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Western Australia

Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western third of the land area of Australia, excluding external territories.[5] It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Australia is Australia's largest state, with a total land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi).[5] It is the second-largest country subdivision in the world, surpassed only by Russia's Sakha Republic. As of 2021, the state has 2.76 million inhabitants—11 percent of the national total.[6] The vast majority (92 percent) live in the south-west corner; 79 percent of the population lives in the Perth area,[7] leaving the remainder of the state sparsely populated.

Western Australia

Australia

2 May 1829

21 October 1890

1 January 1901

  • Western/West Australian
  • West Aussie
  • Sandgroper (colloquial)

12 senators (of 76)

15 seats (of 151)

2,527,013[1] km2 (975,685 sq mi) (1st)

1,249 m (4,098 ft)

2,878,600[2] (4th)

1.11/km2 (2.9/sq mi) (7th)

2022 estimate

AU$377.257 billion[3] (4th)

AU$135,320 (1st)

Increase 0.967[4]
very high Â· 2nd

Black swan
(Cygnus atratus)

Whale shark
(Rhincodon typus)

Red and green kangaroo paw
(Anigozanthos manglesii)

Numbat
(Myrmecobius fasciatus)

Black and gold

Gogo fish
(Mcnamaraspis kaprios)

The first Europeans to visit Western Australia belonged to the Dutch Dirk Hartog expedition, who visited the Western Australian coast in 1616. The first permanent European colony in what is today Western Australia occurred following the landing by Major Edmund Lockyer on 26 December 1826 of an expedition on behalf of the New South Wales colonial government.[8] Lockyer established a convict-supported military garrison at King George III Sound, at present-day Albany, and on 21 January 1827[8] he formally took possession for the British Crown of the western part of the continent that was not already claimed by the Crown.[9] This was followed by the establishment of the Swan River Colony in 1829, including the site of the present-day capital, Perth.


York was the first inland settlement in Western Australia. Situated 97 kilometres (60 miles) east of Perth, it was settled on 16 September 1831.[10] Western Australia achieved responsible government in 1890 and federated with the other British colonies in Australia in 1901.


Today, Western Australia's economy mainly relies on mining, oil and gas, services and construction. The state produces 46 percent of Australia's exports.[11] Western Australia is the largest iron ore producer in the world.[12] Its nickname is "The Wildflower State".[13]

Western Australia contributes an estimated 58% of Australia's Mineral and Energy Exports, potentially earning up to 4.64% of Australia's total GDP.[48]

[47]

per person ($97,940 in 2017–18) is higher than any other state and well above the national average ($73,267).[49]

Gross state product

Diversification (i.e. a greater range of commodities) over the past 15 years has provided a more balanced production base and less reliance on just a few major export markets, insulating the economy from fluctuations in world prices to some extent.

Finance, insurance and property services and construction have grown steadily and have increased their share of economic output.

[50]

Recent growth in global demand for minerals and petroleum, especially in China (iron-ore) and Japan (for LNG), has ensured economic growth above the national average.

WA. (Callsign: ABW – Channel 12 Digital)

ABC TV

WA. (Callsign: SBS – was on Channel 29 Digital – now Channel 7 Digital since the 2013 retune)

SBS

Perth. (Callsign: TVW – Channel 6 Digital)

Seven Network

Perth. (Callsign: STW – Channel 8 Digital)

Nine Network

Perth. (Callsign: NEW – Channel 11 Digital)

Network Ten

Perth formerly had , a free-to-air community television channel that began broadcasting in April 2010 and ceased broadcasting in February 2020. It replaced Access 31, which ceased broadcasting in August 2008.

West TV

: The West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers compete in the Australian Football League (AFL). They also have women's teams playing in the AFL Women's league. The West Australian Football League (WAFL) is the main local football competition, but other local and amateur football leagues exist across the state.

Australian rules football

Baseball: The compete in the Australian Baseball League.

Perth Heat

Basketball: The (men) and Perth Lynx (women) compete in the National Basketball League and Women's National Basketball League, respectively.

Perth Wildcats

: Western Australia represent the state in first-class and List A domestic cricket, with the Perth Scorchers competing in the Twenty20 Big Bash League.

Cricket

: The Thundersticks (men) and Diamonds (women) compete in the Australian Hockey League.

Field hockey

: The West Coast Fever compete in the ANZ Championship.

Netball

: The West Coast Pirates compete in the S. G. Ball Cup.

Rugby league

: The Western Force competes in Super Rugby Pacific.

Rugby union

: Perth Glory field men's and women's teams in the A-League Men and A-League Women, respectively.

Soccer

Tennis: The Hopman Cup, an annual international team indoor hardcourt tennis tournament.

ITF

: The UWA Torpedoes water polo club competes in the National Water Polo League (NWPL).

Water Polo

Indonesia

East Java

Japan

Hyōgo Prefecture

India

Andhra Pradesh State

Italy

Tuscany Region

China

Zhejiang Province

Western Australia has five sister states:[83]


In 1981, a sister state agreement was drawn up between Western Australia and Hyōgo Prefecture in Japan that was aimed at improving cultural ties between the two states.[84][85] To commemorate the 10th anniversary of this agreement, the Hyōgo Prefectural Government Cultural Centre was established in Perth in 1992.[86] Prior to that, the Western Australian government opened an office in Kobe, the largest city in Hyōgo, to facilitate maintenance of the relationship in 1989.[85][87]


Following the Great Hanshin earthquake that devastated southern Hyōgo in January 1995, Western Australian groups and businesses raised funds and provided materials, whilst individuals travelled to Hyōgo to help with emergency relief and the subsequent reconstruction process.[88][89][90] The two governments signed a memorandum of understanding on the 20th anniversary in 2001 that aimed to improve the economic relationship between the two states.[85]


Further to the sister state relationship, the City of Rockingham in Western Australia and the City of Akō in Hyōgo signed a sister city agreement in 1997. It is one of nine sister city relationships between Western Australian and Japanese cities.[91]

Outline of Australia

Index of Australia-related articles

Government of Western Australia

Mining in Western Australia

Petroleum in Western Australia

Geographic data related to at OpenStreetMap

Western Australia

a tourist website run by Tourism Western Australia, the statutory authority responsible for promoting Western Australia as a tourist destination

Welcome to Western Australia

Western Australia government's website

from the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia's collection.

Watch historical footage of Western Australia

on the National Film and Sound Archive's australianscreen online.

Watch audiovisual material relating to Western Australia