Western Australia
Western Australia is our largest state. Known for its natural wonders and easygoing vibe, it’s home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
WA’s capital city, Perth, has the culture of a cosmopolitan city and the relaxed pace of a small town.
key facts
- Location: The western third of the continent
- Population: 2,591,600
- Size: 2,529,875 km2
weather
Due to its size, the weather of WA is varied from tropical in the far north to a dry inland and Mediterranean Perth.
- Summer average: 21°C in the south west, 24°C in Perth and 33°C in the north
- Winter average: 11°C in the south west and Perth, 21°C in the north
- Average rainfall: 200–1,500 mm
local economy
WA’s economy is strongly export-based, specialising in mining, agriculture and petroleum.
As Australia’s largest export state it contributed 47% of the country’s merchandise exports in 2014. Much of this prosperity comes from the recent mining boom, which for the last decade has provided a strong employment market.
One of the consequences of the boom is a relatively high cost of living in WA. As of December 2015, the average rental price of a two bedroom house sits at around $500 per week.
The state is also notorious for having expensive coffee, averaging $4.43 for a cappuccino in Perth city, which beats Tokyo’s $4.13 and even London’s $4.40.
about western australia
Around the size of Western Europe, WA’s enormous land mass and sparse population make it a truly unique part of the world.
Its coastline hosts some of the most pristine white beaches on the planet, some of which sit on the edge of protected reefs that are teeming with marine life, including Ningaloo Reef and Shark Bay.
The state has a fertile and well-reputed wine region in Margaret River, which houses some of the world’s most critically acclaimed wineries including Vasse Felix, Cullen and Amelia Park to name a few.
Though most of Australia’s population resides in its capital city, Perth, in recent years the mining boom has brought many people out to work in more regional areas, many of whom do so on a fly-in, fly-out (or FIFO) basis.
about perth
Perth has a more relaxed atmosphere than Australia’s larger capital cities, most likely due to it being the most isolated city in the world. In fact, it’s actually closer to Jakarta, Indonesia than it is to its sister cities in the Eastern states.
This isolation builds closeness within the community and gives Perth the friendly feel of a smaller country town.
However, the isolation has also lent itself to Perth being an artistic hotbed, with many of its musicians and artists going on to make names for themselves and the city (do Heath Ledger and Gemma Ward ring a bell?).
The strength of Perth’s arts community is never easier to witness than during the Fringe World Festival, an open access performing arts festival that is now the third largest in the world.
A huge variety of local, national and international performers turn it out each year from mid-January until mid-February.
