserves will ensure that it will be an important source of energy well into the next century. The state supplies liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan, and is developing markets in Taiwan, Korea and other growing Asian economies.

With approximately 300 operating mines, Western Australia is a leading supplier of many commodities including alumina, diamonds, iron ore and mineral sands, - monazite; ilmenite; rutile/synruite and zircon. The state also produces 70 per cent of Australia's gold and significant exports of salt, nickel, tantalum and numerous other metals.

Manufacturing

Processed mineral and agricultural products are the State's major manufacturing exports, worth approximately $2 billion.

Recent major investments have established facilities producing chemicals, mining and electronic equipment and pharmaceuticals. Western Australia's shipbuilding industry has built more than 60 per cent of the nation's civil craft. It has also supplied 10 per cent of the world's lightweight passenger ferries. Local firms have adopted new designs, materials and technology to capture an important share of a growing market with exports exceeding $300 million.

Research and development activities by local and international companies have produced internationally competitive innovations in engine technology (Orbital engine), building products, bio-technology and electronics.

Transport

Sealed highways link regional centres to Perth and two national highways, one in the north and one in the south, provide for interstate traffic.

A major east-west rail line carries freight and passengers between Western Australia and other Australian States. An extensive public rail network services agriculture and industry in the State's south-west. In the north-west, private rail lines carry ore from inland mines to coastal ports.

Perth's international airport handles flights servicing Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Numerous daily air services carry passengers and freight between Perth, the State's regional centres and other state capitals, especially Sydney and Melbourne.

International shipping can be accessed at Fremantle, the State's main port and eight regional ports linked to major agricultural and mineral producing areas.

The flag of Western Australia is a British Blue Ensign defaced with the state badge. The badge depicts the native Black Swan on a yellow disc, with the swan swimming towards the hoist. A variant to this design renders the swan more artistically and includes water ripples.

The black swan has long been a symbol of Western Australia. The original colony was in fact called the Swan River Settlement, and in 1870 Governor Weld suggested that the black swan would be the obvious choice of badge for the colony - as it "has been always considered as its special badge, or cognizance."

The coat of arms of Western Australia incorporates a shield depicting a black swan, the bird emblem of the state. It is supported by two kangaroos, each holding a boomerang.

Page maintained by Grant Schmarr,
Copyright © 1997-99 Grant Schmarr.
Created: 29th September 1997. Updated: 24th November 1999