Western Australia stretches along the entire west coast of the country, where the sun sets over the Indian Ocean. Despite its distance from the rest of Australia, the state is home to some of the country’s strongest mining and agricultural industries. At the same time, WA offers unique lifestyle and leisure experiences, including excellent wine regions, a pink salt lake and Australia’s largest truffle-growing region. Western Australia is filled with surprises.
Western Australia At a Glance
Western Australia is Australia’s largest state by land area, covering the entire west coast of the country. Despite making up around one third of Australia’s landmass, it is very sparsely populated, with fewer than one person per square kilometre.
Population
Western Australia is home to almost 2.8 million Australians. Of these, almost 2.5 million live in the state capital Perth. Of all the states of Australia, Western Australia has the highest percentage living in its capital city. The population of the state is growing steadily, with Perth experiencing almost 5% growth in recent years.
Main Regions
These are some of Western Australia’s best-known regions:
Perth
The capital city is located on the western coast towards the south. It is the main hub for many Western Australian exports. Perth has many sandy beaches and parks, and has become a diverse cultural hub of Western Australia. Perth is located on the Swan River, providing many water sports, riverside homes, and great scenery along its walking tracks.
Great Southern Region and Goldfields
The southern part of the state is broad, filled with history and excitement. Walk the many majestic south coast bushwalking tracks or enjoy the south coast wineries. Further inland you can enjoy the rich history of Australia’s wheat growing region and gold rush towns. There are also many natural wonders from whale watching, to the popular Pink Lake that is naturally the colour pink.
Wheatbelt
Western Australia is home to one of the largest wheat producing regions in Australia. This expansive area offers many opportunities for employment in Australian food production, and is also rich in character and history associated with growing the crop in this very harsh terrain.
Southwest
The southwest tip of the state offers a comfortable climate for growing conditions. It also Includes beautiful coast lines and national parks. This area is also fertile for horticulture including growing truffles, and home to the Margaret River wine region.
Pilbara
The Pilbara is not only home to spectacular landscapes and national parks for visitors and nature lovers. It is also a temporary base for many workers in the mining sector, who fly in and fly out for their work rotations, commonly known as FIFO. The Pilbara is a major hub of Australia’s mining sector and an important part of the national economy. The region offers financially rewarding employment opportunities, often without needing to relocate there permanently.
The Kimberley
The Kimberley is rugged and remote in its own right. Despite covering an area around three times the size of England, fewer than 40,000 people live here. The region is known for tourism experiences such as cruises, helicopter flights and the 660 km four-wheel-drive route, the Gibb River Road. The regional hub is Broome, with around 14,000 residents.
Climate
The state covers the entire Western side of the country, and as a result has a very diverse climate. The northern part of the state has a distinctly tropical climate, with hot temperatures and high humidity during the wet season. The southern part has a more Mediterranean-style climate and is generally more temperate. Summers in the south are generally hot and dry while winters can be cool and crisp.
Lifestyle
From Perth’s city energy to the relaxed pace of life in the state’s more remote and sparsely populated areas, WA offers a lifestyle to suit many different preferences.
Sports
As across Australia, sport plays a big role in WA. Popular codes include cricket, Australian rules football, soccer, field hockey and netball. Optus Stadium in Perth hosts major events across multiple sports, including cricket, AFL, soccer and rugby.
Cuisine
WA’s food culture is shaped by the Indian Ocean and the state’s productive farming regions. Seafood such as lobster, barramundi, crabs and scallops features prominently, alongside a wide range of local meat and crops. In recent years, WA has also become known for truffles — around 80% of Australia’s truffles are grown here.
Beverages
Western Australia is known for both beer brewing and wine production. The state has two popular lagers of its own with Emu Export and Swan Draught. Western Australia is also where the iconic Little Creatures and Matilda Bay craft breweries began. The Margaret River wine region produces some of the nation’s finest cabernet sauvignon, semillon, and sauvignon blanc.
Cost of Living
Compared with Sydney, overall purchasing power in Perth is higher. While salaries in WA outside the mining sector can be lower in direct comparison, housing is far more affordable, rents and property prices are often around half of those in Australia’s largest city. When the above-average wages paid in mining are taken into account, WA’s overall income level sits above the national average.
As in other parts of Australia, property prices in WA have risen over the past two years. Even so, housing remains noticeably more affordable in comparison and Perth has the second-lowest property price level of all Australian capital cities, after Darwin.
In June 2022, the median house price in Perth was around A$583,000, and the median unit price around A$410,000. Outside Perth, prices vary widely. In some parts of WA, houses can be found for A$200,000 to A$300,000, while in in-demand towns such as Busselton and Broome, prices can be significantly higher.
Main Places of Interest
There is plenty to see and explore in Western Australia. This diverse state offers a wide range of attractions for locals and visitors alike.
Kings Park and Botanic Gardens
Kings Park and the Botanic Garden in central Perth is impressive year-round. It is ideal for a walk, with opportunities to enjoy native plant life and wildlife, explore the park at your own pace and relax along the way. The park also has several cafés, as well as memorials reflecting Australia’s colonial history and Aboriginal heritage. Kings Park also hosts events across the year.
Rottnest Island
Known locally as ‘Rotto’, this car-free island sits around 19 km off Perth’s coast and is an easy ferry trip from the city. With kilometres of white-sand beaches and turquoise bays, it’s a favourite spot to explore on foot or by bike. It is also home to one of Australia’s most famous and famously friendly marsupials: the quokka.
Wave Rock
Although Western Australian terrain is largely flat, the state is actually home to many caves and interesting rock formations. Over 100 metres long and 15 metres high, Wave Rock is a granite formation that looks like a wave in the ocean. A visit to this rock formation in the middle of WA’s Wheatbelt is well worth it, and the trip also offers a chance to learn more about Australia’s agricultural heritage.
Optus Stadium
Australia has a love of sport, and the Optus Stadium offers many opportunities to enjoy Australian pastimes. Optus Stadium offers the chance to experience major Australian sporting events throughout the year, including cricket, Australian rules football, soccer and rugby. Being part of the crowd in this setting is a classic Australian sporting experience.
Margaret River
The Southwest region of the state is home to some of the finest produce grown in the country. In addition to the region’s well-known wines, Margaret River offers both sweet and savoury produce, with something for almost every taste. The region is also known for high-quality local food, including dairy and meat products from the far south-west of the continent.
National ANZAC Centre, Albany
In 1914, 30,000 Australian and New Zealand troops departed from the port of Albany in Western Australia for Gallipoli. Marking the anniversary of these troops landing on Gallipoli, ANZAC day is celebrated in Australia each year. The National ANZAC Centre in Albany commemorates their experiences in a world-class historical facility.
Broome
The coastal town of Broome in the Kimberley region is known not only for its beaches – including the famous Cable Beach – but also as the starting point for a wide range of activities in the region, such as visiting pearl farms, joining outback tours, taking scenic flights and much more. You can also visit the Horizontal Falls, often described as the world’s only horizontal waterfalls.
Main Industries
Given its size, geography and diversity, Western Australia is home to a broad range of industries and employment opportunities.
Mining and Resources
The economy of Western Australia is largely dominated by the natural resources and minerals that can be extracted from the vast land. Iron ore, gold, natural gas, and diamonds are all mined in Western Australia.
Agriculture
Western Australia is one of the country’s main cropping regions, producing much of Australia’s wheat, barley and other grains such as canola and lupins. Livestock farming is also strongly represented, with significant lamb and beef production. Seafood is another important part of the state’s primary industries.
Manufacturing
Western Australia is also an important centre for processing and value-adding in both mining and agriculture. Metal production and shipbuilding are significant industries, alongside businesses that support agricultural production before and after the farm gate.
Tourism
As time goes on, the western side of Australia is becoming a stronger tourist destination. Both international and domestic tourists are taking the opportunity to indulge in the natural wonders.
Education
As in other Australian states, education is offered through both public and private institutions. Homeschooling is also not uncommon, particularly given WA’s low population density and the remoteness of some communities. WA is well positioned in higher education too: Perth is home to five universities, with campuses and satellite locations spread across the state. Perth has also become a popular choice for international students, thanks to a wide range of courses and comparatively lower living costs.
Fun Facts about Western Australia
- In the 1930s, Australia officially declared war with Australia’s national bird (the emu) who was ruining crops in Western Australia. Australia lost the war.
- Perth is the most isolated city in the world. Geographically, the next closest city is Adelaide which is 2,200 kilometres away.
- If Western Australia became its own country, it would be in the top ten largest countries by land mass.
- Western Australia is home to the southern hemisphere’s longest wooden jetty; Busselton Jetty is 1.8 kilometres long.
- King’s Park in Perth is the largest city park in the world.
Top Five Reasons to Live in Western Australia
- Affordability. Lower living costs compared with many other parts of Australia can support a strong standard of living.
- Laid-back mindset. WA’s distance and sense of space contribute to a relaxed, easy-going attitude.
- Climate. The Mediterranean climate in the southern part of Western Australia offers an appealing mix of warm, dry summers and cooler winters.
- International travel. Perth is closer to Jakarta and Singapore than to Canberra. It also offers the shortest travel time to Europe from Australia, with direct flights to London available.
- Adventure. There is so much to explore, both on land and on the water. Western Australia is ideal for outdoor adventure seekers.
Closing Thoughts
Western Australia offers a great combination of factors that make for an ideal place to live. Perth is a world class city with stunning architecture and excellent infrastructure. Drive only fifteen minutes, however, and you can find yourself surrounded by Western Australia’s striking natural landscapes. Whether you are drawn to the coast, a busy city lifestyle or the quiet countryside, Western Australia offers the chance to combine all three, with some of Australia’s wildest places right on your doorstep.
Visa options for Western Australia
State Nominated Visa
For a long time, Western Australia’s General Skilled Migration program focused strictly on applicants who were already working in Western Australia or had completed their studies there. Direct state nomination pathways for migrants applying from overseas and without an existing residence in WA were very limited. Following an announcement by the Western Australian Government, this is now set to change due to significant skills shortages. For the 2022/2023 program year, applicants outside Australia are once again to be considered for state nomination. The occupation lists are also to be significantly expanded, creating more pathways for all those who would like to make Western Australia their new home.
Regional Visa
For skilled visas, the entire state of Western Australia – including Perth – is classified as “regional”. This means you can use any of the regional visa subclasses to live and work anywhere in Western Australia, without restriction.
You can find general information on Australian skilled visas here.
DAMA
Western Australia currently has several DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreement) arrangements in place, covering the regions of East Kimberley, Pilbara, South West and The Goldfields. These agreements give potential migrants with occupations that do not normally appear on the Australian skilled occupation lists – for example waiter, bar supervisor or truck driver – a pathway to a work visa. You can find more information about the DAMAs in our blog article.
What could your pathway to a visa look like?
There are different ways to turn the dream of living and working in Australia into reality. The key is choosing the strategy that brings you closest to your goal – in other words, the visa option that offers the best prospects in your individual situation. Each visa subclass comes with its own set of requirements and is linked to specific rights and conditions. The best approach will always depend on your personal circumstances.
That is why it is important to approach your Australian visa pathway in a structured way and clarify the key requirements in advance, so you can avoid problems during the application process. Visapath Australia is happy to help you map out your roadmap to an Australian work visa. We advise you on the different options and support you step by step along the way.
