Perth History – 1616 was the first recorded sighting of Western Australia by European navigator. However aboriginals had been inhabiting the area for thousands of years before. Here is a very brief history of modern Perth.

1616 First recorded sighting of Western Australia by European navigator. However aboriginals had been inhabiting the area for thousands of years before. A Dutch seacaptain named the Swan River after black swans he saw and this was the start of the city of Perth.

1827 Captain James Stirling arrived at Swan River and discovered the natural attraction of Western Australia.

1828 British authorities settled at Swan River and sometime later “Perth” was officially founded by Captain Sterling. He named the settlement after the Scottish City. Eventually Perth was formally pronounced a city by Queen Victoria.

From the 1850’s the city was developing slowly but the arrival of convicts sent by British Government to Western Australia speeded up growth and much building took place around this time.

1890’s There was considerable development around this time following on from a Gold Rush started around 1886 with gold being discovered at Kimberley & Kalgoorlie. Many rushed to make their fortune and the population increased twice over in ten years. Perth was established as an important trade centre.
World War I saw Western Australia supply more men and money per capita than the other Australia. They were involved at Gallipoli. In 1914 Perth had a severe drought to cope with as well as the war.

1929 Fremantle was officially name a major port as it was the first port of call for migrants and visitors. All the foreigners arriving in Fremantle means that it is still a very cosmopolitan city.

1940’s There was a huge demand for minerals for World War II and this was beneficial to Western Australia. For some years during the war it was feared Australia would be invaded but it was not.

1960 saw the mining industry continue to boom and in the 1970s saw natural gas resources. The city put on all its lights to celebrate John Glenn the astronaut when he flew over Perth and he spoke of the City of Lights, a name that stuck.

1987 Fremantle hosted Australia's defence of the America's Cup and there were major renovations on the older building. The publicity from the America’s Cup firmly put Perth on the tourist map.