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. It is, after the Sakha Republic in Russia, the second largest subnational entity (Statoid) in the world. The capital city, Perth, is one of the most isolated cities of its size on the planet, being closer to Jakarta (3007 km) than to Sydney (3284 km).

Geography

Much of Western Australia consists of the extremely old Yilgarn and Pilbara cratons which merged with the Deccan of India, Madagascar and the Karoo and Zimbabwe cratons of South Africa, in the Archean Eon to form Ur, the oldest Supercontinent on Earth (3,200-3,000 million years ago). Because the only mountain-building since then has been of the Stirling Range with the rifting from Antarctica, the land is extremely eroded and ancient, with no part of the State today above 1245 metres (at Mount Meharry in the Hamersley Range of the Pilbara region). Most parts of the State form a low plateau with an average elevation of about 400 metres (1200 feet), very low relief, and no surface runoff. This descends relatively sharply to the coastal plains, in some cases forming a sharp escarpment (as with the Darling Range/Darling Scarp near Perth). The extreme age of the landscape has meant that the soils are remarkably infertile and frequently laterised. Even soils derived from granitic bedrock contain an order of magnitude less available phosphorus and only half as much nitrogen as soils in comparable climates in other continents. Soils derived from extensive sandplains or ironstone are even less fertile, being even more devoid of soluble phosphate and also deficient in zinc, copper, molybdenum and sometimes potassium and calcium.

The state capital is the city of Perth, which lies on the south-western coastline. Perth's metropolitan area had an estimated population of 1.47 million in 2005 which was almost three quarters of the state's population. The Perth metropolitan area has grown to include the port of Fremantle and the town of Rockingham. Other important or well-known centres include Mandurah (pop. 54,000), Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Albany, Geraldton, Port Hedland and Broome, but these are all relatively small cities or towns.

The southwest coastal area is relatively temperate and was originally heavily forested, including large stands of the karri, one of the tallest trees in the world. This agricultural region of Western Australia is in the top nine terrestrial habitats for terrestrial biodiversity with a higher proportion of endemic species than most other equivalent regions, and thanks to the offshore Leeuwin Current, numbers in the top six regions for marine biodiversity, containing the most southerly reefs in the world. Annual rainfall varies from 300 millimetres (12 inches) at the edge of the wheatbelt to 1400 millimetres (55 inches) in the wettest areas near Northcliffe, but in the months of November to March evaporation exceeds rainfall and it is generally very dry. Plants must be adapted to this as well as the extreme poverty of all soils. Climate change is producing a major reduction in rainfall, with a greater number of rainfall events in the summer months. (see Southwest corner of Western Australia)

The central four-fifths of the State is semi-arid or desert, and is lightly inhabited with the only significant activity being mining. Annual rainfall here averages about 200 to 250 millimetres (8 to 10 inches) but is very erratic because most of it is produced in torrential falls by cyclones in the summer months that are often unreliable.

An exception to this is the northern tropical regions. The Kimberley has an extremely hot monsoonal climate with average annual rainfall ranging from 500 to 1500 millimetres (20 to 60 inches), but there is a very long almost rainless season from April to November. Almost all (85%) of the State's runoff occurs in the Kimberley, but because it occurs in violent floods and the insurmountable poverty of the generally shallow soils, the only development has taken place along the Ord River with an ambitious scheme that has only recently begun to pay off.

Highest maximum temperature: 50.5 °C (122.9 °F), Mardie, Pilbara, 61.6 km (38.3 miles) from Barrow Island, 19 February 1998

Lowest minimum temperature: -6.7 °C (19.9 °F), Booylgoo Springs, 187.3 km (116.4 miles) from Meekatharra, 12 July 1969 ^*

The inappropriate nature of Western Australian soils to western agricultural methods, has required heavy inputs of chemical fertilisers, particularly superphosphate, insecticides and herbicides, which, with the ensuing damage to invertebrate and bacterial populations, and compaction of soils through heavy machinery and hoved mammals has done great damage to the fragile soils. The massive clearing of the land has not only damaged habitats for native flora and fauna, making the South West region of the state that with the greatest percentage of flora and fauna rare, threatened or endangered in Australia, and one of the biodiversity "hot spots" in the world, it has also led to major problems with dryland salinity and the loss of fresh water. (See Southwest Australia)

History

The first inhabitants of Australia arrived from the north approximately 40,000 to 60,000 years ago. Over thousands of years they eventually spread across the whole landmass. These Indigenous Australians were well established throughout Western Australia by the time European ships started accidentally arriving en-route to Batavia (now Jakarta) in the early seventeenth century.

The first European to visit Western Australia was a Dutch explorer, Dirk Hartog who on 26 October 1616 landed at (what is now known as) Cape Inscription, Dirk Hartog Island. For the rest of the 17th century there were many other Dutch travellers who also, usually unintentionally, encountered the coast. By the late 1700s, English and French sailors had also begun to explore the Western Australian coast.

The present state has its origins in the expropriation of Aboriginal land by the British settlement known as the Swan River Colony, founded at Perth in 1829 (although the first British settlement occurred in Albany in 1826).

Population growth was very slow until significant discoveries of gold were made in the 1890s around Kalgoorlie.

The colony eventually became a state of Australia on 1 January 1901.

People

Since the settlement in 1829 of the Swan River Colony by the British, many immigrants have continued to be of British origin, outnumbered only by arrivals from other Australian states. Today Australian Aboriginal people today number over 1.5% of the population and are rapidly growing despite having mean average life expectancy rates more than 20 years less than the average white Australian.

There has also been significant immigration from New Zealand and South Africa. Small numbers of Southeast Asian (especially ethnic Chinese) immigrants began to arrive in Western Australia in the mid to late 19th century, attracted to the goldfields. Western Australia was the last colony which accepted convicts, and the natives of Russia deported from England during the following years would arrive only there. Immigration restrictions (the White Australia Policy) caused non-white immigration to cease in the 1890s. Unlike most other parts of Australia, Western Australia received many migrants from Italy in the 1920's, a time when many Italian immigrants were choosing to go to the United States. Following World War II, immigration to all of Australia from Europe increased, especially from Italy, Yugoslavia, Russia, and Greece.

In the 1970s, a new wave of Asian immigrants, mostly ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese began to arrive in Western Australia. Perth, in particular, paralleled the multicultural experience of other large Australian cities and has become home to people from most of the countries in the world. Presently, 11.9% of Western Australian residents were born in the United Kingdom or Ireland, while 5.3% were born in Asia. In recent years, Western Australia has had the highest overseas migration rates in the nation. Western Australia now has the highest proportion of overseas born citizens in Australia. Interestingly, Perth has developed a significant Japanese population and now has more Japanese nationals with Australian permanent residency than any other city in Australia

Economy

Western Australia has the highest per capita output of any Australian state, with an economy that has been largely based on the extraction and export of mining and petroleum commodities, especially iron ore, alumina, natural gas, nickel and gold. Western Australia is a leading alumina extractor, producing more than 20% of the world's aluminium. It is also the world's third-largest iron ore producer, producing around 15% of the world's total iron ore output. Western Australia also extracts up to 75% of Australia's 240 tonnes of gold.

Western Australia's economy recently has benefited from an unprecedented amount of foreign demand for resources, particularly from China. This has contributed to GSP growth of 4.8%, 7.5% and 2.7% for the 2002/03, 2003/04 and 2004/05 financial years respectively. [http://www.dtf.wa.gov.au/cms/uploadedFiles/stateaccounts200405.pdf Perth has emerged as a significant administration centre for businesses in the mineral and oil and gas industries.

Agricultural exports are also important, especially wheat, barley and sheep products such as wool and meat. In recent years, tourism has grown in importance, with the majority of visitors coming from the United Kingdom and Ireland, Singapore, Japan and Malaysia.

Western Australia, with about 10% of Australia's population, generates over 25% of Australia's export revenues. Western Australians argue that this justifies a higher than per capita share of Commonwealth government revenues, a fact contested by residents of New South Wales and Victoria who express some resentment against "subsidising" the less populous states.

Western Australia is also unique in that retail trade is tightly regulated and there are strict restrictions on the hours that stores are allowed to open. Major stores are restricted to open between 8:00am and 6:00 p.m. weekdays except Thursdays where closing time is 9:00pm. Saturdays stores are open from 8:00 am to 5:00pm. A referendum was held on 26 February 2005 on the issue of allowing weekday trading to 9pm and 6 hours of trade on Sundays; the referendum was defeated. Exemptions to this are granted for designated tourist precincts of the Perth city centre, Fremantle and major regional centres: these are allowed to trade on Sundays from 11:00am until 5:00pm. The Perth City area has Friday night trading until 9:00pm.

Government

Western Australia was granted self-government in 1889 with a bicameral House of Parliament, located in Perth, consisting of the Legislative Assembly (or lower house), and the Legislative Council (or upper house). Suffrage is universal and compulsory for Australian citizens residing in Western Australia over 18 years of age.

With the federation of the Australian colonies in 1901, Western Australia became a State within Australia's federal structure; this involved ceding certain powers to the Commonwealth (or Federal) government in accordance with the Constitution; all powers not specifically granted to the Commonwealth remained solely with the State, however over time the Commonwealth has effectively expanded its powers through increasing control of taxation and financial distribution.

Whilst the sovereign of Western Australia is the Queen of Australia (Queen Elizabeth II), and executive power nominally vested in her State representative the Governor (currently Ken Michael), executive power is effectively administered by the premier and ministers. The premier is Alan Carpenter and ministers are drawn from the party or coalition of parties holding a majority of seats in the lower house of Parliament, (currently Labor).

Secession

Secessionism has been a recurring feature of Western Australia's political landscape since shortly after European settlement in 1829. Western Australia was the most reluctant participant in the Commonwealth of Australia. Review Essay, New Federation History, Melbourne University Law Review www.austlii.edu.au . Residents of Kalgoorlie and Albany voted to join the Commonwealth, and the proposal of these areas being admitted separately was considered.

In a referendum in April 1933, 68% of voters voted for the state to leave the Commonwealth of Australia with the aim of returning to the British Empire as an autonomous territory. The State Government sent a delegation to Westminster, but the British Government refused to intervene and therefore no action was taken to implement this decision.

Major population centres (ranking)

Native species

Birds (see List of Western Australian birds)

WA is home to around 540 species of birds (depending on the taxonomy you choose to adopt). Of these around 15 are endemic to the state. The best areas for birds are the south-western corner of the state and the area around Broome and the Kimberley.

Flora (see Flora of Western Australia)

Western Australia, in its south west region has some of the largest numbers of plant species for its area in the world. Prior to European settlers expanding agriculture, it is speculated that there were significant numbers of flower and plant species that were never described before they became extinct.

Algae

William Henry Harvey (1811 - 1866) published his magnificent five-volume Phycologia Australia which was issued in parts between 1858 and 1863. He earned the title of father of Australian Phycology. His maim collection is in the herbarium of Trinity College Dublin (TCD)., there is also a large collection of his specimens in the Ulster Museum (BEL), Belfast.

Education

Education in Western Australia consists of one year of pre-school at age 5, followed by seven years of primary school education, ie Years 1 through 7. Students move into Year 8 at age 13 and five years of secondary education. The final two years of secondary education are currently changing to compulsory. All students who completed Year 10 in 2005 are now required to undertake further studies in yr 11. Students are required to complete the year in which they turn 16 (usually yr 11).

Commencing in 2008 all students will be required to complete 12 years of study before leaving school. Students will have the option to study at a TAFE college in their eleventh year or continue through high school with a vocational course or a specific University entrance course.

The major universities in Western Australia are the University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University, Curtin University, Murdoch University and the University of Notre Dame.

Media

Print

Western Australia has two daily newspapers: the independent tabloid The West Australian and; The Kalgoorlie Miner. Also published is one Sunday tabloid newspaper, News Corporation's The Sunday Times. However, the interstate broadsheet publication The Australian is also available, although with sales per capita lagging far behind those in other states. With the advent of the Internet, other online publications from around the world are now easily accessible. Some, like the New South Wales based The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian which provide free access to their sites, are becoming increasingly popular at the expense of The West Australian which charges for its complete online news service.

Television

Metropolitan Perth has eight broadcast television stations;

ABC WA. Produces nightly local news at 7pm. (digital & analogue) (callsign: ABW-2)
ABC 2 (digital only) (callsign: )
SBS WA (digital & analogue) (callsign: SBS-28)
SBS World News Channel (digital only) (callsign: )
Seven Network Perth. Produces weeknightly local news from 6pm - 7pm. (digital & analogue) (callsign: TVW-7)
Nine Network Perth. Produces weeknightly local news from 6pm - 6.30pm. (digital & analogue) (callsign: STW-9)
Network Ten Perth. Airs weeknightly local news from 5pm - 6pm, however live from Sydney. (digital & analogue) (callsign: NEW-10)
Access 31. Community service channel. (analogue-only) (callsign: ATW-31)

Regional WA has a similar availability of stations, with the exception of Access 31. The metropolitans commercial stations are affiliated with;

Golden West Network (GWN). Produces weeknightly local news from 5.30pm - 6pm, also airs Seven Perth news until 7pm) (analogue only) (callsign: WAW)
WIN Television WA. Statewide news weeknightly from 5.30pm - 6.30pm, sourced from Network Ten Perth. (analogue only) (callsign: WOW)

Pay TV services are provided by Foxtel, which acquired many of the assets and all the remaining subscribers of the insolvent Galaxy Television satellite service in 1998. Some metropolitan suburbs are serviced by Pay TV via cable; however, most of the metropolitan and rural areas can only access Pay TV via satellite.

Radio

The top five radio stations broadcasting in Perth include, (2005 ratings in descending order), Mix 94.5, ABC 720AM, 96FM, NOVA 93.7FM, and 6PR AM. The regional areas of the state have a number of local broadcasters, and the national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)also has a presence in all regional centres. Across the state, there are over 380 FM broadcast transmitters. (See FM Online listing for WA).

Sport

These national or international sporting teams and events are based in the state:

Two teams in the Australian Football League (AFL): the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Football Club (the "Fremantle Dockers"). The "home" of Australian Rules football in Perth is Subiaco Oval. There is also a local West Australian Football League with nine clubs representing metropolitan regions. Australian Rules Football is popular in Western Australia with over 1,030,000 spectators attending WAFL and AFL matches in 2004^*.

A state cricket team, known as the Retravision Western Warriors, based at the WACA Ground plays in the Pura Cup and ING Cup competitions. The WACA also hosts Test and One-day International cricket matches.

A football (soccer) team, Perth Glory, which is a part of the newly re-formed national competition (first season in 2005-06) known as the A-League. In the past Perth Glory has been a relatively successful team by winning the last two NSL (National Soccer League) seasons (2002-03 & 2003-04). Perth Glory's home games are played at Members Equity Stadium, although they have previously played semi and grand-finals at Subiaco Oval.

Western Australia is the home of the Western Force, a new franchise in the Super 14 rugby union competition (formerly the Super 12 before the addition of the Force and a team in South Africa for the 2006 season). Their home ground is Subiaco Oval.

A team in the National Basketball League, the Perth Wildcats, who are one of the most successful teams in the league's history. However, the popularity of basketball as a spectator sport in Australia has sharply declined since the early 1990s.

Rugby league briefly maintained a Western Australian team in the national competition (1995-1997), known as the Western Reds. (Perth Reds in the Super League season)

Horse racing is very popular, with the Perth Cup being held each New Years Day at Ascot Racecourse. Winter racing is held at Belmont Park. Harness racing is held all year round at Gloucester Park and greyhound racing at Cannington Raceway and Mandurah. Most country towns have a race course and often have a major race day as a social highlight of the year.

Western Australia also hosts the annual Hopman Cup mixed tennis tournament at the Burswood Dome.

Telstra Rally Australia, which is a part of the World Rally Championship (WRC) is held each year on the gravel roads in the south-west jarrah forests as well as special stages held in central Perth (at Gloucester Park).

Normally at least one international golf tournament is held in WA each year, with the Johnnie Walker Classic at The Vines Resort & Country Club in Jan 2006 as part of both the European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia. In past years international tournaments have also been held at the Karrinyup Country Club. The Heineken Classic was held in WA throughout the 1990s and was at times the richest tournment held in Australia.

References

External links

Western Australia | Former British colonies

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