Overview

Perth is an amazing place to live, visit or invest as the city continues to grow and prosper. Perth is the capital and largest city of the state of Western Australia. With a population of 1,650,000 (2009), Perth ranks fourth amongst the nation's cities, with a growth rate consistently above the national average.

The city is located on the south western coast of Australia and is geographically closer to Singapore and Indonesia than it is to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Perth is the premier destination for business, culture and entertainment and the major gateway into the state of Western Australia. The metropolitan area of Perth is divided into over 30 local government councils.

Perth is a beautiful city which prides itself on its broad cultural diversity and it welcomes visitors to its city with open arms. Perth offers its residents a wonderful standard of life and has also become an increasingly popular tourist destination for overseas visitors in recent years and this trend is set to continue, which has a positive effect on the local economy.
It features a broad cultural diversity, which is reflected in the way of life, incorporating a wide range of restaurants, events and the arts. Sophisticated yet uncomplicated, the lifestyle in Western Australia is relaxed and friendly. There are vineyards producing wine to rival all comers and, with 8000 species, more wildflowers than you'll find anywhere else on earth. It has the smallest church, the biggest casino and the narrowest pub in the Southern Hemisphere.
Western Australia's waters are better known as the arena for world-famous yacht races, such as the Whitbread Round-the-World Race and the America's Cup, or for some of the best game fishing in the country.
Slightly over one third of Perth’s residents were born overseas. According to the Bureau of Statistics, people from the UK are Perth’s biggest migrant group, making up 12.4 percent of the population. The next biggest groups are New Zealanders (2.5%), Italians (1.6%), Malaysians (1.2%) and South Africans (1.0%).
Western Australia has huge deposits of metal ores and coal. Booming Asian economies, particularly China, have sourced many of their raw materials from Western Australia, resulting in high economic growth for the state and its capital, Perth.  Many large mining and mineral related companies have their headquarters in Perth. Mining itself is carried on outside Perth but the city is home to many support industries employing engineers and scientists. There is a large oil refinery at Kwinana, 25 km south of Perth, with associated engineering and chemicals jobs. Agriculture and tourism are also large players in the Perth region’s economy.

Getting Around

Perth is served by Perth Airport in the city's east for regional, domestic and international flights and Jandakot Airport in the city's southern suburbs for general aviation and charter flights.

The main way for people to travel around Perth is by car. Perth has a road network with three freeways and nine metropolitan highways. Perth also has an extensive public transport system. Modes of transport include taxis, trains, buses and ferries.

Perth metropolitan public transport, including trains, buses and ferries, are provided by Transperth (www.transperth.wa.gov.au), with links to rural areas provided by Transwa. There are 70 railway stations and 15 bus stations in the metropolitan area.

The bus network is very comprehensive covering the whole of Perth. Buses focus on taking the population living in the suburbs to the rail lines as well as having direct routes in to the central business district. The Free TransitZone (FTZ) allows you to travel on buses within the City of Perth boundaries without paying a fare. The Central Area Transit (CAT) services circulate specific routes including Fremantle. There are two major bus terminals. The Perth city Busport services to Perth metro area including southern suburbs. The Wellington Street Bus Station services routes to the northern suburbs.

There are four main train lines which cover all directions and service most main areas of Perth. The Indian Pacific Route is a famous train trip between Sydney, Adelaide and Perth. The journey covers over 4,000kms, a popular trip for tourists.

The main ferry port in Perth is at Barrack Jetty, which transports passengers across the Wan River.

Perth Tram Company and CitySightseeing Perth are two services providing tourist-oriented transport around the city's popular sights. For more information, please visit www.citysightseeingperth.com and www.perthtram.com.au.

Designated taxi ranks are located around the central city for safe and convenient travel, there are over 1,000 taxis operating in and around Perth.

Perth has a comprehensive network of cycle and dual-use paths. One of the most popular routes for leisure cyclists and walkers is a circuit around the Swan River at the doorstep of the city. Perth’s climate and its network of excellent trails make cycling a safe and enjoyable way to discover the city.

Climate

The summer months are hot with an average temperature of 29C (84F) during the day, and 17C (63F) at night. The hot summer days around New Year's have been known to rise to and above 40C (104F). The winter months in Perth are from June to August and are mild, with an average temperature of 18C (64F) during the day, and 9C (48F) at night. The wettest month of the year is July, and the average yearly rainfall is around 880mm.

Health Service

Western Australia has a large number of both private and public hospitals providing world class medical services networked around the state to provide easily accessible health care to communities. Among the public hospitals, there are Royal Perth Hospital, Swan District Hospital, La Salle Hospital, and King Edward Memorial Hospital. Among the private service providers of health care, St John of God is the largest private hospital in Australia. Other private hospitals include Cambridge Private Hospital, Mount Hospital, and Hollywood Private Hospital.

Attractions

You can find a wealth of cultural activities in Perth. The annual Perth International Arts Festival attracts around 300,000 people who flock to Western Australia to see international and contemporary drama, theatre, music, film, visual arts, street arts, literature, comedy and community events over a three-weed period. The Western Australian Opera, ballet, dance and musical productions are performed throughout the year. The Perth Cultural Centre in Northbridge, which comprises the Art Gallery, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts and the Western Australian Museum, is well worth a visit.

Kings Park comprises over 400 hectares of stunning parkland and greenery to enjoy all year around, is set on Mount Eliza, offering breathtaking views of the river and city.  During certain times of the year special events are held including music festivals and the Australian Wildflower Festival. It is also becoming an increasingly popular venue for weddings.

The city centre looks out over the board stretches of the Swan River estuary. The Swan hosts a range of water sports, including sailing, water skiing, sail boarding, jet boating fishing, parasailing and cruising. There are more than 50km of riverside pathways for walking cycling.

There are 19 pristine beaches in Perth and the seafront restaurants and cafes attract locals and visitors. Known as the Sunset Coast, the sunsets in Perth are sensational. The beaches are a major attraction to foreigners seeking a taste of the fantastic lifestyle that Perth has to offer. Cottesloe is popular with families as it has many beachside cafes and City Beach has been voted one of the most beautiful in Perth by locals.

For a list of things to do in Perth, please visit Australia’s official tourism website:

www.australia.com/destinations/cities/perth.aspx
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