Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Australia is Australia’s largest state, with a land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi), and is also the second-largest subdivision of any country on Earth, surpassed only by the Sakha Republic in eastern Russia, and formerly Northwest Territories in Canada, before the creation of Nunavut. It is also the largest proper subnational entity, being a state rather than a territory or an autonomous region.
Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region in the Australian state of Western Australia, 418 kilometres (260 mi) southeast of Perth, the state capital. The city centre is at the northern edge of Princess Royal Harbour, which is a part of King George Sound. The central business district is bounded by Mount Clarence to the east and Mount Melville to the west. The city is in the local government area of the City of Albany. While it is the oldest colonial, although not European, settlement in Western Australia — predating Perth and Fremantle by over two years — it was a semi-exclave of New South Wales for over four years until it was made part of the Swan River Colony.
Esperance is a town in the Goldfields–Esperance region of Western Australia, on the Southern Ocean coastline approximately 720 kilometres (450 mi) east-southeast of the state capital, Perth and 391 kilometres (243 mi) south of Kalgoorlie. The urban population of Esperance was 12,003 at June 2018. Its major industries are tourism, agriculture, and fishing.
Western Australia (WA) is divided into regions according to a number of systems.
The Wheatbelt is one of nine regions of Western Australia defined as administrative areas for the state's regional development, and a vernacular term for the area converted to agriculture during colonisation. It partially surrounds the Perth metropolitan area, extending north from Perth to the Mid West region, and east to the Goldfields–Esperance region. It is bordered to the south by the South West and Great Southern regions, and to the west by the Indian Ocean, the Perth metropolitan area, and the Peel region. Altogether, it has an area of 154,862 square kilometres (59,793 sq mi).
The Peel region is one of the nine regions of Western Australia. It is located on the west coast of Western Australia, about 75 km (47 mi) south of the state capital, Perth. It consists of the City of Mandurah, and the Shires of Boddington, Murray, Serpentine-Jarrahdale and Waroona.
Albany Highway links Western Australia's capital city Perth with its oldest settlement, Albany, on the state's south coast. The 405-kilometre-long (252 mi) highway travels through the southern Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions, and is designated State Route 30 for most of its length. Outside of Perth the highway is predominately a sealed, single carriageway with regular overtaking lanes in some undulating areas. Albany Highway commences at The Causeway, a river crossing that connects to Perth's central business district. The highway heads south-east through Perth's metropolitan region, bypassed in part by Shepperton Road and Kenwick Link, and continues south-eastwards through to Albany. It intersects several major roads in Perth, including the Leach, Tonkin, Brookton, and South Western highways. The rural section of Albany Highway connects to important regional roads at the few towns and roadhouses along the route, including Coalfields Highway at Arthur River, Great Southern Highway at Cranbrook, and Muirs Highway at Mount Barker.
The Shire of Plantagenet is a local government area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, managed from the town of Mount Barker, 360 kilometres (224 mi) south of Perth and 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of Albany. The shire covers an area of 4,792 square kilometres (1,850 sq mi) and includes the communities of Narrikup, Rocky Gully, Kendenup and Porongurup.
Mount Barker is a town and locality on Albany Highway and the administrative centre of the Shire of Plantagenet in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. At the 2021 census, Mount Barker had a population of 2,855.
Frankland River is a small town and locality in the Shire of Cranbrook, Great Southern region of Western Australia. The town is situated approximately 332.7 km (206.7 mi) from the state's capital, Perth, approximately 120 km (75 mi) north west of Albany, 83 km (52 mi) southwest of Kojonup, 19 km (12 mi) north of Rocky Gully and 90 km (56 mi) east of Manjimup. Frankland derives its name from its location 6 km east of the Frankland River. At the 2006 census, Frankland had a population of 380.
The City of Albany is a local government area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, about 410 kilometres (255 mi) south-southeast of Perth, the capital of Western Australia. It covers an area of 4,312.3 square kilometres (1,665 sq mi), including the Greater Albany metropolitan area and the Port of Albany, as well as the surrounding agricultural district and some national parks. The City of Albany had a population of over 36,000 at the 2016 census.
The Shire of Cranbrook is a local government area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, about 92 kilometres (57 mi) north of Albany and about 320 kilometres (200 mi) south-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of 3,277 square kilometres (1,265 sq mi), and its seat of government is the town of Cranbrook.
The Kalgan River is a river in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.
The King River is a river in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.
The south coast of Western Australia comprises the Western Australian coastline from Cape Leeuwin to Eucla. This is a distance of approximately 1,600 kilometres (1,000 mi), fronting the Great Australian Bight and the Southern Ocean.
Kendenup is a small town and locality in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, within the Shire of Plantagenet. It is known for its view of Porongurup Range and the Stirling Range. It is 345 kilometres (214 mi) south east of Perth and 22 kilometres (14 mi) north of Mount Barker. The Great Southern Railway passes through the town, being one of the original stations on the line. At the 2006 census, Kendenup had a population of 1,290.
Kalgan is a small town and locality of the City of Albany in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. The South Coast Highway runs through the locality from west to east. The western part of Gull Rock National Park is located within Kalgan. The town is situated on the banks of the Kalgan River and was first known as Kalganup which means "place of first camp" or "place of many waters". Indigenous Australians used the area as a meeting place up to 19,000 years ago. The name was first recorded in 1831, when explorer Alexander Collie charted the area.
Miaritch/Oyster Harbouris a permanently open estuary, north of King George Sound, which covers an area of 15.6 square kilometres (6 sq mi) near Albany, Western Australia. The harbour is used to shelter a fishing fleet carrying out commercial fishing and the farming of oysters and mussels via a dredged channel around Emu Point to the Emu Point Boat Pens. A significant number of waterbirds use the harbour for feeding. The place is currently a family tourist center. Oyster Harbour is fed by the King and Kalgan Rivers and discharges into King George Sound.
Gledhow is a town and western suburb of Albany in southern Western Australia. Its local government area is the City of Albany. The suburb has a median age of 38.
