Western Australia Map

About Western Australia Map

Explore map of Western Australia, it is an Australian state occupying 33 percent of the land area of country Australia excluding external territories.

Major Cities

City Name	Population (Approx.)	Region	Distance from Perth (km)	Main Industries	Local Government Area
Perth	2,200,000	South West	0	Government, Finance, Education, Mining Services	City of Perth and surrounding LGAs
Mandurah	90,000	Peel	72	Tourism, Fishing, Construction	City of Mandurah
Bunbury	76,000	South West	175	Alumina Refining, Port Operations, Tourism	City of Bunbury
Geraldton	39,000	Mid West	425	Agriculture, Mining, Fishing, Tourism	City of Greater Geraldton
Albany	33,000	Great Southern	415	Tourism, Agriculture, Fishing	City of Albany
Kalgoorlie-Boulder	30,000	Goldfields-Esperance	595	Gold Mining, Minerals Processing	City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
Busselton	29,000	South West	220	Tourism, Agriculture, Viticulture	City of Busselton
Esperance	15,000	Goldfields-Esperance	720	Grain Exports, Fishing, Tourism	Shire of Esperance
Karratha	17,000	Pilbara	1,525	Oil & Gas, Iron Ore Exports	City of Karratha
Port Hedland	15,000	Pilbara	1,650	Iron Ore Shipping, Industry	Town of Port Hedland
Broome	14,000	Kimberley	2,200	Tourism, Pearling, Fishing	Shire of Broome
Kununurra	6,000	Kimberley	3,200	Agriculture (Ord Irrigation), Tourism	Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley
Narrogin	5,000	Wheatbelt	190	Grain Farming, Livestock	Shire of Narrogin
Northam	7,000	Wheatbelt	97	Agriculture, Logistics	Shire of Northam
Moora	2,000	Wheatbelt	177	Wheat and Sheep Farming	Shire of Moora

Major Rivers

River Name	Length (km)	Catchment Area (km²)	Outflow	Region
Gascoyne River	834	81,000	Indian Ocean	Gascoyne
Murchison River	820	82,000	Indian Ocean	Mid West
Fitzroy River	733	93,829	King Sound	Kimberley
De Grey River	230	56,240	Indian Ocean	Pilbara
Ord River	650	46,100	Cambridge Gulf	Kimberley
Swan River	72	121,000	Indian Ocean	South West
Blackwood River	300	28,100	Southern Ocean	South West
Ashburton River	680	66,850	Indian Ocean	Pilbara
Fortescue River	760	49,759	Indian Ocean	Pilbara
Moore River	193	13,800	Indian Ocean	Wheatbelt
Margaret River	60	40,640	Indian Ocean	South West
Avon River	240	125,000	Swan River	Wheatbelt
Collie River	154	3,000	Leschenault Estuary	South West
Frankland River	162	7,000	Nornalup Inlet	Great Southern
Greenough River	340	4,270	Indian Ocean	Mid West
Harding River	160	8,000	Indian Ocean	Pilbara
Helena River	72	1,500	Swan River	Perth
Irwin River	140	5,000	Indian Ocean	Mid West
King River	27	1,200	Oyster Harbour	Great Southern
Lockhart River	380	30,000	Salt Creek	Wheatbelt
Ludlow River	20	1,000	Vasse-Wonnerup Estuary	South West
Murray River	134	6,600	Peel-Harvey Estuary	Peel
Nicholson River	350	19,000	Ord River	Kimberley
Oakover River	320	15,800	De Grey River	Pilbara

National Parks

Park Name	Established	Area (ha)	Region	Notable Features
John Forrest National Park	1900	2,700	Perth Hills	Scenic drives, walking trails, waterfalls
Stirling Range National Park	1913	115,920	Great Southern	Mountain ranges, wildflowers, hiking
Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park	1957	19,374	South West	Coastal scenery, caves, surfing
Kalbarri National Park	1963	183,004	Mid West	River gorges, coastal cliffs, wildflowers
Karijini National Park	1969	627,422	Pilbara	Gorges, waterfalls, ancient landscapes
Yanchep National Park	1957	2,842	Perth	Caves, koalas, walking trails
Walpole-Nornalup National Park	1957	20,000	South West	Giant tingle trees, forest walks, rivers
Fitzgerald River National Park	1973	329,039	South Coast	Flora diversity, coastal scenery, hiking
Cape Le Grand National Park	1966	31,801	Goldfields-Esperance	Beaches, granite peaks, wildlife
Porongurup National Park	1971	2,621	Great Southern	Granite domes, forests, wildflowers
Torndirrup National Park	1957	3,906	Great Southern	Coastal cliffs, natural rock formations
Millstream Chichester National Park	1970	238,162	Pilbara	Oasis, gorges, Aboriginal culture
Francois Peron National Park	1993	52,500	Gascoyne	Red cliffs, marine life, 4WD tracks
Beelu National Park	1995	4,326	Perth Hills	Forests, walking trails, picnic areas
Neerabup National Park	1988	1,029	Perth	Woodlands, walking trails, wildflowers
Serpentine National Park	1957	4,387	Perth	Waterfalls, walking trails, picnic spots
Lesueur National Park	1992	26,987	Mid West	Wildflowers, biodiversity, hiking
Yalgorup National Park	1966	12,888	Peel	Lakes, thrombolites, birdwatching
Wellington National Park	2000	17,000	South West	Forest, rivers, camping
Collier Range National Park	1978	224,100	Gascoyne	Rugged landscapes, wildlife

Mountain Peaks

Peak Name	Elevation (m)	Elevation (ft)	Mountain Range	Location	Notable Features
Mount Meharry	1,249	4,098	Hamersley Range	Pilbara	Highest peak in Western Australia
Mount Bruce (Punurrunha)	1,235	4,052	Hamersley Range	Pilbara	Second-highest peak in WA; hiking trail to summit
Mount Frederick	1,232	4,042	Hamersley Range	Pilbara	One of the highest peaks in the Hamersley Range
Mount Nameless (Jarndunmunha)	1,115	3,658	Hamersley Range	Near Tom Price	Accessible by 4WD; scenic views over town and mines
Mount Augustus (Burringurrah)	1,105	3,625	Isolated formation	Gascoyne	World's largest monolith; cultural significance
Bluff Knoll	1,099	3,606	Stirling Range	Great Southern	Most prominent peak in southern WA; rare snowfall
Mount Truchanas	1,148	3,766	Hamersley Range	Pilbara	Rugged and remote; named after Olegas Truchanas
Mount Samson	1,107	3,632	Hamersley Range	Pilbara	Isolated peak with dramatic slopes
Mount Cooke	582	1,909	Darling Range	South West	Highest peak in the Darling Range; hiking route
Mount Dale	546	1,791	Darling Range	Near Perth	Scenic lookout; part of forest conservation area
Toolbrunup Peak	1,052	3,451	Stirling Range	Great Southern	Popular climbing destination; steep rocky terrain
Talyuberlup Peak	783	2,569	Stirling Range	Great Southern	Known for panoramic views and steep ascent
Mount Hassell	847	2,779	Stirling Range	Great Southern	Popular for day hikes and wildflower season

Major Airports

Airport Name	Location (City/Town)	IATA Code	ICAO Code	Type	Primary Usage	Runways
Perth Airport	Perth	PER	YPPH	International/Domestic	Commercial, Freight, Domestic & International Flights	2 Asphalt
Broome International Airport	Broome	BME	YBRM	Domestic/International	Tourism, Mining Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO), General Aviation	1 Asphalt
Port Hedland International Airport	Port Hedland	PHE	YPPD	Domestic/International	FIFO, Freight, Passenger Services	1 Asphalt
Karratha Airport	Karratha	KTA	YPKA	Domestic	FIFO, Passenger Flights	1 Asphalt
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport	Kalgoorlie-Boulder	KGI	YPKG	Domestic	FIFO, Passenger Services	1 Asphalt
Geraldton Airport	Geraldton	GET	YGEL	Domestic	Regional Passenger Flights, General Aviation	2 Asphalt
Albany Airport	Albany	ALH	YABA	Domestic	Regional Flights, Charter Services	1 Asphalt
Esperance Airport	Esperance	EPR	YESP	Domestic	Passenger Flights, Freight, Agriculture	2 Asphalt
Busselton Margaret River Airport	Busselton	BQB	YBLN	Domestic (with limited Intl.)	Tourism, FIFO, Charter Flights	1 Asphalt
Carnarvon Airport	Carnarvon	CVQ	YCAR	Domestic	Regional Services, Light Aircraft	2 Asphalt
Paraburdoo Airport	Paraburdoo	PBO	YPBO	Domestic	FIFO, Mining Operations	1 Asphalt
Newman Airport	Newman	ZNE	YNWN	Domestic	Mining FIFO, Regional Flights	1 Asphalt
Onslow Airport	Onslow	ONS	YOLW	Domestic	Charter and FIFO Flights	1 Asphalt
Derby Airport	Derby	DRB	YDBY	Domestic	Regional and Charter Flights	1 Asphalt
Meekatharra Airport	Meekatharra	MKR	YMEK	Domestic	Regional Air Services	2 Asphalt

Highways

Declared Highways

S.N.	Highway No	Highway Name	Length in mi	Length in km	From	To
1	H1	Albany Highway	250.85	403.71	Perth	Albany
2	H40	Albany Port Road	4.53	7.29	Albany	Albany
3	H54	Albany Ring Road	4.14	6.66	Willyung	Willyung
4	H41	Anzac Drive	4.37	7.04	West Kalgoorlie	South Boulder
5	H23	Armadale Road	9.92	15.96	Armadale	Cockburn Central
6	H61	Australind-Roelands Link	4.16	6.7	Australind	Roelands
7	H56	Beach Street (Victoria Quay Access)	0.17	0.27	Fremantle	Fremantle
8	H4	Brand Highway	228.43	367.62	Muchea	Geraldton
9	H24	Brearley Avenue	0.53	0.85	Redcliffe	Perth Airport
10	H52	Brookton Highway	311.35	501.07	Armadale	Ravensthorpe
11	H42	Broome Highway	25.49	41.03	Roebuck	Broome
12	H43	Bussell Highway	86.81	139.71	Bunbury	Augusta
13	H13	Canning Highway	9.98	16.06	Fremantle	Victoria Park
14	H44	Carnarvon Road	3.16	5.09	Kingsford	Carnarvon
15	H45	Coalfields Highway	22.51	36.22	Roelands	Arthur River
16	H25	Cockburn Road	6.23	10.02	Hamilton Hill	Henderson
17	H10	Coolgardie-Esperance Highway	230.37	370.74	Coolgardie	Esperance
18	H46	Dampier Road	16.06	25.84	Stove Hill	Dampier
19	H47	Derby Highway	26.63	42.86	Willare	Derby
20	H3	Eyre Highway	447.83	720.71	Norseman	Ceduna (SA)
21	H57	Forrest Highway	59.45	95.67	Ravenswood	Bunbury
22	H37	Garratt Road Bridge	0.15	0.24	Bayswater	Ascot
23	H50	Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road	208.37	335.34	Geraldton	Mount Magnet
24	H49	Goldfields Highway	489.72	788.13	Meekatharra	Kambalda
25	H20	Graham Farmer Freeway	4.25	6.84	West Perth	Rivervale
26	H5	Great Eastern Highway	368.26	592.65	Burswood	Kalgoorlie
27	H19	Great Eastern Highway Bypass	3.47	5.58	South Guildford	Hazelmere
28	H6	Great Northern Highway	1,984.23	3,193.31	Midland	Wyndham
29	H26	Guildford Road	6.84	11.01	Mount Lawley	Guildford
30	H65	Horrie Miller Drive	0.14	0.22	Kewdale	Perth Airport
31	H62	John Willcock Link	2.61	4.2	Geraldton	Geraldton
32	H28	Karrinyup-Morley Highway	9.4	15.13	Karrinyup	Morley
33	H15	Kwinana Freeway	44.46	71.55	Perth	Lake Clifton
34	H12	Leach Highway	13.89	22.35	Palmyra	Kewdale
35	H55	Madigan Road	3.59	5.78	Gap Ridge	Gap Ridge
36	H29	Marmion Avenue	7.58	12.2	Karrinyup	Mullaloo
37	H2	Melville Mandurah Highway	34.82	56.04	BictonAttadale	Mandurah
38	H48	Minilya-Exmouth Road	131.58	211.75	Minilya	Exmouth
39	H16	Mitchell Freeway	22.37	36	Perth	Clarkson
40	H7	North West Coastal Highway	804.59	1,294.87	Geraldton	Port Hedland
41	H30	Port Beach Road	1.64	2.64	North Fremantle	North Fremantle
42	H51	Port Hedland Road	6.45	10.38	Port Hedland	Port Hedland
43	H31	Queen Victoria Street	0.55	0.88	North Fremantle	Fremantle
44	H21	Reid Highway	14.8	23.82	North Beach	Middle Swan
45	H27	Rivervale-Wattle Grove Link	6.31	10.16	Rivervale	Wattle Grove
46	H18	Roe Highway	21.67	34.88	Middle Swan	Bibra Lake
47	H8	South Coast Highway	294.77	474.38	Albany	Esperance
48	H32	South Street	7.75	12.48	Canning Vale	Fremantle
49	H9	South Western Highway	319.12	513.57	Armadale	Walpole
50	H39	Stephenson Highway	0.39	0.62	Osborne Park	Osborne Park
51	H14	Stirling Highway	9.81	15.78	Crawley	Fremantle
52	H38	Thomas Road	11.5	18.5	Kwinana Beach	Oakford
53	H17	Tonkin Highway	50.14	80.7	Muchea	Oakford
54	H33	Toodyay Road	13.71	22.07	Middle Swan	Toodyay
55	H34	Tydeman Road	0.65	1.04	North Fremantle	North Fremantle
56	H11	Victoria Highway	54.38	87.51	Lake Argyle	Katherine (NT)
57	H35	Wanneroo Road	29.18	46.96	West Perth	Yanchep
58	H36	West Coast Highway	8.37	13.47	Cottesloe	Trigg
59	H53	Williams-Narrogin Highway	19.54	31.45	Williams	Narrogin
60	H59	Willinge Drive	3.02	4.86	Vittoria	Picton
61	H22	Wimbledon-Rupert Street Link	2.04	3.29	Beckenham	Kenwick

Highway Names and Main Roads

S.N.	Main Road No.	Highway Name	From	To
1	M27	Brockman Highway	Karridale	Bridgetown
2	M10	Chidlow-York Road	Chidlow	York
3	M65	Manuwarra Red Dog Highway	Karratha	Tom Price
4	M24	Muir Highway	Manjimup	Mount Barker
5	M31	Northam-Cranbrook Road	Northam	Cranbrook
6	M8	Vasse Highway	Busselton	Diamond Tree

About Western Australia

Western Australia is the largest state in Australia and has 1/3 of the total land area of the continent. It extends approximately 2.5 million square kilometres and is roughly comparable in size with Western Europe. The state is one of the least populated parts of the world supporting more than 2.9 million people in 2024, despite having such a large area. Most people live in and around Perth, the capital and largest city of the state on the southwestern coast.

Geography and Climate

Western Australia can be described as having a diverse geographical terrain, with the arid deserts of the interior and the fertile wine producing regions near the coast. The state is also divided into several regions; these are the Kimberley, Pilbara, Mid West, Wheatbelt, Goldfields-Esperance, South West, and Great Southern. The climate is also quite different throughout these regions. The Northwestern part of the state has a tropical climate with a clearly defined wet and dry season; while the southern part has a Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Most of the state is either arid or semi-arid in the central and eastern parts.

Economy and Industry

The economy of Western Australia is reliant on mining, exports and is a large producer of iron ore, accounting for approximately 30 per cent of the world's supply. Other mineral exports are gold, lithium, nickel and bauxite. The mining industry is the largest contributor to the state’s Gross State Product (GSP) exceeding 40 per cent. Agriculture is also significant, with the Wheatbelt producing wheat, barley and other grains. Fishing and aquaculture are well developed along the coast and the state exports rock lobster and pearl products. Tourism is also increasing, spurred on by the Ningaloo Reef, the Bungle Bungle Range and the Margaret River wine region.

Demographics and Culture

One of the most culturally diverse states in the country is Western Australia. More than 30 percent of residents were born outside the country, and the British, New Zealand, South African, Indian, and Chinese are significant communities. English is the predominant language, but more than 200 languages are spoken in the home, because of the multicultural population. About 4 per cent of the state's population are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, with a strong historical and cultural connection to the land. Indigenous heritage and traditions are also an important part of the state's personality, especially in the northern areas.

Government and Administration

As for Australia, Western Australia is also a constitutional monarchy and has a parliamentary democracy, similar to the federal system. The state has its own senate, two houses of legislature, the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. The head of the state government is the Premier. Western Australia has a long history of independence, and in fact, conducted a referendum to secede from the Commonwealth in 1933, it was never enacted. The state government has control over local infrastructure, education, health, and law enforcement to a considerable extent.

Education and Research

The education system in Western Australia is national curriculum based and good public and private schools are available. The state includes several good universities like University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Murdoch University and Edith Cowan University. These institutions are an important research and innovation hub especially in the mining engineering, marine science, agriculture and renewable energy fields. TAFE (Technical and Further Education) colleges offer vocational training for specific industries in the state.

Transportation and Infrastructure

Because of the great distances between the settlements, transportation infrastructure is very important in Western Australia. Buses, trains, and ferries are well developed to serve Perth through public transportation network Transperth. Australia is connected by rail and air to the other parts of Australia, and Perth Airport is used by millions of passengers every year. In regional areas, road transport is dominant. The state government is also investing in road upgrades and remote airstrip development to enhance connectivity in less accessible areas.

Environment and Natural Resources

Western Australia is well known for its beautiful natural environment and ecological complexity. The state has several national parks and marine reserves which protect species and environments. Ecological and geological sites include Shark Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Karijini National Park. In addition, the state is a major player in the growth of renewable energy, specifically solar and wind energy, because of the large open spaces and rich natural resources that are available. However, there are still a number of environmental issues including land degradation, water management, and the effects of mining activities.

Tourism and Attractions

The major driver of tourism in Western Australia is its distinct natural terrain and outdoor activities. Some of the world’s best coastal and outback destinations are in the state. You can snorkel with whale sharks at the Ningaloo Coast, and remote waterfalls and ancient rock formations in the Kimberley region. Perth is a city with both urban culture and beach relaxation, and Rottnest Island is famous for its native quokkas. The Margaret River region is internationally recognized for its vineyards and gourmet food, and wine lovers visit.

History of Western Australia

The history of Western Australia begins way before the European settlement, and the oldest population is that of the Aboriginal people, as old as 50,000 years. Archaeological sites throughout the state, including in the Kimberley and Pilbara areas, are some of the world’s oldest continuous evidence of human habitation. Before the arrival of Europeans, Aboriginal communities had well-established cultures, spiritual beliefs, and social structures that were interwoven with the land. Some of the oldest rock art sites are in Murujuga (also known as the Burrup Peninsula) which has more than 40,000 engravings. More than one hundred Aboriginal language groups spars throughout Western Australia at the time of European arrival, all with their territory, traditions and knowledge base.

European Exploration and First Contact

The first European contact with the coast of Western Australia was recorded in the early 17th century. Dirk Hartog landed on what is now Dirk Hartog Island in Shark Bay in 1616. Over the following century, Dutch, French and British navigators, including Willem de Vlamingh and Nicolas Baudin, mapped parts of the coastline. Permanent settlement was not the result of these early explorations, but they marked the beginning of European interest in the area. The strategic value of establishing a colonial outpost on the western coast of Australia increased as the British government became concerned with French exploration in the Indian Ocean.

Founding of the Swan River Colony

In 1826, a British military outpost was made at King George Sound in Albany to stop French claims. This was followed in 1829 by the founding of the Swan River Colony centered on modern Perth and Fremantle. The New South Wales colony was established as a free settlement, not as a penal colony as were the colonies on the eastern side of Australia. Survival was difficult in the early years, however, poor soil quality, lack of farming experience and the isolation of the colony made it so. By the 1830s more structured settlements were starting to be formed and, over time, the population grew slowly. Convict labour was not introduced until 1850 to help with infrastructure projects which had a part in the growth of the colony.

Conflicts and Displacement of Aboriginal Peoples

With the arrival of Europeans, Aboriginal societies were placed in a state of significant disruption. Settlers' expansion to Indigenous land caused conflict, displacement, and population decline through introduced disease and violence. Resistance to British expansion in the southwest, or Noongar country, was led by Aboriginal leaders like Yagan. But European colonization did displace Indigenous communities from their ancestral lands, and in the decades following, policies of segregation and assimilation were introduced. The events caused long-term social and cultural impacts which are still being felt to this day.

Development and Economic Growth in the 19th Century

In the last century of the nineteenth century, Western Australia was rather steadily developing economically. The discovery of gold in the last quarter of the nineteenth and the first of the twentieth centuries, particularly in Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie, created a great gold rush that changed the colony. The other Australian colonies and overseas people in thousands came to prospect and the population of the colony was quickly raised and new towns and infrastructure had to develop. The goldfields, however, gave the economic boost to build roads and railways to link up remote areas. By this time, the population of the colony had grown exponentially, from about 50,000 in 1891 to more than 180,000 in 1901.

Federation and 20th Century Growth

Western Australia was not a reluctant joiner of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. One of the main fears was that the state's economic interests would be ignored by the federal government. In 1933, almost 68% of voters supported a referendum to secede from the Commonwealth, but the British Parliament did not act on the request, and the secession movement stalled. Western Australia's growth throughout the 20th century is characterized by economic development in agriculture, mining, and later, offshore oil and gas discovery. The European immigration following the post-World War II period played a significant role in shaping the state's multicultural population.

Mining Boom and Modern Transformation

The beginning of a modern mining boom which could be seen to have reshaped the state's economy follows from the discovery of large scale iron ore deposits in the Pilbara in the 1960s. Western Australia had become a major global exporter of minerals and natural gas. The North West Shelf Venture and other projects have helped to establish the state as a major player in the global energy market. Mining led to the economic prosperity, which led to significant investment in infrastructure, urban development, and public services. Perth has grown very rapidly and regional centres like Karratha and Port Hedland have also grown in importance. However, as with any boom, there were challenges, including environmental concerns, housing shortages, and uneven economic growth across the state, different parts of it.

Recent Developments and Contemporary Issues

Over the last few decades, Western Australia has remained an important part of Australia’s economy. The state’s natural resources have been the main driver of national economic development and the formation of strong export links with countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. However, Western Australia also has some important social and environmental issues to deal with. There is now more focus on reconciliation with Aboriginal communities, sustainable energy investment, and moving away from reliance on resource extraction. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 saw Western Australia implement strict border closures, which showed the independence of the state government and the distinct position of WA in the national setting.