Useful linksFast facts about Perth
Airport
Perth Airport is approximately 18km from the city centre. There are 13 international, four domestic and ten regional airlines that operate at Perth Airport - connecting you to over 50 destinations around Australia and overseas.
Business hours
Normal business hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Many food stores and delicatessens are open until as late as 9:00pm from Monday to Sunday. Most shopping centres and stores are open on Saturday, with Perth’s city centre also open on Sunday.
Climate
Perth has a Mediterranean climate with an average rainfall of 800mm per year:
| Summer (Dec-Feb) is hot/dry | Av. Temp: | 29oC (day) | 17oC (night) |
| Winter (Jun-Aug) is mild/wet | Av. Temp: | 18oC (day) | 9oC (night) |
Clothing
Australians tend to dress causally. However you may be asked to dress more formally if you work or are invited to a function.
Credit cards
All major credit cards are accepted in Western Australia. The most common are Visa, MasterCard, Bankcard, American Express and Diners Club.
Currency
The Australian Dollar (AUD) comes in denominations of $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5 notes, and $2, $1, 50¢, 20¢, 10¢ and 5¢ coins.
Electricity
The normal current is 220-240 volts AC; 50Hz. The three pin power outlet is different from many countries including Asia. It is recommended that you look for an Australian adaptor socket.
Ethnic groups
At the 2006 Australian Census, 27.14% of Western Australia’s total population were migrants. The largest migrant groups (by percentage of total WA population) were:
| British (10.6%) | New Zealand (2.4%) | South African (1.1%) | Italian (1.1%) |
| Malaysian (1.0%) | Indian (0.8%) | Singaporean (0.6%) | Vietnam (0.5%) |
| Netherlands (0.5%) | Germany (0.5%) |
Geography
Perth is in the south-western region of Western Australia. The city centre is situated along the banks of the Swan River, between the Darling Ranges and the Indian Ocean.
Government
Australia became a member of the British Commonwealth in 1901 and is a democratic federal state system. Three bodies established by the Australian Constitution - Parliament (legislative), Commonwealth Executive (executive) and Federal Judicature (judicial powers) - make Australia a constitutional monarchy, a federation and a parliamentary democracy.
Health risks
The sun is very intense. Hats, sunglasses and sunscreen are recommended even on cloudy days.
Languages
English is Australia's official language. However, because of the European and Asian immigrant population there are a wide range of other languages being spoken such as Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Malay and Vietnamese.
Population
| Australia: | 21.54 million |
| Western Australia: | 2.19 million |
| Perth: | 1.60 million |
Public holidays
Western Australia has 10 public holidays per year - most of which commemorate landmark Australian historic events or religious celebrations. Should a State holiday fall on a weekend, the public holiday is taken on the first following working day.
|
Event |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
New Year’s Day (01 Jan) |
1 Jan |
3 Jan |
2 Jan |
1 Jan |
|
Australia Day (26 Jan) |
26 Jan |
26 Jan |
26 Jan |
28 Jan |
|
Labour Day |
1 Mar |
7 Mar |
5 Mar |
4 Mar |
|
Good Friday |
2 Apr |
22 Apr |
6 Apr |
29 Mar |
|
Easter Monday |
5 Apr |
25 Apr |
9 Apr |
1 Apr |
|
Anzac Day (25 Apr) |
26 Apr |
26 Apr |
25 Apr |
25 Apr |
|
Foundation Day |
7 Jun |
6 Jun |
4 Jun |
3 Jun |
|
Queen’s Birthday |
27 Sep |
28 Oct |
1 Oct |
30 Sep |
|
Christmas Day (25 Dec) |
27 Dec |
26 Dec |
25 Dec |
25 Dec |
|
Boxing Day (26 Dec) |
28 Dec |
27 Dec |
26 Dec |
26 Dec |
Public school term dates
The following term dates are for Western Australia’s government primary and secondary schools only. These dates may differ from the State’s private schools, as well as from schools in other Australian states or territories.
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 | |
|
Term 1 |
1 Feb - 1 Apr |
2 Feb - 19 Apr |
1 Feb - 5 Apr |
4 Feb - 19 Apr |
|
Term 2 |
19 Apr - 2 Jul |
5 May - 8 Jul |
23 Apr - 6 Jul |
6 May - 5 Jul |
|
Term 3 |
19 Jul - 24 Sep |
25 Jul - 30 Sep |
23 Jul - 28 Sep |
22 Jul - 27 Sep |
|
Term 4 |
11 Oct - 16 Dec |
17 Oct - 15 Dec |
15 Oct - 18 Dec |
14 Oct - 19 Dec |
Religion
Catholicism has the largest share of the population (27.39%). The other major religions in Western Australia are:
| Anglican (23.64%) | Buddhism (2.03%) | Eastern Orthodox (1.48%) | Islam (1.43%) |
| Hinduism (0.48%) | Judaism (0.31%) | No Religion (26.47%) | Other (16.77%) |
Time zone
Perth’s local time is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
Tipping
It is not customary to tip in Perth. However, many locals still like to give between a five to 10 per cent tip at restaurants and cafes. A tip for taxi drivers can be done by rounding up the fare to the nearest dollar.
Visas
If you travel to Perth (and do not hold an Australian or New Zealand passport) you must carry a valid passport and a visa.
An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is equivalent to a visa, but there is no stamp or label in your passport and there is no need to visit an Australian diplomatic office to submit an application. Applications for ETAs can be submitted through travel agents or airlines and are available to those holding Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea or United States passports.
