What is the capital of Western Australia?

Perth is the capital of Western Australia and the country's fourth-largest city, with a metropolitan population of about 2.3 million. It sits on the Swan River near the Indian Ocean coast and is famous for being one of the most isolated major cities in the world. Adelaide, the next nearest capital, is about 2,100 kilometres away by road.

Perth was founded in 1829 by Captain James Stirling as a free settlement, though the colony struggled until Western Australia opened to convict transport from 1850 to 1868 to provide labour. The Western Australian gold rushes from the 1890s, particularly at Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie, transformed Perth from an isolated outpost into a substantial city. Western Australia federated with the rest of the country in 1901, the last of the six colonies to vote to join.

Perth's economy is built on the resources industry. Western Australia produces the bulk of the country's iron ore, exported through Pilbara ports such as Port Hedland and Dampier, and is also a major producer of gold, lithium, natural gas, alumina, and nickel. The city is home to the headquarters of BHP Iron Ore, Rio Tinto Iron Ore, Fortescue Metals Group, and Woodside Energy.

Geographically, Perth has a Mediterranean climate of hot dry summers and mild wet winters, making it one of the sunniest capitals in the world. The Swan River widens into Perth Water in the city centre, and the city is bounded to the east by the Darling Range. Fremantle, the historic port at the river mouth, is a major cruise terminal and the home of the Fremantle Dockers Australian rules football club. Perth shares its time zone (Australian Western Standard Time, UTC+8) with parts of East Asia.