The city of Perth is the administrative centre and major metropolis of the state of Western Australia in Australia. In the year 2020, the metropolitan area of Perth was home to 2.1 million people, which represented 80 percent of the state's total population. This made it the fourth most populated city in both Australia and Oceania. The majority of the metropolitan area of Perth may be found in the Swan Coastal Plain, which is located between the Darling Scarp and the Indian Ocean. Perth is located in the South West Land Division of Western Australia. The early British colonies were located on the Swan River, which is also the location of the city's major business sector and the port of Fremantle. The city has since extended outward from these locations. The city of Perth is situated on the areas traditionally inhabited by the Whadjuk Noongar people. These lands have been occupied by Aboriginal Australians for at least 45,000 years.
In 1829, Captain James Stirling established Perth as the administrative centre of the Swan River Colony. Perth was named for him. It was named after the city of Perth, which is located in Scotland, as a result of the influence of Sir George Murray, who was Stirling's patron and had relations with the region. Although just a tiny portion of the area immediately around the central business district is under the jurisdiction of the Perth City Council at the present time, the city was granted city status in 1856. The gold rushes that occurred in Western Australia in the latter half of the 19th century led to a significant growth in the population of the city. A high net migration rate has contributed to its consistent growth since the end of World War II. The majority of immigrants who arrived after World War II were from Southern Europe and the British Isles, although more recent arrivals have shown an increasing number of people of Asian heritage. Perth became the regional headquarters for big mining operations throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries as a result of many mining booms that occurred in other regions of Western Australia during that time period.
The city of Perth is home to several significant public buildings in addition to other cultural and historical attractions. Parliament House, Government House, the Supreme Court Buildings, and the Perth Mint are all examples of notable government buildings in Perth. Fremantle Harbour and Perth Airport both provide transportation services to the city. Garden Island is the site of Fleet Facility West, which is operated by the Royal Australian Navy. During World War II, this island served as a naval base for the Allies. The capital city of Western Australia, Perth, is home to all five of the state's educational institutions.
The Globalization and World Cities Research Network designated the city as a Beta global city in the year 2020. The city has been given the distinction of being one of the most livable cities in the world.
As of the year 2021, the city of Perth is composed of more than 350 suburbs and is subdivided into 30 local government districts. From Two Rocks in the north to Singleton in the south, the borders of the metropolitan area extend 123 kilometres (76 miles), while from The Lakes in the east, they extend 62 kilometres (39 miles). Important urban centres within the metropolitan region include Armadale, Fremantle, Joondalup, Midland, and Rockingham. The central business district is the only major urban centre inside the metropolitan area. The majority of them were founded as independent communities in the past, and even after becoming a part of the larger metropolitan region, they have managed to maintain their own unique identities. Although Mandurah is Western Australia's second-largest city, it is still regarded to be a distinct city for the majority of reasons. The city is located along the coast, forming a conurbation with Perth.