
Perth (Nyungar: Boorloo) is the capital city of Western Australia. It is the fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth as of 2023. The world's most isolated major city by certain criteria, Perth is part of the South West Land Division of Western Australia, with most of Perth's metropolitan area on the Swan Coastal Plain between the Indian Ocean and the Darling Scarp. The city has expanded outward from the original British settlements on the Swan River, upon which its central business district and port of Fremantle are situated.
Perth was founded by Captain James Stirling in 1829 as the administrative centre of the Swan River Colony. The city is situated on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people, where Aboriginal Australians have lived for at least 48,000 years. Perth was named after the city of Perth in Scotland. Initially established as a free settlement, the colony accepted transported convicts from 1850 to supply labour for public works and construction. Perth was proclaimed as a city by Queen Victoria in 1856. Substantial population growth occurred during the late 19th-century Western Australian gold rushes, and the city has continued to expand, particularly after World War II due to a high net migration rate. Post-war immigrants were predominantly from the British Isles and Southern Europe, while more recent arrivals see a growing population of Asian descent. During the late 20th and early 21st centuries, a series of mining booms in various regions of Western Australia propelled Perth into the role of the regional headquarters for significant mining operations. It became Australia's fourth-most populated city in 1984, overtaking Adelaide.
Ranked as one of the world's most liveable cities, Perth was classified by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network as a Beta global city in 2020. As of 2021, Perth is divided into 30 local government areas, comprising over 350 suburbs. The metropolitan contours span 125 kilometres (78 mi) from Two Rocks in the north to Singleton in the south, and 45 kilometres (28 mi) from the west coast to Sawyers Valley in the east. Beyond the central business district, predominant urban centres within the metropolitan area include Armadale, Fremantle, Joondalup, Midland and Rockingham. Most of those were originally established as separate settlements and retained a distinct identity after being subsumed into the wider metropolitan area. Mandurah, Western Australia's second-largest city, forms a conurbation with Perth along the coastline. Despite this, it is generally regarded as an independent city.
Perth is home to many parkland areas and nature reserves, the most-visited being Kings Park and Botanic Garden, one of the world's largest inner-city parks. Other popular natural features include Cottesloe Beach and Rottnest Island. Notable heritage buildings and cultural sites include Perth Mint, WA Museum Boola Bardip and the World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison. All five of Western Australia's universities are based in Perth. The city is served by Fremantle Harbour and Perth Airport.
Background information about Perth adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Next 7 days at Perth
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Updated each time the page loads.
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Best time to visit Perth
Based on 30 years of weather data. Sweet spot: Aug, Sep, Oct — mild temperatures, low rainfall and plenty of sun. Avoid Mar, May if you can — typically the wettest or hottest stretch of the year.
Jan
38°
13° low
18mm
Feb
37°
15° low
17mm
Mar
37°
13° low
20mm
Apr
31°
13° low
34mm
May
28°
11° low
84mm
Jun
24°
9° low
113mm
Jul
22°
9° low
128mm
Aug
24°
8° low
106mm
Sep
26°
8° low
70mm
Oct
31°
10° low
32mm
Nov
35°
11° low
25mm
Dec
36°
13° low
12mm
Daytime high (large) · overnight low (small) · monthly rainfall (blue bar). Climate normals: 1991–2020 from Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis.
Beach & ocean conditions at Perth
Typical wave height around 0.9 m over the next two weeks. a wetsuit makes winter swims much more pleasant.
Avg wave height
0.9 m
Sea-surface temperatures from Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Wave forecast from the GFS Wave model — check official sources before swimming, paddling or boating.
What else is around Perth
Points of interest within 25 km, pulled from OpenStreetMap. Distances are straight-line; check road access before heading out.
🎡 Attractions (26)
- 1.5 km
- 1.8 km
- 1.9 km
- 11.5 km
- 12.3 km
- 12.4 km
🏖️ Beaches (1)
- 12.9 km
🔭 Lookouts & viewpoints (53)
- 1.8 km
- 10.2 km
- 10.4 km
- 10.5 km
- 10.9 km
- 11.5 km
⛰️ Peaks & summits (12)
- 14.3 km
- 14.7 km
- 16.6 km
- 17.1 km
- 17.7 km
- 18.0 km
🌳 Nature reserves & national parks (2)
- 17.4 km
- 19.6 km
🏰 Historic sites (81)
- 0.3 km
- 0.8 km
- 1.1 km
- 1.3 km
- 1.6 km
- 1.6 km
🏛️ Museums & galleries (10)
- 0.7 km
- 11.5 km
- 14.7 km
- 14.9 km
- 15.1 km
- 15.7 km
🦁 Family — zoos, aquariums, theme parks (1)
- 15.5 km
🎭 Theatres, cinemas & markets (14)
- 10.7 km
- 12.7 km
- 13.7 km
- 15.6 km
- 15.6 km
- 15.9 km
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Drive times to and from Perth
Real road distance and driving time to other destinations in the state. Click through for fuel estimates, suggested overnight stops, and tours along the way.
Frequently asked about Perth
- Where is Perth?
- Perth is in Greater Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
- When is the best time to visit Perth?
- Based on 30 years of weather data, the most pleasant months at Perth are typically September, October, August — mild temperatures and lower rainfall. School holiday periods can also fit if you don't mind the crowds.
- What's the weather like in Perth?
- Summer daytime highs average around 38°C and winter overnight lows can drop to about 8°C. See the climate panel above for the month-by-month breakdown.









