Western Australia [pdf] - Mount Lawley SHS Internal Web Site

OUR REGION,
OUR HERITAGE
A VAST STATE
Imagine an area the size of India.
It has crystal-clear seas fringed
by unspoiled beaches. It has flattopped
mesas, deep gorges,
vast plateaus and harsh
deserts. It is also prosperous,
having immense mineral
deposits and abundant
agricultural and pastoral land.
This is Western Australia.
Western Australia occupies an
area of about 2.5 million square
kilometres — one-third of the
Australian continent. It
is cut off from eastern
Australia by vast
deserts. Perth, Western
Australia’s capital, is
one of the most
isolated cities in the
world. Its nearest
interstate city is
Adelaide, about 2700
kilometres away.
Approximately 1.3 million
people live in Perth and its
nearby port, Fremantle.
They represent about
68 per cent of the state’s
population.
YOU WILL DISCOVER
Where and how large Western Australia is
How the state’s environment influences human activities
What resources are found in Western Australia
How the various cultural groups within the state interact
How certain events and people have been important in the
state’s development
In what ways the state has changed over time
1 Why might people who live in
Perth sometimes feel cut off
from the rest of Australia?
2 List the five things you think
are best and worst about being
a Western Australian. Order
them so that best is at the top,
worst is at the bottom.
3 Why do you think such a large
percentage of the state’s
population lives in Perth?

Landforms
A
USTRALIA IS NOT a mountainous continent. Its mountain ranges, unlike those in
some other continents, are extremely old, and no recent volcanic activity or
collision of tectonic plates has occurred to create new ranges. Weathering and erosion
have further shaped its landscape by wearing down old mountain ranges over millions
of years. Australia is now dominated by flat plateaus and low-lying plains. Western
Australia’s landforms follow this general pattern.
Key
Mt Ord
937 m
INDIAN
North West Cape
Exmouth Gulf
Chabjuwardoo Bay
Bernier Island
Dorre Island
Cape Inscription Shark
Dirk Hartog Island Bay
Steep Point
Major landforms of Western Australia
Gascoyne River
Shark
Bay
State/territory
border
River
Lake
Mountain
Geographe Ch
Gantheaume Bay
OCEAN
Monte Bello Islands
Barrow
Island
Houtman
Abrolhos
Lake
MacLeod
Gascoyne
Geelvink Ch
Wooramel
Murchison
Lyons
Greenough
Geographe Bay
Cape Naturaliste
North West
Shelf
Poissonnier Point
BARLEE RANGE
R
R
Swan
Ashburton
Fortescue River
HAMERSLEY RANGE
Mt Meharry
Ashburton River
Fortescue River
R
R
R
Mt Singleton
698 m
R
Cape Leeuwin
Flinders Bay
Point D’Entrecasteaux
Point Nuyts
HAMERSLEY RANGE
Mt Bruce 1235 m
Mt Meharry 1249 m
Darling
Scarp
Land height
1000 – 2000 m
500 – 1000 m
200 – 500 m
Sea level to 200 m
R
De Grey
Mt Egerton 994 m
Mt Gascoyne 789 m
DARLING RANGE
Mt Gould 710 m
Mt Hale 732 m
WELD
RANGE
Lake
Johnston
Canning
Basin
Fitzroy River
Kimberley
A cross-section of the state’s landforms from Shark Bay in the east through to
Wyndham in the north
River
Lake Lefroy
Lake Cowan
Lake Dundas
Fitzroy
River
Lake
Disappointment
R
Drysdale
Cape Londonderry
Joseph
Bonaparte
Gulf
Durack
R
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R
Lake MacDonald
Lake Austin Mt Pasco
625 m
Great
Victoria
Rason Lake
Lake
Lake Carey
Desert
Barlee Lake
Lake Minigwal
Lake Moore Ballard
Mt Jackson 607 m
NULLARBOR PLAIN
DARLING
PLATEAU
STIRLING RANGE
Point Hood
Bremer Bay
Cape Knob
King George Sound
TIMOR SEA
Bigge Island
Bonaparte
Archipelago
Buccaneer Mt Hann
Archipelago
777 m
Cape Leveque
Lake Argyle
Beagle Bay King Kimberley
Cape Baskerville Sound
Mt Ord 937 m
Dampier
Land
Mt Wells
Roebuck Bay
983 m
GREAT
Cape Bossut
ANTRIM
Canning
PLATEAU
Basin
Wolfe Creek
Meteorite Crater
Lake Gregory
Great Sandy
Desert
Lake
Lake White
Waukarlycarly
Percival Lakes Lake Wills
Lake Dora
Lake Auld
Lake
Mackay
Eighty Mile Beach
Mt Newman 1053 m
CARNARVON RANGE
Mt Fraser 799 m
Lake Carnegie
Lake Wells
Esperance Bay
ERNEST
Cape Bougainville
Cape Voltaire
cross-section
GILES RANGE
CAROLINE
RANGE
KING LEOPOLD
RANGE
W estern Australia
Gibson Desert
Point Culver
Point Malcolm
Archipelago of
the Recherche
LEWIS
RANGE
PETERMANN
Ord
Mt Deering
1219 m
WARBURTON RANGE
Mt Squires
Mt Aloysius
705 m 1085 m
HAMPTON TABLELAND
Northern Territory
RANGES
South Australia
Great Australian
Bight
0 100 200 300 400 km N
Joseph
Bonaparte
Gulf
The south
The coastal plain, the Darling
Scarp and the Darling Plateau are
the main features of this area. North
of the Houtman Abrolhos island
group, the mainland’s coastline
comprises sheer sandstone cliffs.
South of it, the coastline is mainly
sandy beaches. The southern coastline
is made up of cliffs, bays and
granite headlands.
Parallel to the west coast is the
Darling Range. The range is actually
the western edge of the Darling
Plateau and is around 300 metres
above sea level. The plateau is a
fairly flat landform that makes up
most of the south-west part of the
state. The Stirling Range to the
south is one of the few places in the
state that sometimes has snowfalls.
The only area where rivers flow
for all or most of the year (mainly
during winter) is the south. About
80 per cent of the state’s total
population of 1.9 million lives in
the south, and many important
industrial and farming activities
are located there.
The interior
The Great Sandy, Great Victoria
and Gibson deserts join together
in the state’s rainless centre to
form a wilderness of rocky plains
and shifting sand dunes. There are
many salt lakes here, but no permanent
rivers. To the south lies
the flat, treeless Nullarbor Plain,
which was once an ocean floor.

© Commonwealth of Australia, Geoscience Australia. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia Canberra, ACT.
Beneath its surface are many large
caves such as the Cocklebiddy
Cave, one of the largest limestone
caves in the world.
The dry and featureless interior
is unsuited for farming, and vast
areas of land are needed to support
grazing. Few permanent settlements
are found here.
The Wolf Creek meteorite crater, to the
south of Halls Creek, is 850 metres in
diameter and 50 metres deep. It is the
second largest in the world.
The north
The Kimberley has a great variety
of landforms and is fairly rugged.
The coast has many cliffs, hundreds
of islands, and narrow gulfs
in which tidal ranges of up to
12 metres are common. Mountain
ranges such as the King Leopold
Range and the spectacular Bungle
Bungle Range (Purnululu) are
found here. Here, too, is the
highest land in the state, the
Hamersley Range, which reaches
its highest point at Mt Meharry
(1249 metres above sea level). The
area also has some of the richest
mineral deposits in the world.
The major rivers, including the
Ord and Fitzroy, flow from the
mountains and carry huge amounts
of water during the wet season. The
Ord River has been dammed to
create Lake Argyle, one of the
largest man-made lakes in Australia.
Purnululu
The Kimberley contains the
Bungle Bungle Range, or
Purnululu — a series of
huge domed hills. Its orange
and black-banded hills,
shaped like beehives, now
have World Heritage listing.
They also hold special significance
for the local Aboriginal
people.
The characteristic beehive shapes of
Purnululu are believed to have formed
about 350 million years ago, carved by
water out of sandstone.
Aboriginal people are concerned
about many of the changes to land
and rivers that have occurred since
the arrival of Europeans. The
worst changes have been caused by
overgrazing and soil erosion. Many
waterholes once full of life are now
muddy pools. Some traditional
bush tucker is no longer available
and many native animals have
almost become extinct.
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA
REMEMBER
1 Why are there no high
mountains in Western
Australia?
2 What type of rock makes up
the Bungle Bungle Range?
3 Which area contains the
state’s highest land? What is
the highest point in this area
and how high is it?
COMMUNICATE
4 Work in groups to:
(a) List the possible problems
and benefits created by
Western Australia’s
flatness. Which is more
important: the problems or
the benefits? Why?
(b) Produce your own visual
display of the major
landforms of Western
Australia. Cut photographs
from magazines or
brochures, or download
them from the Internet.
INVESTIGATE
5 Burringurrah is the name
given to a particular landform
by the Wadjari people.
Conduct library or Internet
research to find out why the
land is an important part of
Aboriginal beliefs and culture.
Give a short talk to the class
about what you found out.
6 Choose a major landform of
Western Australia and
research ways in which
people have been affected by
it. Present your research as an
illustrated report.
CONNECT
7 To find out more about how
tectonic plate movement
affects the world’s landforms,
go to www.jaconline.com.au/
geography/weblinks and click
on the Tectonic Plates link for
this textbook.
I can:
describe the origins of Western
Australia
describe the dominant landforms in
various parts of the state
understand the impact of landforms
on the way people use the land.
✓ checklist

Weather and climate
O
UR EARTH is surrounded by a five-layer band of gases called the atmosphere. The
nearest of these layers to Earth is called the troposphere. Our weather results from
constant changes in the air in the troposphere. The weather of a place is the day-to-day,
short-term change that occurs in the troposphere above it. Its climate is the average of
weather conditions that occur there, measured over a long time. Places that share the
same climate are said to lie in the same climatic zone.
Western Australia covers a huge area and its climate
varies greatly from one place to another. This variation
is due mainly to three factors: latitude, distance
from the sea, and altitude, or height above sea level.
Latitude
Regions around the equator are always hot, as they
receive direct sunlight. The further away a place is from
the equator (i.e. the greater its latitude), the cooler its
conditions. Each season, latitude also influences the
movement of pressure systems (and associated winds).
Winds may be moist onshore winds or dry offshore
winds.
The Kimberley in the state’s north
has onshore north-west monsoons
from November to March, which
bring hot and humid conditions and
torrential rainfall to many parts. Dry
south-easterly winds blow for the
rest of the year, bringing clear skies
and warm temperatures.
In the state’s interior there is little
rain, as the winds always blow
towards the sea. In summer, tropical
cyclones sometimes move along the coast,
bringing heavy rainfall and powerful winds.
Tropical Cyclone Vance, a category 5 cyclone,
hit the Pilbara region on 22 March 1999. It
was the most powerful storm ever recorded in
Australia. Winds of up to 290 kilometres per
hour tore off roofs, ripped down trees and
power lines, and caused widespread flooding.
In the south-west, onshore westerly winds
bring rain-bearing cold fronts in winter. In
summer, winds blow from the interior,
bringing hot, dry conditions.
Distance from the sea
Places close to the sea tend to have moderate temperatures,
while places further inland tend to have
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more extreme temperatures. Kalgoorlie, for example,
has colder winters and hotter summers than Perth. In
addition, areas close to the sea tend to have more
rainfall.
Altitude
When air rises, it cools. Cool air cannot hold as
much water vapour as warmer air, so the excess
water vapour is released as precipitation (rain, hail,
snow or sleet). High-altitude regions are thus more
likely to have rain than low-altitude regions. Landforms
also cause another rainfall pattern, called an
orographic effect. Most mountain
ranges of Western Australia
Marble Bar, in the Pilbara, holds the
record for the longest hot spell. In
the summer of 1923–24, the town
had 160 consecutive days when the
temperature was over 37.8°C.
Eucla, on the Nullarbor Plain, holds the
record for the highest temperature:
50.7°C.
Whim Creek, in the Kimberley, holds the
record for daily rainfall: 747 mm in 1898.
are not high enough to lower
temperatures, but in both the
Kimberley region and the
south-west there is a definite
orographic effect.
Most rain falls on the ocean side of a mountain range
(windward side). The side facing away from the ocean (leeward
side) is much drier, and is said to be in the ‘rain shadow’. The
Darling Range is one of the few areas of Western Australia that
experiences this orographic effect.

Climatic zones
Although Western Australia is huge, it has only four
major climatic zones — tropical wet and dry (also
known as tropical savannah), hot semi-desert, hot
desert, and subtropical, dry summer (also known as
Mediterranean).
Subtropical, dry summer: warm all year; dry summers
This climate zone is often called ‘Mediterranean’ because it is similar to the climate
of countries around the Mediterranean Sea. As rain falls mainly in winter, rates of
evaporation are not
high. The area is thus
suitable for farming.
Dairy farms,
orchards, vineyards
and wheat and sheep
farms are common.
Hot semi-desert: hot
all year; 250–500 mm
rain per year
Droughts are
common in this
climatic region. It is
mainly used for
grazing sheep or
cattle.
0 250 500 km
N
The climatic zones of
Western Australia
Tropic of Capricorn
Carnarvon
Perth
Port Hedland
Kalgoorlie
Farming area near Margaret River
Wyndham
Tropical wet and dry: hot all
year; wet summers; dry
winters
This climate is not very good
for agriculture because of the
hot, humid summers and the
long dry winters. However,
cattle are grazed on the
summer grasses. The town of
Wyndham is found in this
climatic region.
Hot desert: hot all year; less than 250 mm rain per year
Much of the state can be classed as desert. Night-time temperatures may drop to
near freezing, as there is no cloud to hold in the Earth’s heat. In these regions there
is not enough rainfall for farming to take place but there is some grazing of animals
on huge stations.
°C
40
32
24
16
8
0
Wyndham mm
Average e monthly temperature
e r
and rainfall
l max. 200
min.
J F M A M J J A S O N D
160
120
80
40
0
REMEMBER
1 Decide whether the following statements about
Western Australia’s climate are true or false.
(a) Kalgoorlie experiences more extreme
temperatures than Perth does.
(b) Rainfall in Western Australia’s interior is both
low and unreliable.
(c) The two areas of Western Australia that
experience a wet season and a dry season are
the Kimberley and the south-west.
(d) Perth receives most of its rainfall from
easterly winds.
COMMUNICATE
2 In small groups, discuss the ways in which the
climate of Western Australia influences lifestyle.
Consider aspects such as building styles, leisure,
food, clothing and jobs.
CREATE
3 On an A3 sheet of cardboard, create a four-piece
collage that illustrates (through pictures and
sketches of landscapes) the four different
climatic regions of the state. (Use newspapers,
postcards and travel brochures as resources.)
INVESTIGATE
4 (a) If you were to visit Wyndham, in which month
would you go? Explain why.
(b) How do you think the climates of Wyndham
and Perth might differ?
5 Use the data below to construct a climograph for
Kalgoorlie. (The climograph of Wyndham, left, can
be used as a model.) Then, in a paragraph,
compare this town’s climate with that of Wyndham.
Kalgoorlie: temperature and rainfall
Month J F M A M J J A S O N D
Average
daily max.
temp. (°C)
34 33 30 26 21 17 17 19 23 26 30 33
Average
daily min.
temp. (°C)
Average
rainfall
(mm)
18 18 16 13 9 7 6 6 9 11 14 17
16 21 28 21 27 26 22 24 11 17 14 16
Desert area east of Mount Magnet
CONNECT
6 Go to www.jaconline.com.au/geography/climate
and click on the Recording Weather Project Sheet
under Weather and Climate.
I can:
explain how latitude, distance from the sea and landforms
affect the climate of Western Australia
describe the characteristics of the state’s climatic
regions
explain how climate affects the way people use the
land.
5
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
✓ checklist

Development
and conservation
O
UR ENVIRONMENT provides many natural
resources — the naturally occurring sources of
wealth of an area, such as forests, minerals and gas.
However, only some of these are renewable. Renewable
resources can reproduce themselves, provided they are
not used too quickly. Non-renewable resources, such
as gold, cannot be replaced once used.
Some say we should use all available
resources to maintain our lifestyle.
Others argue that we must
be more careful, especially in using
non-renewable resources, so we
can conserve our environment for
future generations to enjoy.
Sometimes conflicts occur
between developers and conservationists.
Generally, though, most
developers recognise the need to
conserve as much of the environment
as possible. Most conservationists,
too, understand that some
development has to occur if people
are to live and operate in today’s
world. The solution usually acceptable
to both parties is sustainable
development.
The World Heritage List
One of the ways that a country’s
important natural or cultural sites
can be protected is by including
them on the World Heritage List.
This list was set up when UNESCO
adopted the World Heritage Convention
in 1972. Countries who
sign the convention must promise to
conserve and protect the World
Heritage Sites within their borders,
as well as their national heritage. To
date, more than 170 countries have
signed the convention.
There are about 730 cultural and
natural sites currently on the World
Heritage List. Australian
sites on the list include the
Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu
National Park, the Uluru–
Kata Tjuta National Park
and Fraser Island, and Purnululu
and Shark Bay in Western Australia.
Shark Bay
Shark Bay
Shark Bay was declared a World
Heritage Site in 1991. The waters of
its many bays are certainly home to
hundreds of sharks, but there are
many other features that make the
bay area special. These include its
stromatolites, which are the oldest
life forms known on Earth. They
are made up of tiny organisms that
build towers of rock to live on. They
existed about 3500 million years
ago, when they helped to create
oxygen that allowed other creatures
to live. Today, they look like huge
stony mushrooms, growing to
about half a metre in height.
Shark Bay is also known for
having many other types of marine
wildlife. It has about 10 per cent
of the world’s dugong population,
as well as whales, turtles and
manta rays. There are over 300
species of fish, and the area is a
popular fishing destination for
people from as far away as Perth.
Shark Bay is probably best
known for its wild dolphins,
Dolphins at Monkey Mia come ashore
to be hand fed.
which come ashore at Monkey
Mia to make contact with
humans. They have been doing
this since 1964. However, problems
have begun to develop now
that thousands of tourists are
pouring in to see these creatures.
For example, the constant human
contact is upsetting the normal
patterns of behaviour dolphins
have in the wild. Recent proposals
to develop an airport and other
tourist facilities in the area have
caused much public debate and
anger among conservationists.
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Ecotourism
Tourism is one of Western Australia’s
fastest growing industries. It
contributes about $3 billion to the
state’s economy each year, and
employs about 10 per cent of its
workforce. However, some people
believe that tourism can be bad for
the natural environment of an
area, leading to problems such as
those experienced at Monkey Mia.
Some conservationists are afraid
that the sandy beaches, coral reefs
and beautiful coastlines of Western
Australia could become crowded
with roads and buildings if coastbased
tourism continues to grow.
Concerns such as these have
brought about the growth of ecotourism.
True ecotourism sites
should have two main goals. First,
they should allow people to enjoy
the physical environment without
causing damage that would prevent
future visitors from enjoying the
same experience. This can be done,
for example, by constructing facilities
such as boardwalks and walking
tracks. Second, ecotourist sites
should educate tourists about the
Stromatolites at Shark Bay
environment and why its conservation
is important. This can be
done through facilities such as track
signs and other information sources.
Kings Park: nature in the city
In 1871, Governor Weld reserved
400 hectares of land on Mt Eliza,
overlooking Perth city, as a public
park. This area is now known as
Kings Park, and has become the
city’s main tourist attraction. With
most of the park being natural
bushland, it gives tens of thousands
of visitors each year the
chance to enjoy a natural landscape
in the middle of a major city.
Native flora display in King’s Park
7
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
REMEMBER
1 Explain the difference
between renewable and nonrenewable
resources.
2 What are the main attractions
of Monkey Mia?
3 In what ways is ecotourism
helping to conserve our
environment?
COMMUNICATE
4 Observe the photograph of
Shark Bay’s stromatolites.
Why do you think people
would want to see these?
Suggest how tourists could
damage them.
5 With a partner, try to list 10
popular tourist attractions in
Western Australia. Discuss
what makes each of these
places so popular, and how
each might be affected by
tourism — both positively
and negatively.
INVESTIGATE
6 Find out all you can about
national parks in Western
Australia. Write a report in
which you:
• explain why we have
national parks
• map their location
• indicate who is responsible
for deciding their location
• list what can and cannot be
done in them
• highlight the features of
one national park.
CONNECT
7 In small groups, create a travel
brochure highlighting the
tourist attractions of Western
Australia. Use information
from travel brochures and go
to www.jaconline.com.au/
geography/weblinks and click
on the Western Australian
Tourism Commission link for
this textbook.
I can:
explain why both conservation of
resources and economic
development are important
recognise the importance of
tourism to Western Australia
explain the meaning of ecotourism.
✓ checklist

Population
I
N CONTRAST TO its vast size, the population of Western Australia is very small. Just
over 1.9 million people (about one-tenth of Australia’s population) live there. As a
result, the state has a very low population density — less than one person per square
kilometre. Also, because the bulk of the state’s population live in and around Perth, most
of the state has a population density of less than one person per 50 square kilometres.
Western Australia is a multicultural
society. About 25 per cent
of its population was born overseas.
Traditionally, most immigrants
have come from Europe
and especially Great Britain, but
more recently Asian people have
migrated to the state.
Over 78 per cent of the state’s
population live in towns or cities
such as Perth and Kalgoorlie. Most
of the state’s manufacturing, business
and service industries are
located in these places, so this is
where the jobs are. Towns and cities
also have strong population growth.
Climate, especially rainfall, is the
most important factor influencing
where people live. Major towns in
Western Australia therefore tend to
be located in the south-west.
Although the Kimberley region
also has relatively heavy rainfall,
it has few permanent inhabitants
Population centres of Western Australia
Kalumburu
Oombulgurri
Wyndham
Kununurra
PERTH
Wanneroo
Rockingham
Albany
Derby
Over 1 000 000 people
100 000 to 1 000 000 people
50 000 to 100 000 people
10 000 to 50 000 people
Under 10 000 people
Lombadina
Broome
Derby
Fitzroy Crossing
Halls Creek
Port Hedland
Shay Gap
Dampier Point Samson
Karratha
Marble Bar
Onslow
Pannawonica
Nullagine Telfer
Exmouth
Wittenoom
Tom Price
Paraburdoo
Newman
Jiggalong
Carnarvon
Denham
Gascoyne Junction
Karalundi
Wiluna
Meekatharra
Warburton
Cue
Kalbarri
Mount Magnet
Sandstone
Yalgoo
Leonora Laverton
Geraldton
Gwalia
Dongara Morawa
Menzies
Dalwallinu
Kalannie
Miling
Moora
Kalgoorlie
Koolyanobbing
Lancelin
Boulder Kitchener
Deakin
Bullfinch
Southern Cross Coolgardie Kambalda
Rawlinna
Loongana
Wanneroo Northam Merredin
Widgiemooltha
PERTH York
Eucla
Kwinana Fremantle Hyden
Norseman
Mandurah Rockingham Kondinin
Boddington Narrogin
Harvey
Newdegate
Wagin
Bunbury
Ravensthorpe
Busselton Collie
Nyabing
Katanning
Margaret River
Esperance
Bridgetown
N
Hopetoun
Augusta
Manjimup
Mount Barker
Walpole
Denmark
Albany
0 100 200 300 400 km
Perth, with a population of 1.33 million, is by far the
largest city in Western Australia and the most densely
populated area in the state.
Selected cities and towns in Western Australia,
by population size (2002)
City/town
Source: Australia Bureau of Statistics data
Resident population
(estimate)
Perth 1 330 000
Albany 21 300
Kalgoorlie/Boulder 29 600
Bunbury 30 700
Geraldton 19 700
Busselton 24 400
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ecause agriculture is difficult, and
most people find the very hot and
humid conditions unpleasant.
The location of minerals has
also been an important factor in
the development of towns, particularly
in the goldfields regions
and the Pilbara. Newman and
Tom Price, for example, owe
their existence to the nearby presence
of large mineral deposits.
But such towns are small, and
when the mineral deposit is used
up the town may die out. Other
towns, such as Port Hedland,
exist as ports for the mining
centres.
Most of the state is desert, so it is
of little use for any type of agriculture.
There are no permanent towns
in the state’s central desert regions.
As well, some wheat belt and
mining towns such as Kulin and
Greenbushes are losing population.
Draw a population pyramid
Population pyramids show the percentage of a total
population in each age group and the percentage of
total males and total females in that age group. They
are simply two bar graphs that are drawn on either
side of a vertical axis.
The population pyramid for Perth in 2002 has been constructed
from the following table. It is typical of that for the whole state. The
population is getting older, females are living longer than males and
their median age is higher.
Perth’s population — percentage in each age/sex group (rounded)
Sex
Age (years)
0–14 15–24 25–44 45–64 65 and over
Male 11 8 15 11 5
Female 10 7 15 12 6
Perth population
2002
65+
45–64
25–44
15–24
0–14
15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Males (%) (Total population: 1 325 392) Females (%)
Draw two horizontal lines of equal length, with a space between them. Ensure the
space is wide enough to write in the age groups. Draw two vertical lines on either
side of the space. Label the foot of each vertical line zero (0).
Set out the age groups vertically in the centre, with youngest at the base, oldest at the top.
Look at the data you have to plot to decide the scale on your horizontal axis (e.g.
each marker on the axis might represent 1% or perhaps 2%). Arrange the scale in
ascending order from the zero point.
Name the vertical and horizontal axes and give the graph a title.
Draw bars for males on the left, and bars for females on the right.
9
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
REMEMBER
1 Where is most of Western
Australia’s population located?
2 Which factor has the greatest
effect on Western Australia’s
population distribution —
climate or landform?
COMMUNICATE
3 Imagine that a huge mineral
deposit has been discovered
in the Pilbara region. It is
expected that the deposit can
be mined for 50 years before
running out. In small groups,
plan a self-contained town to
house the miners and their
families. The town’s
population will be about 3000.
4 In small groups, debate this
statement: ‘Western
Australia’s population needs
to grow much more rapidly
than it has in the past’.
Before you start, list the
advantages and
disadvantages of rapid
population growth.
INVESTIGATE
5 What are the costs and benefits
of an ageing population?
Summarise these in a table.
Draw a population pyramid
6 Draw a population pyramid
for Port Hedland using the
data in the table below.
Compare your completed
graph with the one for Perth,
opposite, and highlight three
significant differences.
Port Hedland’s population —
percentage in each age group
Sex
Age group
0–14 15–24 25–44 45–64 65+
Male 13 7 21 12 2
Female 12 6 16 9 2
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
✓ checklist
I can:
describe the location of Western
Australia’s population
explain why Western Australia’s
population is so unevenly distributed
draw a population pyramid, and
compare its shape with another.

Resources
M
INERALS AND other ‘gifts of nature’, such as fossil fuels, forests and even fish, are
called natural resources. People and the skills they have are called human
resources. Capital resources are those things that people create (such as factories and
machinery), which help in the production of other products. Although it is a large state,
most of Western Australia’s industries, apart from mining, are located in the south-west
region. By efficiently using its many natural, capital and human resources, Western
Australia enjoys one of the highest living standards in the world.
Natural resources
Land
The biggest use of the land in Western Australia is for
farming and grazing. There are two major types of
farming: intensive and extensive.
Intensive farms are small, produce a high output,
and use a lot of workers and equipment. These farms
produce fruit, vegetables and flowers. Another form
of intensive farming is viticulture — growing grapes
for wine. Viticulture is the fastest growing agricultural
industry in the state.
Extensive farms may raise livestock, especially beef
and dairy cattle. Extensive wheat and sheep farms are
found in drier parts of the south-west, and are a key
part of the state’s agriculture industry. These farms produce
grains (such as wheat, barley and oats) and livestock
(such as sheep for meat and wool). Wheat is
produced mainly for export.
Extensive pastoralism also occurs in the drier interior
and northern regions. Sheep or cattle are raised on huge
properties called stations. Because of the vast size of the
stations, fences are few and the animals are free to graze
wherever they like on native plants such as mulga.
Minerals
Some of the world’s richest mineral deposits are located
in Western Australia. The Pilbara, for example, is full
of huge pits in which gigantic machines work around
the clock to move millions of tonnes of iron ore each
year. At Argyle, in the Kimberley, the world’s largest
known diamond deposit is mined.
In the region known as the Eastern Goldfields,
there are many ruined mines and ghost towns —
reminders of the gold rushes of the 1890s and early
1900s. Some towns, such as Kanowna, have vanished
completely, but Kalgoorlie still contains one of the
largest gold mining operations in the world. Nickel
became the new treasure in the 1960s and continues
to be mined at Kambalda.
10
SOSE ALIVE TOPIC BOOKS
Intensive and extensive farming — a comparison
Example of intensive farming
◗ Typically small in size (e.g. dairy farm of 100 hectares)
◗ Requires many workers.
◗ Requires high capital investment (e.g. buildings, irrigation).
◗ Causes a number of changes to the natural environment.
◗ Associated problems include soil erosion and salinity.
Example of extensive farming
◗ Typically large in size (e.g. wheat property of 5000 hectares)
◗ Requires few workers.
◗ Is less costly to set up.
◗ Causes little change to the natural environment.
◗ Associated problems include drought, transport costs, and the
loneliness and isolation for property workers.

Capital resources
Perth has the widest variety of industries and employs
most of the state’s workforce. In factories in and around
the city, workers process foods and make furniture,
leather, rubber and plastic goods as well as metal products.
At Kwinana, large refineries process bauxite,
petroleum and nickel for export. Many research and
development companies work to develop electronics,
telecommunications and computer software. This technology
is exported to many countries around the world.
Modern educational facilities help to develop human resources.
Human resources
Human resources are people and their knowledge, skills
and willingness to work. Western Australia’s population
of 1.9 million represents only 9.8 per cent of Australia’s
total population, but is well educated, healthy and
skilled. People employed in Western Australia represent
10.3 per cent of Australia’s total employed.
Employment by industry — Western Australia, 2002
Industry
No. employed
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 34 000
Mining 35 000
Manufacturing 102 000
Electricity, gas and water 8 000
Construction 71 000
Wholesale and retail trade 199 000
Accommodation, cafés and restaurants 42 000
Transport and storage 43 000
Communication 15 000
Finance, insurance, property and business 137 000
Gov’t administration and defence 42 000
Education 72 000
Health and community services 88 000
Culture, recreation and personal services 84 000
11
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
REMEMBER
1 What are four types of agriculture found in
Western Australia?
2 What is the name of Western Australia’s main
port?
3 Where are most of Western Australia’s industries
located?
COMMUNICATE
4 Imagine you are a farmer who has been invited
to talk to the class about your farm. Prepare a
talk in which you mention:
• what your farm produces, and its location,
size and layout
• the climate in the region
•problems your farm and/or your workers may
be experiencing.
5 Organise (through your teacher) a field trip to
tour a local farm and interview the farmer.
Prepare a set of questions to ask the farmer
before the visit. Write a report on your findings
and observations. Your report should include a
field sketch of the farm.
6 Prepare a poster showing the main benefits and
problems associated with living in a city.
INVESTIGATE
7 What is the symbol for products made in
Western Australia? Why does it appear on locally
produced goods? Why should people be made
aware of this sign?
8 Study the table showing the industries in which
Western Australians are employed.
(a) List the top five industries according to
numbers employed. Why do you think mining
and agriculture, which contribute so much to
the WA economy, are not in the top five?
(b) What range of skills and educational
qualifications do you think would be needed
in each of the top five industries?
9 Western Australia’s exports represented 25.3
per cent of Australia’s total exports in 2001–02.
What Western Australian industries do you think
may have accounted for these exports?
CONNECT
10 Go to www.jaconline.com.au/commerce/
weblinks and click on the Chamber of Minerals
and Energy WA link for this textbook. Use the
information there to write a short account of the
importance of minerals to the Western
Australian economy.
I can:
list the main types of resources found in Western
Australia
explain the differences between intensive and extensive
farming
understand how the human resources that produce goods
and services vary from industry to industry.
✓ checklist

ISSUE 3: SEPTEMBER 1876
PERTH
Interior: dry as a bone
Ernest Giles’s completion last month
of a double crossing of the western
half of this continent was a major
achievement. On two earlier expeditions
(in 1872 and 1873) he was
forced back by lack of food and water.
However, in November 1875 he
reached Perth, having set out five
months earlier from Beltana in South
Australia with 24 camels and an
Afghan camel driver.
In one stretch, which Giles named the
Great Victoria Desert, he found no
water for 520 kilometres. In Perth, Giles
rested for eight weeks before heading
back, reaching the Peake Telegraph
Station in South Australia in August.
Giles and the explorer John Forrest
before him have proved beyond doubt
that the heart of this country is
unsuitable for settlement. There
is no inland sea or network
of rivers as the
early settlers in
this colony said
there might be.
Geraldton
Ashburton
River
Gascoyne
Murchison
Perth
1876
Gibson Desert
River
River Weld Springs
1874 Western Australia
1869 Great Victoria Desert
Key
De Grey
River
Great Sandy
Desert
Kalgoorlie
1875
1870
1873
Nullarbor Plain
Darwin
1872
0 250 500 km N
John Forrest
John and Alexander Forrest
Ernest Giles
The expeditions of Forrest and Giles
Daly Waters
Overland
Northern Territory
Telegraph
Ernest Giles
Charlotte Waters
Oodnadatta
Peake
Lake Eyre
South Australia
Ooldea
Beltana
Port Augusta
Adelaide
John Forrest
It was hoped that new fertile areas would
be found further inland, but Giles and
other explorers have proved these lands
are largely desert.
Forrest explorer
On John Forrest’s first expedition in
1869, he led a team sent to find the
missing explorer Ludwig Leichhardt.
Like Giles on his first two
expeditions, Forrest was forced
back by lack of food and water.
In 1870, accompanied by his
younger brother, Alexander, Forrest
set out from Perth, aiming to
cross to Adelaide. Remembering
the difficulties the explorer Eyre
had faced in 1841, Forrest wisely
organised for a ship to deliver
fresh supplies at pre-arranged points.
Forrest reached Adelaide about eight
months after leaving Perth.
Four years later, Forrest led another
party that left Geraldton and headed
for the Overland Telegraph Line,
which stretched from Adelaide to
Darwin. The party faced great difficulties.
They had to shoot emus,
kangaroos and cockatoos to stay alive,
but managed to reach the Overland
Telegraph Line six months later. This
was the last great exploring expedition
of its kind in Australia.

Were the Dutch here first?
The courage shown by Giles and Forrest
is matched by the bravery of the
first European explorers of our
colony’s coasts. But who were they?
It is likely that the Dutch were the
first European visitors to our coastline.
They had reached the East
Indies [Indonesia] in 1595, trading
with what were then called the ‘Spice
INTREPID EXPLORERS!
Some early expeditions along our colony’s coastline are described below:
◗ Dirk Hartog (Dutch), 1616, in the Eendracht. First Europeans known to have landed on an
island off the coast. Pewter plate was left, recording details of landing.
◗ Abel Tasman (Dutch), 1644, in the Limmen and Zeemeuw. Charted much of the western and
northern coasts, calling the land Hollandia Nova (New Holland).
◗ English crew, 1688, in the Cygnet (buccaneer ship)
◗ Joseph d’Entrecasteaux (French), 1792, in the Recherche and Esperance. Visited the
southern coastline, giving many places French names.
◗ Matthew Flinders (English), 1801, in the Investigator. Surveyed the southern coast.
◗ Nicolas Baudin and Emmanuel Hamelin (French), 1801, in the Geographe and Naturaliste.
Undertook detailed exploration of the coastline, giving many places French names.
Hartog 1616
Key
Captain, and year of exploration
Jansz 1606
Single landings
Houtman 1619
Carstenz 1623
Nuyts 1627
Pool 1636
Tasman 1642
Some Dutch ships
landed briefly at
certain points on
the Western
Australian coast or
on nearby islands.
Others spent time
following the
coastline and
mapping it.
Pelsaert
1629
*Leeuwin
De Witt 1628
Thijssen 1618
Hartog 1616
* Unknown captain
Sunken Treasure
Historian seeks companions to mount a search to solve
the mystery of the Zuytdorp.
In 1712, this 600-tonne Dutch treasure ship was wrecked in
wild seas just north of Geraldton. It was said to be carrying
100 000 silver guilders.
The Dutch never mounted a search for survivors or their ship.
The fate of the treasure remains a mystery.
Contact John Andrews, c/- Colonial Secretary's Office, Perth
Islands’. Dutch ships would stop at
the Cape of Good Hope, then sail
east for about 5000 kilometres before
turning north towards Batavia
[Jakarta]. Lacking effective navigation
instruments, some probably
sailed too far east and would surely
have seen the Western Australian
coast.
0 500 1000 km
N
REMEMBER
1 It is generally thought that the
Dutch were the first Europeans
to visit Australia. Why was this
highly likely?
2 Why do so many coastal
locations have French names?
3 Explain why the rugged cliffs to
the north of Geraldton are called
the Zuytdorp Cliffs.
4 A telegraph line, erected from
Port Augusta to Albany, was
the first means of instant
communication between the
isolated western settlement and
the eastern colonies. Check the
map on page 12 to decide
which earlier expedition
‘marked the trail’ for the
construction of this line.
UNDERSTAND
5 Think about how the early
coastal and interior explorations
of Western Australia would have
helped those who live there.
Think of as many ways as you
can.
COMMUNICATE
6 It is 1843 and you have been
commissioned by the Governor
of the Swan River Colony to lead
an expedition inland, looking
for fertile land. In groups of four
or five, decide on how many
men you will take, the skills
they should possess, your
transport arrangements, and the
supplies you will need. Write a
letter to the Governor asking for
everything you need. In your
letter, indicate when you will
leave and why.
7 Construct a timeline showing
the highlights of the maritime
exploration of Western Australia.
Find more information on one of
the expeditions on your timeline
and present this information to
the class in a short talk.
✓ checklist
I can:
construct a timeline of events in
the exploration of the state
appreciate the hardships faced by
inland explorers
consider the contributions of early
explorers.

Indigenous groups
M
ANY HISTORIANS think that people first came to Australia from Asia about
40 000 years ago. At this time, sea levels were much lower than they are today,
and people were able to ‘island hop’ their way to Australia. Aborigines were the first
people to settle Western Australia, and are the state’s Indigenous people.
When the first Aborigines arrived,
they found a land much different
from that of today. The climate
was much wetter, and megafauna
roamed the land. The people made
tools and weapons from stone and
wood, made flour from grass seeds,
and wore clothing made from
animal skins. They hunted, fished,
and gathered plant foods. They
developed rules that governed the
way they behaved and held ceremonies
to celebrate important
events. They had close ties with
the land and developed a society
based on kinship.
Dreamtime
The beliefs Indigenous people
hold about their origins are contained
in Dreaming stories. These
describe a period called the
Dreamtime, when spirit beings
travelled the land, setting down
the rules for people to live by, and
creating the world and everything
in it. Each group has its own creation
stories that are passed on to
young people by the older men
and women in the form of stories,
songs, dances and art.
Indigenous people do not see
the Dreamtime as something that
is in the distant past. To them, it
also exists in the present day. Their
ancestor spirits have not gone, and
are part of their sacred places.
The arrival of Europeans
The arrival of European colonists
had a devastating impact on Indigenous
people. The colonists said
that Australia was terra nullius — a
land that belonged to no-one —
and that they could therefore
occupy it. Many Indigenous people
violently resisted efforts to take
their land. However, resistance was
always followed by reprisals, and
spears were no match for European
rifles. Many Indigenous people
were killed; survivors were pushed
back into more remote territory.
The land was of vital importance
to Indigenous people. It was
more than just their means of survival;
it was sacred to them. As
more of their land was taken away,
they could no longer roam freely
in search of food or have access to
their sacred sites. The structure of
Indigenous social groups began to
collapse. To make matters worse,
many were dying from diseases
such as measles and chicken pox,
brought in by the European settlers.
Indigenous people had no
immunity to such diseases.
14
SOSE ALIVE TOPIC BOOKS
Indigenous people
today
European policy towards Indigenous
people has changed significantly
over the last two centuries.
Initially it was thought that Indigenous
people would eventually just
die out. Government policy aimed
to ‘protect’ Indigenous people and
keep them separate from the rest
of society. In the mid 1900s, the
policy changed to one of assimilation:
the government thought
that Indigenous people could
simply be absorbed or blended
into white society, gradually forgetting
their own culture.
After World War II, during
which many Indigenous men
fought alongside white Australians,
efforts were made to improve
Indigenous education and housing;
however, their traditions and values
were still ignored. In 1962
Home for Aboriginal children, Kalgoorlie 1913. From the early
1900s, part-Aboriginal children were taken from their families
to be raised in institutions. This created what is now called the
stolen generations.

Indigenous people were granted
voting rights for Western Australian
state elections and in 1967 they
were finally granted full citizenship
throughout Australia.
Land rights continued to be a
major issue. On 3 June 1992, the
High Court of Australia rejected
the idea that Australia had been
terra nullius when white settlers
arrived. The court recognised that
indigenous people had held
native title to the land they had
occupied for thousands of years.
This High Court ruling is known
as the Mabo decision. The
decision gives Aborigines who can
prove unbroken connection to a
region of land the right to claim
it. This right excludes freehold
and leasehold land as well as
parks and gardens.
Many Indigenous people, however,
still suffer from unequal
treatment in our society. For all
Indigenous people to have a better
future, based on fairness and
acceptance, there needs to be
improved understanding between
Indigenous and non-Indigenous
Australians. This two-way process
has been called reconciliation.
Interpret a historical artwork
Like other primary sources, paintings and drawings
prepared at the time of the event they depict can
provide a lot of clues about events in history. The
engraving below shows conflict between European
settlers and the Indigenous people of Western Australia.
UNDERSTAND
1 What does the term terra
nullius mean? Was it correct for
European colonists to regard
Australia as terra nullius?
2 What was the Mabo decision?
Why was it so important for
Indigenous Australians?
COMMUNICATE
3 ‘Aborigines are part of the
land.’ In small groups,
discuss this statement. What
does it mean? Is it relevant in
the twenty-first century?
4 Create a poster, construct a
model (e.g. of clay or
plasticine) or write and
perform a song (with musical
backing) to show how you
see reconciliation. Discuss as
a class what the different
presentations reveal about
people’s attitudes to this
important issue.
INVESTIGATE
5 Through your teacher, invite
an Indigenous person to visit
your class to show how
traditional tools and weapons
were used and made. Prepare
an illustrated report on this
presentation.
Interpret a historical artwork
6 Use the prompts around the
artwork above left to
describe, in detail, what this
image reveals. Suggest to
what extent it can be relied
on as evidence from the past.
Justify your opinion.
A Deadly Encounter, by S. Calvert, c.1840
Try to decide whether the artwork was prepared at the time of the events.
Read the title to see if it tells you anything about what is happening.
Look at the setting and decide where the event is taking place.
Look for objects that give you clues about what is happening.
Study the actions and clothing of people shown in the artwork. Clothes can give a
clue about climate.
Try to detect any bias in the artwork. The artist may be showing one person or group
more favourably than another.
15
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
CONNECT
7 To find out more about an
aspect of Indigenous history,
go to www.jaconline.com.au/
history/Australian and click
on the Yagan — Villain or
Hero Project Sheet under
Aboriginal History.
✓ checklist
I can:
describe how Indigenous people
lived before the arrival of
Europeans
understand the impact on
Aborigines in Western Australia of
the arrival of Europeans.

Early European settlement
T
HE DUTCH SAILORS who began exploring the Western Australian coast in the early
seventeenth century made no attempt to settle. About one hundred years later, the
French also started sending sea expeditions to explore the coastline. By the early 1800s,
the presence of so many French ships began to worry the British, who thought the
French might have been planning a settlement. So in 1826 the British decided to set up
a colony of free settlers on the west coast.
Horace Samson, Perth 1847. Watercolour, gouache, pen and ink, 27.5 × 40.3 cm.
Gift of Mr D. Rannard, 1923. Collection Art Gallery of Western Australia
On 1 June 1829 (Foundation Day),
Captain James Stirling arrived off
Rottnest Island and proclaimed that
he was establishing the Swan River
Settlement and the new colony of
Western Australia. Things got off to
a bad start for the settlement. Stirling’s
ship, the Parmelia, ran
aground on a sand bar. Stormy
weather forced the settlers to huddle
in rough tents on Garden Island
until better weather arrived.
A tough life
During the first six months of the
colony’s life, the European population
grew rapidly. There was
soon not enough accommodation
or surveyed land for everyone.
Some settlers were so frustrated
they left for the eastern colonies.
Food and money shortages were
even bigger problems. Many
British settlers were not suited to
farming, and they did not know
much about the local climate, with
its floods and droughts. For many
years, food had to be brought into
the colony. The money provided
by the British government to set
up the colony was soon used up in
buying essential supplies, so much
of the colony’s trade had to be
done by barter. There were also
frequent clashes with local Aborigines,
who opposed the settlers
taking over their land.
Life was rough. There was little
machinery, houses were crude
constructions of mud bricks or
timber slabs, and proper medical
attention was hard to find. Despite
16
SOSE ALIVE TOPIC BOOKS
the difficulties, many of the early
settlers worked hard to keep the
colony going. People tried to enjoy
life as best as they could, and held
dances, regattas on the river, picnics,
cricket matches and fishing
trips. However, it soon became
evident that many more workers
were needed if the colony was to
prosper.
Labour solution — convicts
By 1850, the British
government was no
longer sending convicts
to the eastern colonies of
Australia, but happily
agreed to send them
to its colony in the
west. On 1 June
1850, the Scindian
anchored in Cockburn
Sound with
the colony’s first
load of convicts.
Between 1850
and 1868, over 9500
convicts were sent to
Western Australia. They
were soon put to work
building bridges, roads
and public buildings.
Many who held a ticketof-leave
found jobs as
shepherds, farm workers or
tradesmen.
Not all early West Australians
wanted convicts in the colony.
Some blamed the convicts for an
increase in crime. Others were concerned
that convict transportation

meant the colony could not have
an elected government. Some
people in Britain also opposed
transportation. They felt it was
too harsh a punishment, because
the majority of the convicts’
crimes were offences against
Divide a column into
equal sections. Check
your earliest and latest
dates to work out what
these sections should
be (e.g. 1-year, 10-year
or 100-year sections).
Plot key dates, and add
corresponding brief
descriptions.
Use colouring or
brackets to mark any
significant periods on
your timeline. Where
appropriate, use a key.
Add a break if you
need to shorten a long
span of time between
one event and another.
Construct a timeline
1800
property (e.g. stealing goods), and
many transported convicts had
stolen only to feed their families.
The pressure to end transportation
mounted. The last convicts
sent to Western Australia arrived
in 1868.
1820
– 1826 First settlement begins at King George Sound (Albany).
– 1829 Swan River settlement begins.
– 1831 First prison is built at Fremantle.
1840
1880
Popular prison
THE BUILDING SHOWN on the
right is the oldest public
building in Western Australia.
Often called the Roundhouse
(because of its 12 sides), it was built
in 1831 as a prison. After convicts began
arriving in the colony, this eight-cell
prison was found to be much too small to
house them all. The convicts were enlisted
to build a new prison large enough for
about 1000 convicts. It was finished in the
1850s, and is now called the Fremantle
Prison.
Today, both prisons are popular
tourist attractions. The Roundhouse is
Convict era
– 1850 First convicts are sent to WA.
1860
– 1868 Transportation of convicts to WA is stopped.
1900
– 1893 Gold is discovered at Kalgoorlie.
1960
– 1957 Black and white television broadcasting starts in WA.
Some key events in Western Australia’s early history
included on the National Estate, and
Fremantle Prison is listed for inclusion.
Fremantle Prison is also a popular venue
for arts performances.
The Roundhouse, Fremantle
17
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
REMEMBER
1 What problems did the
settlers face on reaching
the Swan River colony in
1829?
2 Why were convicts
introduced to Western
Australia in 1850?
3 Why did the early colonists
often have to barter?
UNDERSTAND
4 List three advantages and
three disadvantages of
introducing convicts to
Western Australia.
5 Why do you think the most
common crimes among
convicts transported to
Western Australia (over
60 per cent of them) were
offences against property?
6 Suggest why the British
government might have used
transportation to a distant
colony as a form of
punishment.
COMMUNICATE
7 Imagine that you are one
of the following people: a
young convict who has
just been sentenced to
transportation to Western
Australia for stealing bread;
an Aboriginal person who
has been driven off tribal
land; or an English settler
coming to terms with his/her
first experience of drought.
Write a diary entry to express
how you feel.
INVESTIGATE
Construct a timeline
8 Referring to other spreads in
this chapter, construct a
timeline that shows six key
dates in Western Australia’s
early history (other than
those shown on the timeline
on this page).
I can:
explain why the Swan River
Colony was set up, and why
convicts were sent there
construct a timeline to show
some important events in the
history of Western Australia.
✓ checklist

Gold! Gold! Gold!
W
HEN TWO prospectors, Bayley and Ford, discovered gold at Coolgardie in 1893,
a mad gold rush began. When Paddy Hannan, another prospector, made an even
bigger find of gold at Kalgoorlie two years later, the colony of Western Australia reached
a fever pitch of excitement.
The discovery of gold at Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie
caused thousands of men to abandon their jobs and
families. They raced to the goldfields, hoping to make
their fortune. Driven by ‘gold fever’, many set out
across the harsh, arid country on foot, risking dying
of thirst or starvation.
Modern artist’s
impression
of a day on
the Kalgoorlie
goldfields
Much of the food
and water on the
goldfields was
brought in by
camel trains.
Miners were mostly lawabiding
people. There were no
police on the goldfields. If a
crime was committed, miners
held a public meeting. If the
accused was found guilty by a
majority, he was banished
from the field.
There were few
amusements other than
drinking and gambling.
Whisky and beer were in
high demand, and poker
and two-up were popular
pastimes.
What little food there
was on the goldfields
cost a lot of money.
Many of the miners,
known as diggers,
ate only porridge,
damper and tinned
meat (called
‘tinned dog’). Water
was difficult to get
and had to be
transported from
the coast.
Washing was a
luxury.
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SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENT FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA 1

Although the following extract was published in 1950, the
woman who wrote it had experienced life on the Coolgardie
goldfields in the late nineteenth century.
... most of the buildings were either stone . . . or corrugated iron. Here was
the stock exchange, where fortunes were made and lost so easily by just
buying and selling script . . . Here were the banks, the town hall, the biggest
hotels, the shops, the Government and Mines offices, clubs, assayers, ore
buyers and the Post and Telegraph Office . . .
Most of the houses, or shacks, were canvas over a wooden framework,
and made so that they could be moved at any time . . . The most original
structures were those made entirely of beaten-out kerosene tins, nailed to a
wooden framework. There were numerous of these: some were quite large
‘restaurants’. One where coffee and ‘hot dogs’ were to be had day and night,
boasted the grand name of ‘London and Paris Cafe’ . . .
The Afghan camp settlement was on the outskirts of the town, and here
sometimes a hundred camels would be loaded up with all sorts of tinned
foods and taken inland beyond the railways.
... overall reigned supreme the great King Dust — a mixture of the desert
sand and the mining ‘dumps’ stirred up and whisked together by those boisterous
‘willy-willys’, and thickly enveloping everything and penetrating
everywhere . . .
The most sadly busy place of all was the hospital — a scattered collection
of odd buildings with no surrounding fence . . . the only water available
was a strong salty water pumped up from the mines and put through
the condensers, and it was just as nasty to taste as it was costly and
scarce . . .
From Scarlet Pillows: An Australian Nurse’s Tale of Long Ago, by Mrs A. H. Garnsey,
Melbourne, 1950, pp 59–65.
Sanitation was very
poor and many miners
died of diseases such
as typhoid and
dysentery.
Miners used horses, camels
and even wheelbarrows to
carry the picks, shovels,
pans, tents, blankets,
waterbags and other items
they required.
Miners had to
cope with high
temperatures,
clouds of red dust,
and thick plagues
of flies.
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA
REMEMBER
1 Where was gold first
discovered in Western
Australia?
2 What dangers did the miners
face in making their way to
the goldfields?
UNDERSTAND
3 Carefully read source B and
complete the following:
(a) What do you think is meant
by ‘buying and selling
script’?
(b) Why were most houses
built so they could be
moved very quickly?
(c) Suggest why the hospital
was the ‘most sadly busy
place of all’.
(d) In 1898 Coolgardie had
26 hotels, three breweries,
14 churches, 60 stores,
schools, several
newspapers, and a
population of more than
32000. Use both sources A
and B to sketch a plan of the
township as you think it may
have looked like at this time.
INVESTIGATE
4 Study source A carefully and
complete the following:
(a) Think of 10 adjectives to
describe a typical miner on
a Kalgoorlie goldfield in
the late 1800s.
(b) In order of difficulty, list
the hardships and
problems that miners on
the goldfields faced.
(c) How was law and order
maintained on the
goldfields?
(d) Find out why camels were
an ideal form of transport
in this region.
(e) List the sounds that you
think someone would have
heard on a goldfield.
✓ checklist
I can:
describe the problems miners
faced on the goldfields
draw a plan of a goldrush town
analyse a text extract and an
illustration to reach conclusions
about the state’s gold rush days.

Enter the twentieth century
O
N 1 JANUARY 1901, the six Australian colonies joined together to form the
Commonwealth of Australia. The former colony of Western Australia became the
state of Western Australia, and Perth its capital. Since then, Western Australia has come a
long way, and many changes have taken place. It is likely, though, that the state will
continue to rely on mineral, agricultural and pastoral industries as the basis of its economic
wealth well into this century. Secondary industries and tourism are also expanding.
Turn of the century
The major achievement in the early 1900s was the
building of the Goldfields Water Supply pipeline from
Mundaring, near Perth, to Kalgoorlie. It meant the
people of Kalgoorlie and the surrounding goldfields
now had a plentiful water supply. Without it, much of
the development that occurred along its route or in the
goldfields would never have taken place.
Boom, depression, war
In the 1920s Australia began to move into the
modern world. With the end of World War I in
1918, peace and prosperity returned to the state, and
much of what we take for granted today — films, air
and road transport, improved communication —
began to be developed.
In 1921 the first air link between Perth and the
state’s north-west was established. Regular flights
between Perth and Adelaide were also operating by
the end of the decade. In a state as big as Western
Australia, air travel was quickly accepted as a fast
and efficient way of transporting goods and people.
For many at this time, it was a period of limitless
opportunity.
The Goldfields
Water Supply
pipeline was
planned by the
Irish-born engineer
C. Y. O’Connor
and opened on
23 January 1903
by the Premier and
former explorer Sir
John Forrest.
The 1929 stock market crash in
New York ended the optimism
and prosperity of the 1920s.
Soon the state was hit by the
worldwide economic slump of
the 1930s, known as the Great
Depression. Wages were
slashed, unemployment rose
and many men left their families
to try and find work. Only
handouts from charities kept
many families from starvation.
Motor cars, such as the Model T Ford, became more
common during the 1920s. Families began taking trips
to the beach, and the ‘flicks’ (as films were called)
became a popular entertainment.
This cumbersome gas conversion
was made because of the shortage of
petrol during World War II. Food and
clothing were also rationed.
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Post-war prosperity
After the end of World War II, immigration recommenced almost
immediately. Before the war most immigrants had been British, but now
Italians, Yugoslavs, Greeks and other Europeans arrived, seeking a better
life. Western Australia became more cosmopolitan as the migrants
introduced new cultures, foods, sports and traditions to the state.
By the early 1960s the state was having another economic boom.
Money was coming in from overseas investors eager to invest in the
state’s mineral industry. The inflow of money resulted in a tremendous
increase in living standards. The state developed one of the
highest home-ownership rates in the country.
Black and white television was introduced in 1959, with Channel 7
and the ABC broadcasting local, British and American programs.
Television brought the world closer, and changed the entertainment
pattern for most people. Along with television came the telephone,
which was in most family homes by the end of the 1960s.
In February 1987 the America’s Cup came to Fremantle. This gave
Western Australia sudden international exposure and also stimulated
development. By now computers, fax machines, cheaper flights and a
better transport system were making the state feel less isolated.
After World War II, more families relied
on the motor car, which had a major
effect on lifestyle. Service stations
sprang up in every suburb and more
land was used for freeways and car
parks. Workers could now use their cars
to commute, so new suburbs sprang up
further away from the city centre. Large
shopping centres with huge car parks
were built to cater for these suburbs.
Immigrants since World War II have
enhanced the state’s multicultural
character. They have also created jobs
and added to economic growth by
enlarging the workforce and increasing
demand for locally made goods.
21
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
REMEMBER
1 What was the major
achievement in Western
Australia in the first decade of
the twentieth century?
2 Why was the introduction of
television such an important
event for Western Australia?
3 What impact did the motor car
have on the state’s residents in
the 1920s and 1930s?
COMMUNICATE
4 Working in groups, select (with
your teacher’s guidance) a
decade from the twentieth
century that would you like to
research. Prepare a lesson that
you will give to the rest of the
class, illustrating the main
features and achievements of
that period in Western
Australia’s history. Use charts,
maps, music, photographs and
other material in your lesson.
5 Conduct a survey to find out the
origins of all students in your
class. On a large map of the
world, colour red and name
the country of origin of each
student. List as many
contributions as you can that
these cultures have made to
Western Australia.
CREATE
6 Use materials from old
newspapers and magazines, the
Internet and other sources to
develop a collage of the Great
Depression and its effect on
Western Australia. Fill in any
blank spaces on your collage
with relevant newspaper
headlines, quotations and/or
extracts from poems or songs.
Now create a similar collage
that reflects the prosperity of
Western Australia today. Display
your completed collages in the
classroom.
✓ checklist
I can:
describe some of the changes that
have occurred in Western
Australia over the last 100 years
create collages that compare the
Great Depression years with
today’s prosperity.

Check and challenge
OUR REGION, OUR HERITAGE
Key events
1. Check through the spreads in this chapter to
help you match the following dates and key
events. Once you have matched all dates and
events, arrange the matches in chronological
order and use this information to construct a
timeline of Western Australian history.
DATES
1895, 1644, 1826, 1959, 1792, 1850, 1929,
1829, 1987, 1903, 1918 (pp. 13, 16, 17, 18,
20, 21)
KEY EVENTS
• New York stock market crashes
• Goldfields Water Supply scheme completed
• First settlement begins at King George Sound
• Unsuccessful defence of America’s Cup off
Fremantle
• Captain D’Entrecasteaux explores the
Albany area
• The first convicts brought to Western Australia
• ABC begins television broadcasts in
Western Australia
• Gold found at Kalgoorlie
• Colony of Western Australia and Swan River
Settlement established
• World War I ends
• Abel Tasman charts much of the western
and northern coasts of Australia
Geography
2. What are the main parts or regions into which
Western Australia is divided? Make brief notes on
the main characteristics of each and use this information
to help you write a brief report entitled
‘The Wonders of Western Australia’. (pp. 2–3)
3. Why does most of Western Australia experience
a desert climate? (pp. 4–5)
4. What are five major mineral resources found in
Western Australia? Where are they located and
how are they used? (pp. 10–11)
5. Explain why Western Australia does not have
any very high mountains or mountain ranges.
(p. 2)
6. Using an atlas, calculate the approximate length
of the Western Australia’s coastline. What problems
does the length of its coastline pose for the
state? Are there any benefits?
Then and now
7. If it were possible to go back in time, what do you
think an Aboriginal teenager living today in Perth
might have to say to one of his or her Aboriginal
ancestors living in the region about 300 years ago.
Roleplay the conversation.
8. Carefully study the two photographs below.
They are both shots of a city street in Perth, the
first in 1899, and the second in more recent
years. Find as many points of difference as you
can that demonstrate change over time.
Perth street in 1899
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Perth street today

Dryland salinity: the
cancer of Western
Australian farming
9. ‘White Death’ and ‘Ghost Plague’ are terms we
are more likely to associate with horror stories
than with possible future effects of the chemical
problem of salinity. Yet words like these are
being used by scientific bodies to raise awareness
of the problem. It has been estimated that about
1.8 million hectares of land are affected by
salinity in Western Australia, but this could
treble unless action is taken. The salt originally
came from the ocean. Prevailing winds carry salt
inland, where it is deposited by rainfall and dust.
In a healthy environment, the salt moves down
through the soil below the root zone of plants.
The problem of saline soils developed with the
arrival of European farming practices. Settlers
cleared the land of its deep-rooted native vegetation,
replacing it with shallow-rooted crops
and grasses. This practice allows more rainwater
to filter down and increase the level of the water
table. As the water table rises, it brings salt nearer
to the surface. High evaporation in summer leads
to an increase in salts in the upper layers of the
soil. Sometimes salty water collects in low-lying
areas, creating ‘salt scalds’.
Western Australia has developed a salinity action
plan to help solve the most severe salinity problems.
The plan aims to plant three million hectares
of trees over the next 30 years in combination with
better water management practices. One expensive
water management practice has been the use of
pumps and deep drains to lower the water table.
Planting salt tolerant vegetation has also had some
success. Salinity is preventable and even reversible
but turning back the tide will take coordinated
action from farmers, the government and local
communities.
(a) What is dry land salinity? What are its
effects?
(b) When does salt in the soil become a
problem?
(c) Explain why the replacement of natural vegetation
with crops such as wheat results in
rising water tables.
(d) How can the salinity problem be managed?
Why is there a need for a coordinated
approach?
(e) It has been suggested at various times that
the government should impose an extra tax
on all people in Western Australia to raise
funds to fight salinity. Do you think this is
fair? Do you think people living in cities
should also pay the tax? Why?
10. Undertake library and Internet research to investigate
the nature of land degradation affecting
Western Australia. What is the extent of the
problem? How is the problem being addressed?
Are the solutions practical?
11. Choose one other state of Australia, and research
its salinity problem. Write a brief report comparing
this state with Western Australia.
Salinity in the Western Australian wheatbelt near Bruce Rock
23
WESTERN AUSTRALIA

SUMMARY OF KEY TERMS
axis: a fixed horizontal or vertical line in a
bar or line graph. The plural is axes.
barter: to swap one good for another
rather than use money as the medium
for exchange
buccaneer: another name for a pirate
category 5 cyclone: cyclone that is
extremely dangerous, causes widespread
destruction, and has wind gusts over
280 km/h. Category 5 is the most severe
cyclone rating.
cold front: the sloping surface along
which an advancing mass of cold air
meets a mass of warm, moist air
colony: a settlement of people in a ‘new
land’, which is governed by the country
from which the colonists (settlers) come
commute: to regularly travel long
distances to work
conservationist: someone who
contributes to the management and
preservation of the natural environment
cosmopolitan: describes a place in which
one can find cultural features from all
over the world, and where ideas and
beliefs are less narrow or prejudiced
developer: a person or company who
acquires land for large-scale building
projects
Dreaming: a set of beliefs and stories that
Aboriginal people hold to describe the
Dreamtime — a time in which they
believe the Earth came to have its
present form and when life and nature
began. The Dreamtime is also seen as
connecting with the present.
economic boom: period during which
businesses and individuals are making
money and generally flourishing
financially
ecotourism: nature-based tourism that
involves interpretation of, and
education about, the natural
environment and which is managed in a
way that is ecologically sustainable
environment: the surroundings in a given
area, including natural features such as
landforms, climate and vegetation, and
features created by humans such as roads
and buildings (cultural environment)
erosion: the wearing away of the land by
wind or water or ice
extinct: describes a species that has died
out completely
freehold: describes land that the owner is
entitled to own forever, and does not
have to be given back at the end of
some fixed time period
immigration: the movement of people
from one country into another country
in order to settle there permanently
kinship: a social system based on family
relationships
latitude: distance north or south of the
equator, measured in degrees, minutes
and seconds. On a map, parallel lines of
latitude are drawn every 10˚ north or
south of the equator, which is 0˚.
leasehold: describes land that is owned
by the government and leased out for a
fixed time period, such as 99 years.
Many large grazing properties in
outback Australia are on leasehold land.
Mabo: refers to a case in the High Court
in which Torres Strait Islander Eddie
Mabo claimed title on behalf of his
people to Murray (Mer) Island. The
court decided in favour of him, and
overturned the idea that Australia had
been terra nullius when the British
arrived.
median: the middle number in a
sequence of numbers. For example, 6 is
the median in the sequence 1, 2, 6, 8, 9.
megafauna: giant animals that used to
live in Australia
mesa: a flat-topped hill with a hard
capping of rock on top protecting it
from erosion
monsoon: seasonal wind of the Indian
Ocean that brings a rainy season
native title: land ownership by
indigenous people, established by
traditional use
offshore wind: wind blowing from the
land onto oceans or seas
onshore wind: wind blowing from
oceans or seas onto the land
orographic effect: the effect caused by
mountains forcing air to rise and pass
over them. This brings about heavy rain
on the windward side (orographic
rainfall) and a rain shadow on the
leeward side.
plateau: a large, flat stretch of high land
with steep sides
population density: the average number
of people in a given area, expressed as
the number of people per square
kilometre
population distribution: the way in
which people are spread over an area
pressure system: an area in the
atmosphere that has either high air
pressure or low air pressure. Air pressure
is measured in hectopascals using a
barometer. An area with air pressure
above 1013 hPa is thought of as a highpressure
system (bringing clear, sunny
weather). Anything below 1013 is a
low-pressure system (bringing cloudy
weather, rain or storms).
primary source: source of historical
evidence that existed or was created
during the time period being studied
sacred site: place of spiritual significance
to Aboriginal people
scarp: a steep ridge extending from a
mountain range
silver guilders: Dutch coins from the
eighteenth century
stolen generations: a term used to
describe those Aboriginal children who
were forcibly taken away from their
families in order to bring them up in
white society
sustainable development: development
in which the natural environment is
used commercially without permanent
damage, and without preventing future
generations from using it to meet their
own needs
tectonic plate: one of the slow-moving
plates that make up the Earth’s crust
ticket-of-leave: a ‘licence’ which allowed
convicts in early Australia to live and
work within a particular area until
either their sentence had expired or they
were granted a pardon
tidal range: the average difference in
water level, at a particular coastal place,
between high tide and low tide
water table: the surface or upper limit of
the ground water — water that exists in
the pores and crevices of the rocks
below the Earth’s surface
weathering: the breakdown of rocks
through contact with water, chemicals
or the effects of climate
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