Perth is located on the Swan River in the south west of Australia and is one of the most remote state capitals in the world. It is closer to Singapore, East Timor and Indonesia than it is to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It became known as ‘The City of Lights” in 1962 when streetlights and houses were lit up as astronaut John Glenn orbited the earth on Friendship 7. This was done again in 1998 when he passed overhead in the Space Shuttle.
The Swan River Settlement, which later became Perth, was founded in 1829 by Captain James Stirling as a free settler colony. Settlers were given 200 acres for every labourer they brought with them, but life was hard and the colony grew slowly. In 1850 convicts were brought in and their labour built many of the old buildings that still stand today, while gold discoveries in the 1890s boosted the population very quickly.
Facts About Perth
Perth has a population of over 1.6 million, which is well over 70% of the entire population of Western Australia. It is the fourth largest city in Australia and was the last Australian colony to agree to join the Federation of Australia, in 1901. The current population has a high proportion of British-born residents, and more than a quarter of the population has English ancestry.
Perth has a temperate/Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and wet and mild winters. Between November and April temperatures average around 30°C and can go over 40°C. In summer “The Fremantle Doctor” is a sea breeze that can reduce the temperature by up to 15°C.Winter temperatures (June-August) average 18°C, and can fall below zero on clear nights.
Perth Accommodation and Dining
Perth has a range of accommodation including hotels, apartments, holiday houses, bed and breakfasts, caravan parks, backpackers and hostels. Perth is a popular place for backpackers and there are several backpacker hostels in the city as well as a Youth Hostel that is only about 22 metres from the main railway station.
There is good dining to be found in plenty of Perth suburbs and the port town of Fremantle, and there are also plenty of fast-food outlets. The Western Rock Lobster , or crayfish, is relatively cheap during summer and is very tasty. The entertainment precinct of Northbridge has a good selection of restaurants including Greek, Italian, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Chinese and seafood.
Things to Do in Perth
Kings Park has some great plants and gives a fantastic view over the city. Perth Cultural Centre is an area with several buildings including the Western Australian Museum, Art Gallery of Western Australia and Alexander Library. The Western Australian Maritime Museum in Fremantle houses Australia II which was the yacht that won the 1983 Americas Cup.
You can take a day trip to Rottnest Island and see the marsupial Quokka and many old heritage buildings. There are also plenty of beautiful beaches with excellent surfing, snorkelling and fishing. You can also visit local wineries in the Swan Valley which also has an excellent range of gourmet fare to sample.
Australia's other capital cities are Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin. Canberra is also the National capital.
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