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City guide · Perth
Perth
The world's most isolated big city: the Swan River, Rottnest Island and the Pinnacles
Perth, in Australia's south-west corner, is by some measures the most isolated big city in the world. The sunny Swan River, the port town of Fremantle and Rottnest Island with its quokkas are all within an hour.
History
How the city came to be
Perth stands on the land of the Whadjuk Noongar people, who have lived here for at least 48,000 years. In 1697 the Dutch captain Vlamingh saw large numbers of black swans on the river and named it the Swan River. In 1829 Captain James Stirling founded the Swan River Colony, reading the proclamation at Fremantle on 18 June, and at the wish of the colonial secretary Sir George Murray named its administrative centre Perth. From the 1850s Britain shipped convicts to Western Australia; they built Fremantle Prison, which remained in use until 1991.
- 1697Vlamingh named the river the Swan River
- 1829Stirling founded the Swan River Colony and Perth
- 1850sConvicts built Fremantle Prison
- 1886The prison was handed to the colonial government
- 1991Fremantle Prison closed
Stories
Stories of the city
History · Fremantle Prison
Stirling's colony and the convicts' prison
On 18 June 1829 Captain James Stirling read the proclamation founding the Swan River Colony at Fremantle, and Perth was founded the same year. The colony lacked labour in its early years, and from the 1850s Britain began transporting convicts to Western Australia. They quarried limestone on site and built this prison with their own hands: the gatehouse was completed in 1854–1855, and the main cell block, holding up to 1,000 prisoners, has barely changed since it was built in the 1850s.
People
People connected with Perth
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Before you go
Rules to know in Perth
Australian beaches: swim between the red and yellow flags
- Swim only between the red and yellow flags where lifeguards are on duty
- If you don't know the conditions, ask a lifeguard
- Swimming at unpatrolled beaches or outside the flags
Outside the flags there may be rip currents, and lifeguards cannot reach you in time.
Not yet verifiedSource: Surf Life Saving Australia: beach safety signs
Uluru: climbing is not allowed
- Walk the base track around Uluru and learn about Anangu culture
- Climbing Uluru
The climb closed permanently on 26 October 2019; climbing breaks the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and is punished.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park: climb closure
Entering Australia: food, plant and animal products must be declared
- Truthfully declare all food (even small, packaged snacks), plants and animal products on your arrival card
- If in doubt, declare it
- Bringing fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, seeds or wooden souvenirs without declaring them
You can be issued an infringement notice; your visa may be cancelled, you may be refused entry and barred from returning for up to 3 years.
Not yet verifiedSource: Australian Department of Agriculture: travelling to Australia
Australia: tipping is not required
- When service is especially good, round up or leave a small tip
- Feeling bad about not leaving a tip
There is no penalty; Australian wages do not depend on tips.
Not yet verifiedSource: Mozo: tipping in Australia