City Australia and Oceania
Perth
Perth is a big city on the west coast of Australia. It sits beside a wide river called the Swan River.
Perth is the capital of Western Australia, on the north bank of the Swan River. It began as the Swan River Colony in 1829, on the land of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated 2,452,765 people in Greater Perth in June 2025.
Perth stands on Whadjuk Nyoongar land beside the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River). Founded as the Swan River Colony in 1829, it grew slowly until gold was found in the 1890s. On 30 June 2025 Greater Perth had an estimated 2,452,765 residents and, at 2.4% in a year, the fastest growth rate of Australia's capital cities.
Photo: Samuel Wiki, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Discover Perth
Perth is a city in Australia, on the west side of the country. It is beside the Swan River.
It is the capital of the state of Western Australia.
Perth is the capital of Western Australia, a huge state with few people, as Universalis puts it. The city's own council says it stands on Whadjuk Nyoongar land, on the northern banks of the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River).
The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated 2,452,765 people in Greater Perth on 30 June 2025. That was 58,088 more than a year before, a rise of 2.4%, the fastest growth rate of any Australian capital city that year.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (released 31 March 2026) gives Greater Perth an estimated resident population of 2,452,765 at 30 June 2025, up 58,088 (2.4%) in 2024–25. Net overseas migration added 37,289, natural increase 12,588 and net internal migration 8,211; only Perth and Brisbane gained people from the rest of Australia that year.
The City of Perth itself is much smaller: just over 19 square kilometers of land, with more than 11 kilometers of river frontage. It is one of several local councils in the Perth metropolitan region.
- Country and state
- Australia; capital of Western Australia
- People in Greater Perth (estimate, 30 June 2025)
- 2,452,765
- Growth in one year (2024–25)
- 58,088 people (2.4%)
- Traditional Custodians
- the Whadjuk people of the Nyoongar nation
Towers by the quay
In the photo, tall glass towers stand behind a little harbor full of calm water. There are boat jetties and two tall white arches.
Palm trees grow along the edge.
The photo looks north across the water at Elizabeth Quay, a waterfront development, toward Perth's central business district. Jetties stand in the water, two tall white curved arches stand by the edge, and tall office towers rise behind them.
Nearby is Elizabeth Quay station, one of Perth's underground railway stations. Close by also stand the Swan Bells, a bell tower opened in 2000, and Council House, an 11-storey building opened for the city council in 1963.
The City of Perth says Council House, designed by the Melbourne architects Jeffrey Howlett and Donald Bailey after a nationwide competition, opened on 25 March 1963. Its walls are floor-to-ceiling glass with T-shaped sunshades, colorfully lit up in 2010. It was saved from demolition in the 1990s, reopened in 1999 and heritage listed in 2006.
UrbanRail.Net records the underground station under the quay opening on 15 October 2007 as Esplanade; it now carries the name Elizabeth Quay. Wikidata lists the Swan Bells as a bell tower opened on 10 December 2000.
- Elizabeth Quay
- waterfront development in Perth
- Elizabeth Quay station
- underground; opened in 2007 as Esplanade
- Council House
- 11 storeys, opened 25 March 1963
- Swan Bells
- bell tower, opened 10 December 2000
From Boorloo to a growing capital
Long before the city was built, the Whadjuk Nyoongar people lived here. They found food in the river and in many lakes.
In 1829 settlers started the Swan River Colony here. It grew big after gold was found.
The Whadjuk Nyoongar people lived here long before the colony. The City of Perth, which also uses the name Boorloo for Perth, says they found food in the Swan River and in a wide system of freshwater lakes, and that the place was important for meeting, travel and trade. One site, Pinjar ('the lakes'), is where Perth's train station stands today.
The Swan River Colony was set up in 1829. Perth was raised to the status of a city in 1856, and in 1871 it had 5,244 people. The council's history says the population grew very slowly until gold was found in the 1890s.
The City of Perth names Whadjuk sites in today's city: Gargatup (Kings Park), Matagarup (Heirisson Island), Pinjar (the lakes around the train station) and Byerbrup, the ridge linking Gargatup and Matagarup. The Swan River Colony was established in 1829; the city marked its centenary on 12 August 1929.
By 1838 the town had about 1,000 people. A town trust followed in 1842, city status on 23 September 1856 and a municipality on 2 January 1871, when Perth had 5,244 people. Universalis (Alain Huetz de Lemps) says the town grew slowly (9,600 people in 1890) until gold discoveries at the end of the 19th century and farming on the plateau drove its growth.
- Swan River Colony founded
- 1829
- Raised to the status of a city
- 23 September 1856
- People in Perth in 1871
- 5,244
Trains to the coast and the airport
Trains carry people across Perth. Some stations are under the ground.
One train line goes to the airport.
Perth's suburban trains run on narrow-gauge track, 1,067 millimeters wide. A line to Joondalup opened in 1992, and in 2007 a line opened from the city center through the underground station now called Elizabeth Quay all the way to Mandurah.
The network keeps growing. A line to the airport opened in 2022, and UrbanRail.Net lists new lines to Ellenbrook in 2024 and between Thornlie and Cockburn Central in 2025.
UrbanRail.Net lists the Perth–Joondalup line (21 December 1992), Perth–Esplanade (15 October 2007, the station now called Elizabeth Quay), Esplanade–Mandurah (20 December 2007) and the Airport Line from Bayswater to High Wycombe (9 October 2022).
Recent openings include Butler–Yanchep (14.5 km, 15 July 2024), the Bayswater–Ellenbrook line (21 km, 9 December 2024), Thornlie–Cockburn Central (14.5 km, 9 June 2025) and Armadale–Byford (6.9 km, 13 October 2025). Subiaco, Elizabeth Quay, Redcliffe and Airport Central stations are underground.
- Joondalup line
- opened 21 December 1992
- Line to Mandurah
- opened 20 December 2007
- Airport Line
- opened 9 October 2022
- Track width
- 1,067 mm (narrow gauge)
Hot dry summers, wet winters
Perth's summers are hot and very dry. Most of its rain falls in winter, from June to August.
Winter nights are cool, but on average well above freezing.
The World Meteorological Organization's table for Perth (measured at Perth Airport) gives February days an average high of about 31 °C. In July, days average about 18 °C and nights about 8 °C.
About 758 millimeters of rain fall in an average year, but very little in summer: December averages just 6 millimeters. July is the wettest month, with about 153 millimeters. Universalis calls Perth's climate Mediterranean.
The WMO table for Perth (Perth Airport station, data 1994–2010) gives average highs from 18.3 °C in July to 31.3 °C in February and average lows from 7.7 °C in July to 18.0 °C in February.
The monthly rainfall averages add up to about 757.7 mm. May to September bring 602.3 mm, about four-fifths of the year; July is wettest (153.1 mm) and December driest (6.1 mm). Universalis describes Perth's climate as Mediterranean-type.
- February, average high (WMO, Perth Airport, 1994–2010)
- 31.3 °C
- July, average low (same table)
- 7.7 °C
- Rainfall in a year (sum of the monthly averages)
- about 758 mm
A port, a park and a City of Light
In 1962 an astronaut flew around the Earth. The people of Perth turned on their lights so he could see them!
That is why Perth is called the City of Light.
On 20 February 1962, the American astronaut John Glenn orbited the Earth. The City of Perth says the mayor of the day asked people to switch on their lights as he passed over, and residents and businesses lit up the city. Glenn remarked on the bright lights as he neared Australia's west coast, and Perth earned the name City of Light.
The city also includes Kings Park, 400 hectares of park and botanic garden that joined the City of Perth in 2016.
The City of Perth's account says residents left lights on, shone torches at the sky and lit lanterns, and that ground control told Glenn the city had turned its lights on for him. For the 60th anniversary the city launched a City of Light brand, with advice from its Elders Advisory Group.
Universalis says Perth was founded about 20 km from the mouth of the Swan, where the port of Fremantle was built, and describes the port exporting farm products, wool and minerals, and notes Perth's distance of several thousand kilometers from Australia's other big cities on the east coast.
- Kings Park
- 400 hectares, part of the City of Perth since 1 July 2016
- City of Light
- lights left on for astronaut John Glenn, 20 February 1962
- Port
- Fremantle, at the mouth of the Swan River
Perth on the map
Find Australia on the globe. Look at its west coast, by the Indian Ocean. Perth is there, beside the Swan River!
The other big Australian cities are far away, on the east coast.
Perth is on Australia's west coast at about 32° south. The city center lies on the north bank of the Swan River, which reaches the Indian Ocean at the port of Fremantle.
Measured from Elizabeth Quay, the Swan Bells stand about 0.2 kilometers to the southeast, Council House about 0.4 kilometers to the east-northeast, Kings Park about 2.4 kilometers to the west-southwest, and Heirisson Island about 2.5 kilometers to the east-southeast.
Perth lies at about 31.95° S and 115.84° E. Measured from Elizabeth Quay (Wikidata points): Elizabeth Quay station 0.17 km west-northwest, the Swan Bells 0.19 km southeast, Council House 0.37 km east-northeast, Kings Park 2.44 km west-southwest and Heirisson Island (Matagarup) 2.54 km east-southeast.
The hero photo is a panorama dated 15 February 2016 on Commons; its description says it looks north across Elizabeth Quay toward the central business district. ABS places Greater Perth's center of population in the suburb of Como, near the banks of the Swan River.
- Latitude
- about 32.0° south
- Longitude
- about 115.8° east
- Elizabeth Quay to Kings Park
- about 2.4 km west-southwest
Amazing facts
-
In 1962 the people of Perth turned on their lights for an astronaut flying high above them!
On 20 February 1962, Perth's people left their lights on for astronaut John Glenn as he orbited the Earth, and the city became known as the City of Light.
The City of Perth says Glenn remarked on the brightness as he approached Australia's west coast during his first orbit, earning Perth the title City of Light.
-
A huge park called Kings Park is part of the city of Perth.
Kings Park, 400 hectares of park and botanic garden, became part of the City of Perth on 1 July 2016. Its Nyoongar name is Gargatup.
On 1 July 2016 the City of Perth grew to include Kings Park (400 ha), the University of Western Australia and the Matilda Bay foreshore; the city council names the park Gargatup, a Whadjuk site.
-
Perth's train station stands where there used to be lakes.
The City of Perth says Perth's train station stands on Pinjar, a place of lakes important to the Whadjuk Nyoongar people.
The City of Perth lists Pinjar, 'the lakes', as the location of the Perth train station and its surroundings, one of several Whadjuk sites of cultural and historical significance in the city.
-
Perth gets almost no rain in December.
At Perth Airport, December averages only about 6 millimeters of rain, while July averages about 153.
In the WMO's Perth table (Perth Airport, 1994–2010), December averages 6.1 mm of rain and July 153.1 mm, about 25 times as much.
Words to know
- colony
- a place settled and ruled by people from another country
- quay
- a place by the water where boats can stop and tie up
- Traditional Custodians
- the Aboriginal people whose land a place has always been, and who care for it
- orbit
- to travel around a planet or star in a curved path, again and again
- municipality
- a town or city with its own local government
- Mediterranean climate
- a climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters
Discovery challenge
-
Which river is Perth beside?
Perth stands on the north bank of which river?
Which river does the City of Perth also call the Derbarl Yerrigan?
- The Murray River
- The Swan River
- The Yarra River
Show the answer
The Swan River
The Swan River!
The Swan River.
The Swan River, which reaches the sea at Fremantle.
-
Perth is the capital of which Australian state?
Perth is the capital of which Australian state?
Perth is the capital of which state, which Universalis calls immense but thinly populated?
- Queensland
- Victoria
- Western Australia
Show the answer
Western Australia
Western Australia!
Western Australia.
Western Australia.
-
Why is Perth called the City of Light?
Why is Perth called the City of Light?
What happened on 20 February 1962 that gave Perth the name City of Light?
- People turned on their lights for an astronaut flying over
- The sun never sets there
- It has the world's biggest lighthouse
Show the answer
People turned on their lights for an astronaut flying over
They lit up the city for an astronaut!
People left their lights on for astronaut John Glenn in 1962.
Residents lit up the city as John Glenn orbited overhead.
-
When does most of Perth's rain fall?
In which months does Perth get most of its rain?
In the WMO's Perth table, which months bring about four-fifths of the year's rainfall?
- December to February
- May to September
- It never rains
Show the answer
May to September
In winter, from May to September!
From May to September; summer is very dry.
May to September: 602.3 of about 757.7 mm.
-
When did the Swan River Colony begin?
In which year was the Swan River Colony, which became Perth, set up?
The City of Perth celebrated its centenary on 12 August 1929. When was the Swan River Colony established?
- 1788
- 1829
- 1901
Show the answer
1829
In 1829!
1829.
1829.
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For parents & teachers
What children will learn
- Locate Perth on Australia's Indian Ocean coast, far from the east-coast cities.
- Recognize the Whadjuk Nyoongar people as the Traditional Custodians of Perth's land.
- Describe how a gold rush changed a slow-growing colony.
- Read a climate with hot dry summers and wet winters.
Recommended ages: 3 to 17 · About 15 minutes
Talk about it
- Many places in Perth have a Nyoongar name as well as an English one. Why might it matter to use both names?
- Perth's people turned on their lights for an astronaut in 1962. How could a whole city work together today to send a message?
- Perth's rain falls mostly in winter. How might people and gardens cope with the long dry summer?
Try at home or in class
- Rain chart: plot Perth's monthly rainfall and color the wet months.
- Two names: make a map of Perth with both the Nyoongar and English names of the river, Kings Park and Heirisson Island.
- Distance check: measure on a map how far Perth is from Sydney, and compare it with a trip you know.
Key vocabulary: colony, quay, Traditional Custodians, orbit, municipality, Mediterranean climate
Where these facts come from
- Wikidata , Wikimedia Foundation (CC0 1.0)
- Natural Earth vector data , Natural Earth (NACIS) (Public domain)
- Regional population, 2024-25 (released 31 March 2026) , Australian Bureau of Statistics
- History of the Council , City of Perth
- City of Light , City of Perth
- Perth , Encyclopaedia Universalis (Alain Huetz de Lemps)
- Perth Metropolitan Railways (Transperth) , UrbanRail.Net (Robert Schwandl)
- World Weather Information Service: Perth climatological information , World Meteorological Organization
- File:Elizabeth Quay February 2016 (cropped).jpg (Samuel Wiki, 15 February 2016) , Wikimedia Commons
- Wikimedia Commons , Wikimedia Foundation (Per file (public domain, CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA); see each media record)
Checked, not yet human-reviewed. Last updated November 1, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.