Western Australia
Western Australia’s history dates back more than 40,000 years with a rich Aboriginal history, making it one of the oldest settled lands on Earth. The Aboriginals lived a nomadic existence, moving within fairly well-defined geographic regions, as they followed the seasons and food sources.
Europeans did eventually reach Western Australia, and while it is widely believed that Portuguese sailors plied the waters as early as the 1500s, the first recorded European visitors were the Dutch in the 1600s.
Many of these sailors, employed by the Dutch East India Company, regularly used the strong westerly winds to power their boats across the Indian Ocean to Dutch-colonized Indonesian ports, such as Batavia (now Jakarta). The legacy of these European explorers is seen today in coastal place names such as Cape Vlamingh, Abrolhos Islands, Rottnest Island, Cape Leeuwin and Cape D’Entrecasteaux.
European settlement didn’t officially take place in Western Australia until 1826, when the southern port of Albany was settled as a military outpost. However, the colonial headquarters was moved to the current capital of Perth. Western Australia’s history is unusual, in that it was one of the few Australian states that wasn’t settled as a penal colony – and this is reflected in the free and spirited nature of its people.
On 1 January 1901, Western Australia joined the other Australian states to form a united federation, headed by a federal government and supported by individual State governments.
Following WW2, oil and gas discoveries, as well as the world’s largest iron ore deposits, saw the State’s Northwest undergo a population explosion throughout the 1970s – which continues to this day. In more recent times, Western Australia is again enjoying another population boom, as more and more people are attracted to the State for its exceptional climate, buoyant economy and relaxed lifestyle – making Western Australia one of the fastest growing regions in the country.
Climate and Weather
The Western Australia weather and climate is one of the most diverse in Australia – from the tropical north to the temperate south. There are also two distinct seasonal variations. In the southern half of the State there are four discernible seasons – summer, autumn, winter and spring, while in the north there are just two – the “wet” and the “dry”.
The northern winter, or “dry” season (April-September), has long days of sunshine and blue skies. Temperatures range from 24 degrees Celsius overnight to around 34 degrees Celsius during the day.
The northern summer, or ‘wet’ season (October-March), has temperatures in the mid to high 30s and comparably high humidity. Visitors from cooler climates may find this challenging, however many Europeans love the balmy combination of heat, humidity and long days of sunshine.
The weather is less dramatic south of the Tropic of Capricorn. The southern coastal areas of the South West region average a maximum of around 32 degrees Celsius in summer and 14 degrees Celsius in the winter. Perth boasts more sunny days per year than any other Australian capital city. The warm sun and temperate Western Australian climate has helped the State establish a reputation as a world-renowned food and wine region, and is also conducive to the relaxed outdoor lifestyle.
