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An Introduction to Western Australia
Contributed by Ivan Falk
Ask anyone who has visited Western Australia and travelled most
of the state what their impression is, and the obvious response
would be: "It's big!" In fact it is the largest state in
Australia and the distance from the northern-most point all the
way down south |
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to Albany is approximately 2,600 kilometres (1,625 miles),
and across its breadth at the widest it measures around 1,600 kilometres
(1,000 miles). Of a total population exceeding 1.9 million
people, 1.4 million live in the city of Perth and surrounding
suburbs. |
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The southwest corner of the state is the main fertile
region and a large part of it is known as the Wheatbelt.
Sheep grazing is also widespread. The rest of the state is
generally dry and arid, and towards the central and eastern parts
you will encounter some of the world's largest deserts — the Great Sandy Desert, the |
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Gibson Desert and the Great Victoria Desert which, when
combined, fill more than half of Western Australia. These
deserts, however, do not conform to the conventional picture of
a desert as there are no moving sand dunes nor stony plains
devoid of plant life. There is always some sort of plant cover,
and the most common is spinifex. The scenic beauty in many parts of these deserts are second
to none, and skies at sunrise and sunset are immensely
spectacular. |
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In the far north of the state, the
rugged Kimberleys are the most prominent feature with age
old rock formations, canyons, waterfalls and awe inspiring
gorges, and a wild and spectacular coastline that seems
endless. And while |
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you have camels, wild horses and wild buffalo roaming
the countryside, this expanse of territory is also home
to the world's largest diamond mine.
Heading a little
further down from the top end, the red soil of the Pilbara
iron-ore country becomes visible, and this is where the
state's mineral deposits are most abundant. The
Hamersley Iron mining company which operates in this region is
one of the world's leading iron-ore producers, exporting more
than 68 million tons of iron-ore annually. The next largest
iron-ore mining operation in this area is run by the Mount
Newman Mining Company. Other mining activities nearby include
the gold mine at Telfer. |
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Western Australia is widely known as 'The Wildflower State',
and this is simply because there are over 12,000 species of
wildflower that grow here, and they bloom mainly in late
winter into spring, carpeting large tracts of land with an
array of brilliant colours. Wildflower tours are quite common in the
state and in fact visitors from all over the world are just
as keen as the locals to travel the length and breadth of
the country – from the
ancient Bungle Bungles in the Kimberleys, and the arid lands in the far north,
to the central and coastal regions, the wheat-belt districts,
southwest to Dunsborough and across to the Stirling Range and on
to Esperance and Eucla – to
search for and admire the rarity, beauty and profusion of
Western Australia's unique wildflowers. |
Bluff Knoll, the highest peak in the Stirling Range in the southwest of the state near Albany. |
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Add to this wonderment the old ghost towns in the
goldfields in and around Kalgoorlie and Boulder 600
kilometres to the east of Perth; the large lakes and the
mighty Fitzroy river in the north; the magnificent winding
coastline and white beach sands all the way down to Augusta;
vast salt lakes towards Esperance in the south; the dense
Jarrah, Karri and Red Tingle forests – known as 'The Valley of the Giants' –
in the state forests of the southwest; the deep blue
Southern Ocean, and other spectacular features of this great
state, and you will never tire of seeing it over and over
again. Welcome to Western Australia! |
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Images of Western Australia |
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You will
experience wonderful South West hospitality at the Travellers
Rest, and it is an excellent base to explore WA's premier wine
and holiday region.
223 Bussell Highway
Busselton WA. |
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• Open for All-day Meals
• Sample our genuine potato bread with
your Irish Breakfast
184 York Street
Albany WA
(next to Wombat Lodge)
Phone: 9841 4201 |
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Lost your Irish Heritage? |
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Then come with John Boyle O’Reilly
Tours and discover Western Australia’s unique Irish heritage
sites.
Follow the amazing heritage trial
into the South West blazed by escaped Fenian, John Boyle
O’Reilly.
Visit the magnificent Catalpa
memorial site in Rockingham. Drop into Irish settlement sites at
Donnybrook, Boyanup and Dardanup for a jar.
Tours include: accommodation, transport, meals, attractions,
wineries, wildlife, wildflowers and qualified guide.
Large and small groups can be
catered for.
For more information contact Peter Murphy, John Boyle O’Reilly
Tours on:
08 97 321 270 or
043 997 6507
Email: johnboyleoreillytours@
bigpond.com |
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