Western Australia is the largest state in Australia and significantly larger than many small countries throughout the world.
The combined surface areas of Japan, Texas, U. K. and New Zealand will fit into this state with room to spare so it puts new meaning into the word vast, being 2.5 million sq. km in
total area. The enormous area of Western Australia has several changes in climate.
The south west is Mediterranean with hot summers and wet winters and in the north west 2000klms away through the Kimberley region it is monsoonal and tropical with a hot sticky
wet season in summer and dry winters. The area between is almost rainless and makes up
the Great Sandy Desert, the Gibson Desert and the Great Victorian Desert.
The people are mostly concentrated in the Perth region but statesman can be as wide
spread in distance from the north to south as the journey from Oslo in Norway to Madrid in
southern Spain. Not overpopulated with only one and a half million people.
So having established it's unusual size one must now look within to find the treasures of
diversity in spectacular landscape, huge deserts, world renowned mining operations, sheep
stations the size of Ireland and beautifully cultivated oasis townships sporting the
sophistication of any residential development in the major cities of the world. The coastline
stretching some 13000klms, has spectacular clean white beaches and vast areas of wild
rugged rock formation.
The north is raw and harsh; 3000 kilometres to the south is soft and swathed in green
pastures; to the west are thousands of kilometres of brilliant blue ocean with
magnificent beaches; 600 kilometres east, fields of golden wheat vie with some of the
richest veins of gold ore in the world. Western Australia also has enormous deposits
of diamonds, iron ore, bauxite, nickel, natural gas and oil; vast wheat lands, abundant forests, rich seas and man-made lakes the size of small oceans.
There are vineyards producing wine to rival the world's best and, with 8000 species,
more wildflowers than youŠll find anywhere else on earth The carpets of spring flowers attract
many annual visitors. from . There is the smallest church, the biggest casino and the
narrowest pub in the southern hemisphere.
Since the first Dutch navigators set eyes on Western Australia's shores in the 17th Century,
more than 700 vessels have come to grief on the coast. Today, these waters are better
known as the arena for world famous yacht races, such as the Whitbread Round-the-World
Trophy and the Americas Cup, and for some of the best game fishing in the world.
Sandgropers, the affectionate nickname for WAŠs inhabitants, are healthy and energetic,
outgoing and friendly. They love their State and they revel in showing it off to visitors.
Welcome to Western Australia!
About 400 km south of Prth, the Albany natural harbour is one of the finest in the world.
Albany was the first settlement to become established in the west of Australia.
Perth followed just three years later. , Although a penal settlement was established on
Christmas Day in 1826 by Major Edmund Lockyer and troops from The Amity, he was
unaware that Vancouver had already visited this area staking his claim earlier. The name
was formally changed to Albany in 1832 and owing to the superb anchorage it soon
blossomed as a whaling and sealing station.
The city is hilly and picturesque developed around Princess Royal Harbour sheltered by
King George Sound which is twice the size of Sydney Harbour. The principal port on the
south coast is reliant on the farming of produce from the hinterland region behind the coastal
plain. The early settlers pushed inland to establish farming in wool, wheat, vegetable
products and dairy farming. The Stirling mountain range offers a wild riot of colour in the
Spring when the wild flowers are in bloom.
Whale watching has now become a major
tourist attraction in Albany since the whaling industry ceased in 1978.
The Cheynes Beach Whaling Company has turned into the world's
biggest Whaling Museum, where you can walk aboard one of the three
chasers that used to be in operation. Another chaser, Cheynes III,
was sunk to create an artificial reef and safe wreck dive for
recreational SCUBA divers to enjoy.
The commercial port of the south west of Western Australia. Between Perth and Albany it
faces the Indian Ocean and has developed on the junctions of the Collie and Preston rivers
at Leschenault estuary 180klm south of Perth. There is presently a $20 million dollar
expansion programme underway to deepen the harbour offering better facilities for the
growing demand caused by the thriving woodchip industry. The oldest church in Western
Australia can be found here at nearby Picton and built in 1842. Settlement took place in
1836 when Lt.Henry St. Pierre Bunbury trekked overland from Pinjarra in 1836 and
established the first country town for Western Australia. In 1979 it was recognised as the
states first country city. The first Premier of Western Australia to take office in 1890 was Sir
John Forrest an acclaimed explorer who was born here.
Is the main centre for the North West at the mouth of the river Gascoyne. The mineral boom
and improved irrigation to this area is allowing a dramatic expansion in development of the
region. The plantations of crops have been successful owing to an irrigation project of
sinking bores and wells from the underground water table. This vast area now stretches from
the Gibson Desert to the Indian Ocean. W.A's only banana plantations will be found here
and are proving commercially successful. The prawn and scallop factory at Babbage Island
processes the catch from the boats which more at the one kilometre long jetty. The main
export for the town is salt which is produced at the Lake Mcleod salt works and yields 1
million tonnes a year.
423kilometres north of Perth is Geraldton. It is a large and important farming and mining
centre for the Mid-West. The States chief supplier of rock lobster gives the town its major
income followed closely by the iron ore from the Weld Range. The famous explorer Sir John
Forrest left Geraldton in 1874 for his trek to Adelaide, a six month journey of hardship which
established links with South Australia.
In 1893 Kalgoorlie was known around the world after the big gold strike made the Golden
Mile the richest square mile on earth. Hannan Street bears the name of the man who made
that strike and since that time the mines in the district have yielded 39 million ozs of gold
worth $1250million and are still producing 112,000 oz of gold per year.
The town is a little green oasis amidst the ugly surrounding dumped rock escarpments. Tree
lined avenues to guard against the dust storms protect and offer shade. In 1908 during its
opulent years several buildings were erected that still stand displaying a grandeur of
architecture. The Town Hall with its splendid staircase and decorated ceiling has a splendid
clock tower. The museum, The British Arms is only 4metres wide and was once the
narrowest pub in Australia. Kalgoorlie is the birthplace of Australia's own unique form of
gambling "two-up" illegal for a long time but now one of the area's main attractions.
Popular resort at the mouth of Peel Inlet. The inlet, Harvey Estuary and three rivers provide
150klm of inland shoreline and there are 40klm of beaches. The town centre is a mixture of
old and new, developing with sprawling suburbs along the ocean front. Thomas Peel who
first tried to settle the area in 1829 with an ambitious migration scheme is buried in the
Christ Church Cemetery. Cousin of the British prime-minister Sir Robert Peel was granted
100,000ha and brought out three shiploads of migrants. Unfortunately bad management and
ignorance doomed the scheme.
South of Perth is the "garden of Western Australia" Coastal resort towns, vineyards, sheep
and cattle farms, orchard and magnificent hardwood forests are found in this area. Margaret
River is one of the main centres of interest in the region and is famous for its vineyards for
tastings and wine export. Spectacular limestone caves can be found here and at Augusta.
The coastline here is famous for the best windsurfing conditions in the world.
in
Shark Bay, is famous, not for its
monkeys as its name suggests, but for its visits from bottle nosed
dolphins
which come to be hand-fed and nuzzle up to humans
ankle-deep in the waters during the winter months. The
town lies on
Shark Bay
in the
Gascoyne region approximetly 900klm (530 miles) north of Perth,
a listed World Heritage Area, which has peninsulas and
inlets rich with unique wildlife.
On the way up
the coast you will find Kalbarri on a lagoon near coastal cliffs. There are superb views of the
surrounding spectacular countryside and coastline from this vantage point. Shark Bay is the
stretch of coastline to the north of this area consisting of a maze of inlets and islands
providing one of the country's best fish breeding grounds. It also harbours the world's largest
banks of whiting, along with many other fish.
Bottle nosed dolphin
Shark Bay is a World Heritage and Marine Park of
excellent beaches, besides the incredible dolphin visits at Monkey Mia
it is also home for the stromatolites at Hamelin Pool,
the earliest life on earth.
The weather
in Shark Bay now:
Please-Monkey
Mia is not a dolphin Disneyland. These babies are not trained
for your pleasure. When you're wading with the dolphins observe
the following rules:
wade about knee-deep
wait until the dolphins
approach you
never touch, or put anything
into, the blowhole
don't touch the head, dorsal
fin, or tail (pat gently along the side of the body)
do not scare the dolphins
with loud noises
don't try to swim with the
dolphins, and don't reach over them for any reason
check with rangers before
feeding--the dolphins are fussy about their food
if a dolphin gives you a
fish, don't give it back. Accept it and say "thank
you."
For more information on this
region contact: Shark Bay Tourist Centre
71 Knight Terrace
Denham 6537
Tel. (08) 9948 1253
Sprawling town that sits in a valley in the heart of Karri country. Famous for the King Karri
Festival which takes place at Pemberton in March every year. The town owes its livelihood
to the biggest saw mill in the State where about 140cu. m. a day is processed. The plant
works off steam which is generated by burning the sawdust. The steam also powers the
mills hooter which sounds regularly keeping time like a clock. The giant Gloucester Tree at
64m is the tallest fire lookout tree in the world. The tallest tree ever felled in the district was
104m which is the equivalent of a 34storey building. The other major commercial venture for
the town is the Hatchery where 250,000 brown and rainbow trout fingerlings are raised each
year.
One of Perth's favourite getaway places just 19klms offshore in the Indian Ocean. The sandy
island is 11klm long and 3klm at its widest part and covered in low scrub. The traditional
building colour for the island is the distinctive Rottnest yellow made from a mixture of
phosphate or sulphate of iron and builders lime. This tradition has been adopted since early
settlement in 1836 when it as used as a penal settlement for Aborigines. The island was
declared a reserve and wildlife sanctuary in 1917 and no vehicles are allowed on the island.
Transport is on foot or by bicycle to offer maximum protection. The name was an accidental
title bestowed by the Dutch explorer de Vlamingh who landed in the 17th century. He
mistook the small wallaby-like quokkas for rats and called the place Rats'Nest Island.
The town is a little green oasis amidst the ugly surrounding dumped rock escarpments. Tree
lined avenues to guard against the dust storms protect and offer shade. In 1908 during its
opulent years several buildings were erected that still stand displaying a grandeur of
architecture. The Town Hall with its splendid staircase and decorated ceiling has a splendid
clock tower. The museum, The British Arms is only 4metres wide and was once the
narrowest pub in Australia. Kalgoorlie is the birthplace of Australia's own unique form of
gambling "two-up" illegal for a long time but now one of the area's main attractions. 
One of Perth's favourite getaway places just 19klms offshore in the Indian Ocean. The sandy
island is 11klm long and 3klm at its widest part and covered in low scrub. The traditional
building colour for the island is the distinctive Rottnest yellow made from a mixture of
phosphate or sulphate of iron and builders lime. This tradition has been adopted since early
settlement in 1836 when it as used as a penal settlement for Aborigines. The island was
declared a reserve and wildlife sanctuary in 1917 and no vehicles are allowed on the island.
Transport is on foot or by bicycle to offer maximum protection. The name was an accidental
title bestowed by the Dutch explorer de Vlamingh who landed in the 17th century. He
mistook the small wallaby-like quokkas for rats and called the place Rats'Nest Island.