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Western Australia

Western Australia is Australia's largest State in area, covering the western third of the mainland, and is bordered by South Australia and the Northern Territory. The capital city, Perth, is the most isolated city of over 1 million people in the world, being closer to Jakarta, Indonesia (3,007 km/1,868 miles) than to Sydney (3,284 km/2,041 miles). West Australians are often colloquially referred to as sandgropers because of the insect found on sand dunes around Perth. Perth in general but Western Australia in particular has experienced a huge Mining Resources boom and this is helping to create numerous jobs, apprenticeships and careers.

At the time of Federation, Western Australia was the youngest of the six sister states of Australia; but, curiously, it shares with Queensland and the Northern Territory of South Australia the privilege of being first known to Europeans. As early as 1503 it is claimed that a French navigator, Binot Paulmyer, Sieur de Gonneville, was blown out of hi* course, and touched at some portion of the coast, but the evidence in support of the assertion is anything but conclusive. The Portuguese also lay claim to the discovery of the western coast at a later date. But it is to Dutch navigators in the early portion of the seventeenth century that we owe the first really authentic accounts of the western, coast and adjacent islands, and in many instances the names given by these mariners to prominent physical features are still retained. By 1665 the Dutch possessed rough charts of almost the whole of the western littoral, while to the mainland itself they had given the name of New Holland. Of the Dutch discoverers, Pelsaert was the only one who made any detailed observations of the character of the country inland.

It was reserved, however, for an Englishman, William Dampier, to make a more thorough examination of the country adjacent to thewestern coast, and he visited it on two occasions-once in 1688, when he was a member of a company of buccaneers who landed to repair their vessel, and later, in 1699, as an accredited explorer in charge of the "Roebuck." The history of his voyage, published by Dampier shortly after his return to England, represented the country as so barren and inhospitable that no idea was then entertained of utilising it for settlement.

During the interval elapsing between Dampier's two voyages, an accident led to the closer examination of the coasts of Western Australia by the Dutch. In 1684 a vessel had sailed from Holland for the Dutch possessions in the East Indies, and after rounding the Cape of Good Hope, she was never again heard of. Some twelve years afterwards the East India Company fitted out an expedition under the leadershipof Commander William de Vlamingh, with the object of searching forany traces of the lost vessel on the western shores of New Holland. Towards the close of the year 1696 this expedition reached the island of Rottnest which was thoroughly explored, and early the following year a. landing party discovered and named the Swan River. The vessels then proceeded northward without finding any traces of the object of their search, but, at the same time, making fairly accurate charts of the coast line.

From this time onward the country was visited by various explorers,, but the expeditions of Lieutenant King (1818-22) are the most noteworthy, inasmuch as this officer made very careful surveys of the whole of the western coast from King George's Sound to Cambridge Gulf, and continued his observations from this point along the northern shores of the Continent.

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 weren't settled as a penal colony - and this is reflected in the free and spirited nature of its people.

The first major population surge came in the 1890s with the discovery of gold in the central and southern outback. The ensuing goldrush saw a massive influx of people from Australia and around the world, all keen to scour the rich gold-bearing soils of the central goldfields. On 1 January 1901, Western Australia joined the other Australian states to form a federation, headed by a federal government and supported by individual State governments.

Western Australia's location entrusted it with vital strategic importance during the two World Wars and many towns and cities, such as Broome, in the north are steeped in wartime history. Long abandoned bunkers and dusty airstrips - once used by fighters and bombers - can still be explored today. Following the war, the north enjoyed enormous growth through a booming cattle trade and an emerging, and highly secretive, pearling industry near Broome. The south blossomed with a strong agricultural sector and whaling.

Further oil and gas discoveries, as well as the world's largest iron ore deposits, saw the State's North West 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.

Situated in the southern hemisphere, Western Australia occupies around one-third of Australia's total landmass. That's an area of 2.5 million square kilometres or 965,000 square miles. The sheer size of Western Australia beckons visitors back time and again to explore the huge number and range of Australian holiday possibilities. Those seeking the sun, surf and sea will discover beautiful fringes of sand that meet the sparkling Indian Ocean.

A popular beach to feel the sand is Cable Beach in Broome. Often referred to as one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline ever seen - Cable Beach lives up to its reputation with 22 kilometers of pristine white sand and warm turquoise waters. Then there's the extraordinary outback for those searching for an experience to touch their soul. Broome makes up the Western gateway to the Kimberley region, a spectacular region characterised by ochre sands and majestic gorges. More recently the Kimberley played backdrop for Baz Luhrman's feature film 'Australia' the movie. Outback stations, some the size of small European countries, dot the landscape of Australia's Golden Outback, Australia's Coral Coast and Australia's North West. Accommodation at outback stations range from rustic shearing quarters and grand homesteads to a swag under the stars. Working stations are scattered around the Western Australian character-filled country towns including Carnarvon, Exmouth and Broome.

The big variety of landscapes and climates in Western Australia means there is always plenty of sunshine, making it a perfect year-round Australian holiday destination. It is a land blessed with spectacular diversity where the deep reds of ancient interior rock formations contrast with the sparkling blue of the Indian and Southern Oceans and the lush greenery of the stunning southern regions. Western Australia is famous for its long days of sunshine, spotless blue skies and brilliant beaches.