Western Australia (abbreviated as WA) is a state occupying the entire western third of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east. Western Australia is Australia's largest state and the second-largest country subdivision in the world. The state has approximately 2.4 million inhabitants (around 10% of the national total), the majority of whom live in the south-west corner of the state.
The first European to visit Western Australia was the Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog, who visited the Western Australian coast in 1616. The British established a military outpost at King George Sound, near present-day Albany, in 1826, was followed by the establishment of the Swan River Colony in 1829, including the site of the present-day capital, Perth.
Western Australia achieved self-government in 1890, and later federated with the other British colonies in Australia in 1901. Today Western Australia's economy mainly relies on mining, agriculture, and tourism, with the state supplying 46% of Australia's exports. Western Australia is the second-largest iron ore producer in the world.
Read more about Western Australia: Geography, History, Demographics, Economy, Government, Education
Other articles related to "western australia, western, australia":
... the outbreak of the First World War, a squadron was raised in Western Australia known a "C" Squadron, and formed part of the composite 7th Light Horse Regiment with squadrons from Queensland ... the flow of recruits meant that it was possible to form a specific Western Australian Light Horse Regiment which took the name 10th Light Horse Regiment ... It was the only AIF light horse unit raised in Western Australia ...
... Iron, one of the largest iron ore producers in Australia, which intended to run her on its 240 miles (390 km) ore-carrying Hamersley railway in the ... in need of considerable boiler repairs, which delayed her departure for Australia ... On 29 May 1977, she made her farewell run in the UK, at the head of the Great Western Envoy from Birmingham to Didcot and return ...
... Both England and Australia begun this series at a low ebb ... Australia, during the same period, had lost two series against New Zealand (2-1 and 1-0) and drew two series against India ... While Australia had emerged with a drawn series from their tour of India, they had struggled against India at home the previous season and India had been unlucky not to have ...
... Western Australia is home to one of the country's leading performance training institutions, the acclaimed Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), as well as a burgeoning theatrical ... Notable musicians and bands to have been born in or lived in Western Australia include Adam Brand, Karnivool, Birds of Tokyo, Bon Scott, Eskimo Joe ... Notable actors and television personalities from Western Australia include Heath Ledger, Hugh Jackman, Sam Worthington, Ernie Dingo, Jessica Marais, Megan Gale, Rove McManus, Isla Fisher ...
Famous quotes containing the words australia and/or western:
“I like Australia less and less. The hateful newness, the democratic conceit, every man a little pope of perfection.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)
“Ex oriente lux may still be the motto of scholars, for the Western world has not yet derived from the East all the light which it is destined to receive thence.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)