Is Western Australia a part of Australia?

The simple answer to this question is yes. Western Australia is, indeed, a part of Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it is one of the six states of the country, along with New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria.

History of the State of Western Australia

Western Australia is the largest of the six states in terms of land mass. It occupies a third of the entire continent’s landmass, approximately 2.5 million square kilometres. It was also once known as the “Colony of Western Australia” as it was one of the nine Australian colonies before becoming a state. Historically, European settlement of the area began in the late 18th century, particularly when British soldiers were sent to the area to establish an agricultural plot and farming settlement in the Swan River Colony in 1829. In 1834, the aim was to develop an area suitable for farming and grazing and also gain access to fresh water resources. As a result, a number of towns grew up around what is now Perth, where the capital of the state is now located. Western Australia was granted self-governance in 1889, when it was made a separate colony from the rest of Australia. In 1901, it joined the other five colonies to form the Commonwealth of Australia. The Governor-General was appointed from 1901 and was responsible for both the executive and legislative branches in government matters unique to Western Australia. Self-government was restored in 1968, with the election of a specially-elected state government for Western Australia.

Government & Politics

Western Australia operates on a Westminster System of Government, which means that much like in the United Kingdom, there is a legislative assembly (which is similar to a Parliament) composed of members of different parties from each district within the state. The leader of these members is then appointed as the Premier and he or she, along with their cabinet, is responsible for running the state’s affairs. There are three main political parties in Western Australia – the Australian Labour Party (ALP), Liberal Party (LP) and the National Party (NP). Each party picks their leader by a vote within their own party members and it is these three party leaders that run for office when an election occurs. The political system in WA is no different from other parts of Australia; it follows all conventions laid down by federal legislation.

Geography & Climate

The western coastline of WA stretches over more than 12,000 kilometres, making it one of the longest coastlines of any state. The state is also blessed with natural terrain ranging from flat deserts to rainforest and rugged mountain ranges. It is also home to over 60 national parks and covers 11% of Australia’s total land area and 17% of its total oceanic acreage. The climate in WA varies throughout its widespread expanse, ranging from warm-temperate zones in the south to tropical regions in the north. The summer months (November to April) experience hot and dry weather, while in winter (May to October) temperatures can drop to as low as 7 degrees Celsius.

Economy & Tourism

Western Australia’s economy is heavily reliant on minerals and resources extracted from its expansive rural areas such as iron ore and gold, as well as agricultural produce such as wheat, sugar cane and coarse grains which are primarily grown in northern parts of the state. Tourism is also becoming increasingly important to WA’s economy due to its attractive coastline and natural landscapes; its unique desert outback regions draw visitors from all over the world each year. The region has been described as having one of the most natural diversity on Earth; it offers visitors a mix of attractions such as spectacular beaches, rugged gorges, postcard-perfect islands and reef fringed coastlines. Increasingly, more and more people are visiting WA’s various national parks each year as well as taking advantage of whale watching tours and other amazing experiences like skydiving over some breathtaking canyons.

Final Thoughts

In summary, Western Australia is part of Australia which gained status as a separate state in 1889 but joined the other colonies to form what is now known as the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. It is home to some stunning natural sights, unique wildlife and diverse climates among its 12,000km plus coastline. Economy wise, it’s heavily reliant on minerals and resources extraction from its rural areas as well as some agricultural produce from its northern parts. It’s also increasing in popularity as a tourist destination thanks to diverse offerings from stunning beaches to postcard perfect islands. To find out more information about Western Australia visit Western Australia official website.