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West Australia

Western Australia
Flag of Western Australia.svg Coat of arms of Western Australia.svg
Flag Coat of arms
Slogan or nickname The Wildflower State; The Golden State
Map of Australia with Western Australia highlighted
Other Australian states and territories
Coordinates 26°S 121°E / 26°S 121°E / -26; 121Coordinates: 26°S 121°E / 26°S 121°E / -26; 121
Capital city Perth
Demonym Western Australian, West Australian, Sandgroper (colloquial)
Government Constitutional monarchy
 • Governor Kerry Sanderson
 • Premier Colin Barnett (LP)
Australian state  
 • Established (as the Swan River Colony) 2 May 1829
 • Responsible government 21 October 1890
 • Federation 1 January 1901
 • Australia Act 3 March 1986
Area  
 • Total 2,645,615 km² (1st)
1,021,478 sq mi
 • Land 2,529,875 km²
976,790 sq mi
 • Water 115,740 km² (4.37%)
44,687 sq mi
Population
(Mar 2016)
 
 • Population 2,613,700 (4th)
 • Density 0.99/km² (7th)
2.6 /sq mi
Elevation  
 • Highest point Mount Meharry
1,249 m (4,098 ft)
Gross state product
(2014-15)
 
 • Product ($m) $214,230 (4th)
 • Product per capita $82,140 (1st)
Time zone(s) UTC+8 (AWST)
Federal representation  
 • House seats 16/150
 • Senate seats 12/76
Abbreviations  
 • Postal WA
 • ISO 3166-2 AU-WA
Emblems  
 • Floral Red-and-green or Mangles kangaroo paw
(Anigozanthos manglesii)
 • Animal Numbat
(Myrmecobius fasciatus)
 • Bird Black swan
(Cygnus atratus)
 • Fish Whale shark
 • Fossil Gogo fish
(Mcnamaraspis kaprios)
 • Colours Black and gold
Website www.wa.gov.au

Western Australia (abbreviated as WA) is a state occupying the entire western third of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and 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 2,529,875 square kilometres (976,790 sq mi), and the second-largest country subdivision in the world – however, a significant part of it is sparsely populated. The state has about 2.6 million inhabitants, around 11% of the national total. 92% of the population lives in the south-west corner of the state.

The first European visitor to Western Australia was the Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog, who visited the Western Australian coast in 1616. The first European settlement of 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. He established a convict-supported military garrison at King George III Sound, at present-day Albany, and on 21 January 1827 formally took possession of the western third of the continent for the British Crown. 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 east of Perth, it was settled on 16 September 1831.

Western Australia achieved responsible government in 1890, and federated with the other British colonies in Australia in 1901. Today its economy mainly relies on mining, agriculture and tourism. The state produces 46% of Australia's exports. Western Australia is the second-largest iron ore producer in the world.


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