Perth, Australia

Here is a quick overview of the history of Perth, Australia:

• Perth was first inhabited by the Whadjuk Nyakinyaki people, part of the larger Noongar Aboriginal group, for over 20,000 years.

• The first European to explore the Perth area was Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon in 1606. However, permanent European settlement did not start until the late 1700s.

• In 1829, Charles Fremantle, the Governor of New South Wales, selected the site for a new settlement and named it “Perth” after Perth in Scotland. The settlement was built as a convict outpost.

• In 1850, Western Australia became a separate colony from New South Wales. This led to faster growth and development of Perth. Many free settlers arrived and gold rushes attracted more people.

• In the early 1900s, Perth experienced a building boom. Many grand buildings in the Federation and Interwar styles were constructed, including the Perth Mint, Council House, and St George‘s Terrace. Railways and telegraphs connected Perth to other cities.

• Perth grew rapidly after World War 2, transformed into a sprawling city. It hosted major events like the 1962 Commonwealth Games and the 1987 America‘s Cup. Economic diversification led to growth in industries like tourism, finance, technology, and education.

• Today Perth is a prosperous, modern city with a vibrant culture. It has a diverse, multicultural population and a strong economy based on resources, finance, and tourism.

**Perth Mint** Daily 9am-5pm. Admission fees apply. Mint Pl, Barrack Square, Perth, WA 6000. Ph: +61 8 9421 7222. https://perthmint.com.au/

**Kings Park and Botanic Garden** Open every day. Free admission. Fraser Ave, West Perth, WA 6005. https://bgpa.wa.gov.au/kings-park

**Elizabeth Quay** Open 24 hours. Free admission. Citiplace, Elizabeth Quay, Perth, WA 6000. https://elizabethquay.com.au/

**Art Gallery of Western Australia** Tues-Sun 10am-5pm. Admission fees apply. St Georges Tce, Perth Cultural Centre, Perth, WA 6000. Ph: +61 8 9492 6622. https://artgallery.wa.gov.au/

**Aquarium of Western Australia** Weekdays 9:30am-5pm, Weekends 9:30am-6pm. Admission fees apply. 50 Percow Street, Hillarys, WA 6025. Ph: +61 8 9308 2343. https://aqwa.com.au/

**Cottesloe Beach** Open 24 hours. Free admission. Cottesloe Beach Rd, Cottesloe, WA 6011. https://www.westernaustralia.com/us/attraction/cottesloe-beach/56b2678fd5f1565045daabd8

**Perth Cultural Centre** Hours: Opening hours for attractions including Art Gallery of WA and WA Museum vary. Generally open 10 am to 5 pm daily. Cost: Varies for different attractions. Art Gallery of WA is free. WA Museum costs $15 for adults, $8 for children. Address: Northbridge, Perth WA. Website: https://www.perthculturalcentre.com.au/

 **Fremantle Prison** Hours: Daily from 9 am to 5 pm Cost: Adults $15, Children $7.50, Concessions $12, Family $38 Address: 1 Fremantle Prison, Fremantle WA 6160 Phone: (08) 9336 9200 Website: https://fremantleprison.com.au/

Here are some day trips from Perth, Australia:

**Swan Valley** 30 min drive from Perth. Many wineries open 11am-5pm daily. Tastings typically free or low cost. The Swan Valley is about 22km from Perth CBD. https://www.swanvalley.com.au/

**Lancelin** 1.5 hr drive north of Perth. Beach access daily during daylight hours. Free to explore the beach and town. Lancelin is about 115km from Perth. https://lancelin.com.au/

**Margaret River** 2.5 hr drive south of Perth. Many wineries, beaches and attractions open 9am-5pm daily. Costs vary but many tastings and attractions are free or low fee. Margaret River is about 275km from Perth. https://www.margaretriver.com/

**Karijini National Park** 4.5 hr drive east of Perth. National park open dawn to dusk daily. Entry fees apply for scenic drives and hiking trails. Karijini NP is about 380km from Perth. https://karijininationalpark.com.au/

**Broome** 5.5 hr flight or 22 hr drive north of Perth. Tourist attractions open 9am-5pm daily. Costs vary significantly based on activities. Broome is 2370km (1466 miles) from Perth by road or 875km (542 miles) by flight. https://www.broome.wa.gov.au/

Here are the main types of transportation in Perth:

**Car** Perth is a car-friendly city with over 2 million vehicles on the road. Daily car rentals start around $30-40 AUD. 

**Public Transit** Perth has buses, trains, ferries and a light rail network. Single fares start at $2.50 AUD. https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/

**Taxi** Taxis are readily available in Perth but can be expensive, especially on weekends and evenings. Average taxi fare around $3-4 AUD per kilometer. https://www.13cabs.com.au/

**Rideshare** Options like Uber and Ola operate in Perth. Fares are comparable to taxis but often have lower wait times. https://ola.com.au/

**Train** Perth’s train network covers 350 km and services growing suburban areas. Single fares start at $2.50 AUD.  https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/

**Bike Share** Perth Bike Share offers bikes for hire across the city center, riverside and cultural precincts. Fees start at $2 AUD for 30 minutes. http://www.spinwaywa.bike/about

**Perth Airport (PER)** Ground Link Rd, Mascot NSW 2020 +61 2 9667 6111. https://www.perthairport.com.au/

**Perth Domestic Airport (PED)** Airport Dr, Canning Vale WA 6164 +61 8 9478 8888. https://www.perthairport.com.au/domestic-terminal

**Perth General Aviation Airport (KAT)** 1570 Albany Hwy, Albany Meadows WA 6156 +61 8 8721 4200. https://www.perthairport.com.au/

**Bus** Time from downtown Perth: 30-45 minutes Cost: From $15 one-way.  Website:https://www.perthairport.com.au/to-and-from-the-airport/transport-options/public-transport

**Train** Time from downtown Perth: 40-55 minutes Cost: From $6.60 one-way. Website: https://www.perthairport.com.au/to-and-from-the-airport/transport-options/public-transport

**Taxi** Time from downtown Perth: 30-40 minutes Cost: Approx $45-65 one-way.  Website: https://www.perthairport.com.au/to-and-from-the-airport/transport-options/taxis

**Rental Car** Time from downtown Perth: 30-40 minutes Cost: Varies depending on rental car company and vehicle type Website: https://www.perthairport.com.au/to-and-from-the-airport/car-hire

**Private Transfer** Time from downtown Perth: 30-40 minutes Cost: Approx $100-150 one-way Website: https://www.perthairport.com.au/parking

Perth is located in Western Australia which uses the Australian dollar (AUD) as its currency. :

• Bill denominations:

• $5,
• $10,
• $20,
• $50,
• $100.

• Coins:

• 1 cent,
• 2 cents,
• 5 cents,
• 10 cents,
• 20 cents,
• $1
• and $2 coins.

• The 1 dollar coin is the most common coin.

• The AUD dollar is subdivided into 100 cents.

• Perth uses the same Australian dollar currency as the rest of Australia. There are no separate currencies used within different cities or regions of Australia.

• Coins come in copper, nickel, silver and gold plated steel. Larger coins contain nickel and copper.

• Australia stopped producing the 1 dollar and 2 dollar coins in 1992 but they remain legal tender. Newer coins have been made of lighter metals.

The climate of Perth, Western Australia is typically hot and dry with long summers and short, mild winters. Some key facts about the climate of Perth include:

• Summer temperatures average around 30°C (86°F) but frequently top 35°C (95°F) with some days over 40°C (104°F).

• The summer heat is often moderated by sea breezes from the Indian Ocean.

• Winters are mild with average high temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).

• Rainfall is low year-round but highest between May and August. Average annual rainfall is around 900 mm (35 inches).

• Perth receives over 8 hours of sunshine per day on average, making it one of the sunniest major cities in the world.

• The dry easterly winds can create dust storms in the inland regions east of Perth in the summer.

• The humidity is generally low except for periods of rainfall when humidity can exceed 70%.

• The beaches of Perth have excellent weather for swimming from October to May. Summers are hot but the Indian Ocean remains warm.