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Western Australia

THE LARGEST STATE

You'll never run out of things to do in Australia's largest state. Swim with dolphins in the crystal clear ocean, explore the untouched wilderness of the Kimberley, visit the historic town of Fremantle, go wine tasting in the famous Margaret River region or just live it up in the beautiful and friendly city of Perth.

Western Australia Map

CAPITAL:

Perth

FLORAL EMBLEM:

The Red and Green Kangaroo Paw

FAUNAL EMBLEM:

Black Swan

STATE FLAG:

Black Swan within a yellow circle

STATE MOTTO:

Cygnis Insignis (distinguished by its swans)

LOCATION:

Western Australia, Australia's largest state, occupies the western third of the continent.

AREA:

Western Australia comprises 1/3 of the continent and has an area of 2,525,500 sq./km. (975,100 sq./mi.).

LANDFORM:

The Western Plateau, which covers most of the state, is a shield of ancient rock with an elevation generally between 230 and 460 m (750 and 1,500 ft).

POPULATION:

1,687,300 (1993 est.) - Western Australians are English speaking and predominantly Australian-born. The population is highly urbanized (about 85%), but the state's population density is low-about 0.65 per sq./km. (1.7 per sq./mi.). Major towns other than Perth include Bunbury, Geraldton, Albany, and Fremantle on the southwest coast, and Kalgoorlie, Coolgardie, and Port Hedland.

CLIMATE:

Three climatic regions can be found in Western Australia: the southwest, which has warm to hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters; the hot, monsoonal northern fringe; and the vast interior, which is hot and arid. In the south, the mean December temperature is 27 degrees C (80 degrees F); the mean July temperature 16 degrees C (60 degrees F). Annual rainfall averages 635 mm (25 in) near the coasts, but most of the interior receives less than 255 mm (10 in) a year.

PERTH:

Situated on the banks of the scenic Swan River, Perth has a glorious climate with more hours of sunshine per year than any other Australian capital. With this kind of climate, it's small wonder that outdoor activities take precedence.

Perth is a dynamic city. Its clean beaches and pleasant river foreshore make the city an aquatic paradise. Luxury yachts share the water with windsurfers, dinghies and water skiers. Going to the beach is a way of life and the place to people-watch and be seen, to breathe in bracing Indian Ocean air and admire spectacular sunsets.

SHOPPING:

Perth shops offer uniquely Australian merchandise, plus a wide range of imported goods. Fashions from Australia's most talented designers are available in quality boutiques located in the city centre and suburban shopping areas. Argyle diamonds, opals, emu leather products and Aboriginal art are sold in specialty shops.

Duty-free shopping outlets are located in the city centre and Fremantle, as well as at Perth International Airport. They sell a wide variety of international and Australian merchandise, and the duty-free liquor prices are amongst the lowest in the world.

DINING OUT:

Perth's multicultural population has ensured that a wide selection of cuisines is available to diners. Whether your preference be for French, Italian, German, Japanese, Chinese, Greek - or a host of other international foods - you will find what your taste buds crave in Perth, at prices to suit every budget.

FREMANTLE:

Just 20 minutes southwest of Perth at the mouth of the Swan River is the old port of Fremantle. Like any international port, it has a certain cosmopolitan, exotic flavour. Night sports and old world haunts, ethnic restaurants, boutique brewery pubs, quaint old cottages and convict-built stone architecture make Fremantle a delightful spot to visit.