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 Sakha in Russia, the second largest subnational entity in the world.

Major population centres (ranking)

1. Perth
2. Fremantle
3. Rockingham
4. Mandurah
5. Albany

People

Although Western Australia has been occupied by the Aboriginal people for many thousands of years, the present state has its origins in the British settlement known as the Swan River Colony, founded at Perth in 1829 (although the first British settlement occurred in Albany in 1826). Since that time, many immigrants have continued to be of British origin, outnumbered only by arrivals from other Australian states. 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 19th century. 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. Following World War II, immigration 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.

Flora and fauna

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.

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.

Photo: The Pincushion Hakea is a native of Western Australia

Economy

Western Australia's economy 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.


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.

Education

Education in Western Australia consists of one year of pre-school, followed by seven years of primary school education, and five years of secondary education. The final two years of secondary education are currently changing to compulsory. All students who completed yr10 in 2005 are now required to undertake further studies in 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 Tafe in they're eleventh year or continue through the high school with a vocational course or a specific University entrance course.

Media

Western Australia has only one daily newspaper, the independent tabloid The West Australian, and one Sunday tabloid newspaper, News Corporation's The Sunday Times.

Metropolitan Perth has six broadcast television stations, while regional Western Australia is served by four broadcast networks. Statewide satallite and/or cable services are also provided by pay television giant Foxtel, which acquired the Galaxy Television satellite service in the 1990s.