PERTH, AUSTRALIA
Date Established: April 1983, under Mayor Kathryn Whitmire
President: Mr. Tony Lentini, Tony.Lentini@usa.apachecorp.com
GEOGRAPHY
Location: Perth is located on the southwestern coast of Australia at the
mouth of the Swan River where it empties into the Indian Ocean.
Description: Port city and capital of the State of Western Australia.
PEOPLE
Ethnicity: Anglo-Saxon and Aborigines
Language: English
City Population: 1.2 million
Religion: Christian (Protestant)
ECONOMY
Natural Resources: Offshore oil and natural gas, over 50 different kinds
of minerals
Industries: Port, shipping, banking, tourism, agriculture, horticulture,
aquaculture, forestry mining, offshore oil and natural gas
Exports: Crude oil and natural gas, minerals, ships, wine, barley malt,
noodles, leather goods, lobsters, prawns, pearls, timber
Imports: Transportation equipment, industrial machinery, office equipment,
electrical and textile goods, oil production equipment
Currency: Australian dollar ($A)
HISTORY
Western Australia was the arrival point for the first Australians. Founded
in 1829, the city grew slowly until it became a convict settlement in 1850.
Perth's port, Fremantle, developed rapidly after gold was discovered in the
1890s. Perth then became the leap-off point for one of the last great gold
rushes.
FACTS
* Rottnest Island, 20 km (12 miles) off the coast, is a wildlife sanctuary
where the quokka, a dwarf-like wallaby, lives
* The city is renowned for its year-round temperate climate and
pollution-free environment
* Perth is the world's remotest capital city. It is actually closer to Bali,
Indonesia, than it is to Sydney
* Perth is the first Australian capital to have a free university
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by William Deane, Governor
General
Type: Federal parliamentary state consisting of six States. The Parliament
consists of a Senate and House of Representatives. All citizens age 18 and
older are required to vote in federal and state elections.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
Head of City: Dr. Peter Nattrass
Term: N/A
