PERTH Perth is the capital of of Western Australia. A population of 1,477,800 (2005 est.) makes Perth the largest city in WA and home to 3/4 of the state's populace. The city is experiencing record growth and is also the fourth most populous urban area in Australia – but also one of the most isolated cities in the world. The site that is now Perth was occupied by groups of the Nyoongar tribe for thousands of years The first European to observe the Perth area was the Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh who sailed along the southwest coast of Australia in 1697 and named Swan River after seeing the large flocks of black swans. Despite Australia's convict past, Perth was founded in 1829 by Captain James Stirling as the political centre of the free settler Swan River Colony. Stirling named the settlement after the Scottish City. Perth was established as an important trade centre. City has continued to function as the seat of Government for WA to the present day.The metropolitan area is positioned in the south west of the continent between the Indian Ocean and Darling Range. The central business district and suburbs of Perth are situated on the Swan River. Weather: Perth summers are hot and dry. Summer lasts from late December to late February, with February normally being the hottest month of the year. Winters are cool and humid, though winter rainfall has been declining in recent years. This is an example of a Mediterranean climate. Even in winter, maximum daytime temperatures only occasionally fall below 16 C.   Population: 1,477,800 (4th) Density: 274.4/km Established: 1829 Area: 5,386 km State District: Perth Federal Division: Perth   Tourist attractions   Perth Zoo Aquarium of Western Australia Caversham Wildlife Park Adventure World Kings Park  Swan Bells The Old Mill Swan Valley Burswood Casino   Fremantle - (Fremantle Prison, Fremantle Markets)  Rottnest Island Penguin Island Cottesloe Beach Museums Western Australian Museum Western Australian Maritime Museum  Fire Safety Education Centre & Museum The Perth Mint WA Medical Museum Museum of Performing Arts The Old Mill E de C Clarke Earth Science Museum Francis Burt Law Museum    Galleries Art Gallery of Western Australia   Australian Woodcraft Galleries Creative Native Gallery 360 Gallery East Gecko Gallery Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery Peach Tree Gallery The Church Gallery Trowbridge Gallery   Festivals and Events   January Revelation Perth International Film Festival Perth International Arts Festival (January/February) Moonlight Cinema (January-March)   February SPLIF Festival Perth Fringe Festival Rockingham Spring Festival Big Day Out   March Channel 7 Crab Fest Stuffit'07 - International Festival of Taxidermy   April Fremantle Street Arts Festival Prosh   May Fremantle Festival Fremantle Heritage Festival   June WA Food & Wine Festival   August Perth Royal Show Youth Alive Adrenalin Festival   September Perth Fashion Festival Kings Park and Botanical Gardens Wildflower Festival (September/October)   October Spring in The Valley Festival   November UWA's Annual Spring Festival Red Bull Air Race Where to shop  King Street is the boutique street for shopping in Perth city. The famous Fremantle Markets: There are many small shops from jewelry and music to clothing, arts and crafts, and souvenirs. Fremantle Markets are open every weekend and public holidays and are situated next to the Sail and Anchor pub and brewery on South Terrace. The two main shopping malls in Perth are the Murray and Hay Street malls. Both of the streets are closed to traffic. Subiaco is the center of style; a contemporary, trendy place with a certain old-world charm. Subiaco is one of Perths most stylish and cosmopolitan suburbs, just 5 kilometers west of the city. It is home to a number of smart apartments and offices and one of Western Australia's finest fashion and restaurant scenes.  Sorrento Quay - Hillarys Boat Harbour is located on the Sunset Coast only 20 min. from Perth City and only 45 min. from Perths Domestic and International Airports. All-season coastal leisure and dining complex and a major tourist centre for shopping and recreation in the northern suburbs.   Accommodation   5 star hotels   Duxton Hotel Perth 1 St George's Terrace Perth WA 6000 Australia Telephone : 61 8 9261 8000 Facsimile : 61 8 9261 8020 Freecall Reservation : 1800 681 118   Medina Grand Perth 33 Mounts Bay Road Perth WA 6000 Tel: 61 8 9217 8000 Fax: 61 8 9217 8199 Email: mgpc@medina.com.au Reservations:1300 MEDINA (1300 633 462)   Rendezvous Observation City Hotel Perth The Esplanade Scarborough WA 6019 Tel:  61 8 9245 1000 Fax: 61 8 9245 1345 Email: reservations@rendezvous.com.au   Sheraton Perth Hotel 207 Adelaide Terrace Perth WA 6000 Phone: (61)(8) 9224 7777   4.5 star hotels   Pacific International Suites 297 - 305 Murray Street  Perth WA 6000   Seasons Of Perth 37 Pier Street  Perth WA 6000   Rydges Hotel Perth Corner Hay and King Streets  Perth WA 6000   4 star hotels   Chifley on The Terrace 185 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 Mounts Bay Waters Apartment 112 Mounts Bay Road  Perth Mount Bay Village WA 6000 Emerald Hotel 24 Mount Street Perth WA 6000 Travelodge Hotel 417 Hay Street Perth WA 6000 Saville Park Suites Perth 201 Hay Street  Perth WA 6000 Hotel Grand Chancellor Perth 707 Wellington Street Perth WA 6000   3.5 star hotels   Sullivans Hotel Perth 166 Mounts Bay Road  Perth WA 6000 Criterion Hotel Perth 560 Hay Street  Perth WA 6000 Kings Perth Hotel (The) 517 Hay Street (CNR Pier Street)  Perth WA 6000 Metro Hotel Perth 61 Canning Highway  South Perth WA Miss Maud Swedish Hotel Perth 97 Murray Street  Perth WA 6000   Aarons Hotel Perth 70 Pier Street Corner Murray  Perth WA 6000 Hotel Ibis Perth 334 Murray Street  Perth WA 6000   3 star hotels   City Waters Perth 118 Terrace Road  Perth WA 6000   Backpackers   Billabong Backpackers Resort 381 Beaufort Street  Northbridge Perth WA 6001 Globe Backpackers 561 Wellington Street  Perth WA 6000     Restaurants Cafe Il Porto Fishing Boat Harbour/47 Mews Road, Fremantle Shun Fung On The River Old Perth Port Barrack Square, Perth The Oyster Bar, Black Tom's 27 Ord Street, West Perth Himali Gurkha Nepalese Restaurant 17 Kearns Crescent, Applecross Garcia's Mexican Restaurant Unit 13/Hepburn Heights Shopping Centre Blackwattle Parade, Padbury Thailand Restaurant 171 James, Northbridge Sebastian's 851 Albany Highway, East Victoria Park The New Orleans 157 James St, Northbridge, Perth The Oyster Bar at Mead's Mosman Bay 15 Johnson Parade, Mosman Park Saowanee's Place Thai Restaurant 348 Fitzgerald Street, North Perth Jimmy Deans Diner Scarborough The Esplanade Crescent, Scarborough Frarri Cafe 93 Market St, Fremantle The Moon Shop 3/323 William Street, North Beach     Czech and Slovak Community in WA:  http://krajane.radio.cz/en/societies_detail/6    Links:   www.cityofperth.wa.gov.au www.perthtouristcentre.com.au/index.html