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Western Australia occupies roughly one-third of the Australian continent and is the most isolated region of the country from the major cultural centres of the east. The elevation of most of Western Australia is 1,001-2,000 feet, with the physical feature being the Western Plateau. The north of Western Australia contains some isolated mountain ranges such as the King Leopold and Hamersley ranges. The land is extremely eroded and ancient, with no part of the state above 1,249 metres (4,098 ft) above sea level. Most of the state is a low plateau with an average elevation of about 400 metres (1,200 ft).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Elevation of most of Western Australia | 1,001-2,000 ft or 300-600 m |
| Average elevation of Australia | 330 m |
| Highest point in Western Australia | 1,249 m or 4,098 ft at Mount Meharry in the Hamersley Range |
| Highest temperature recorded | 50.7 °C or 123.3 °F in Onslow |
| Lowest temperature recorded | −7.2 °C or 19.0 °F at Eyre Bird Observatory |
| Population (2021) | 2,660,026 |
| Area | 976,790 sq mi or 2,529,875 sq km |
| Landscape | Broad plateaus, mountain ranges, and deserts |
| Vegetation zones | Broadleaf evergreen forest and tropical grassland |
| Climate | Arid and subarid |
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What You'll Learn
Western Plateau: the physical feature of Western Australia
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 northeast, and South Australia to the southeast. Western Australia is Australia's largest state, with a land area of 2,527,013 square kilometres (975,685 sq mi). It is also the second-largest subdivision of any country on Earth. The bulk of Western Australia consists of the extremely old Yilgarn Craton and Pilbara Craton, which merged with the Deccan Plateau of India, Madagascar, and the Kaapvaal and Zimbabwe Cratons of Southern Africa to form Ur, one of the oldest supercontinents on Earth.
The land in Western Australia is extremely eroded and ancient, with no part of the state above 1,249 metres (4,098 ft) AHD (at Mount Meharry in the Hamersley Range of the Pilbara region). Most of the state is a low plateau with an average elevation of about 400 metres (1,200 ft), very low relief, and no surface runoff. The north of Western Australia contains some isolated ranges such as the King Leopold and Hamersley Ranges. The Darling Range, the Mueller Range, and the southern Eyre Peninsula are remnants of laterite that are widespread in many parts of Western Australia.
The disrupted former drainage system of southwest Western Australia is evident in the remnants of similar old stream networks that occur in the Amadeus depression, on the Nullarbor Plain, and in the Great Victoria Desert. The Precambrian western core area, known geologically as a shield or craton, is subdivided by long, straight, or slightly bowed fractures called lineaments. These fractures delineate prominent rectangular or rhomboidal blocks, some of which have been raised to form uplands, while others have been depressed to form lowlands or topographic basins.
Western Australia has a diverse range of climates, including tropical conditions in the Kimberley, deserts in the interior (including the Great Sandy Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Gibson Desert, and Great Victoria Desert), and a Mediterranean climate in the southwest and southern coastal areas. Snow is rare in the state and typically occurs only in the Stirling Range near Albany, as it is the only mountain range far enough south and sufficiently elevated. More rarely, snow can fall on the nearby Porongurup Range.
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Mountain ranges: King Leopold, Hamersley, and Stirling
Most of Western Australia is a low plateau with an average elevation of about 400 metres (1,200 ft). The highest point in the state is Mount Meharry in the Hamersley Range of the Pilbara region, at 1,249 metres (4,098 ft) above sea level. Western Australia is home to several mountain ranges, including the King Leopold Ranges, the Hamersley Range, and the Stirling Range.
The King Leopold Ranges are located in the Kimberley region of northern Western Australia. They form the southwestern edge of the Kimberley Plateau and extend from Collier Bay southeast for 240 kilometres (150 miles). The ranges average 2,000 feet (600 metres) in height, with the tallest peaks reaching just over 3,000 feet (about 915 metres) at Mounts Ord and Broome. The King Leopold Ranges were named by Alexander Forrest in 1879, after Leopold II, the king of the Belgians.
The Hamersley Range is located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Mount Meharry, the highest peak in Western Australia, is located within this range. The Hamersley Range is known for its ancient geology and is considered one of the oldest landforms on Earth, with evidence of early life forms dating back billions of years.
The Stirling Range is located near Albany in Western Australia. It is the only mountain range in the state that experiences regular snowfall due to its elevation and southern location. The Stirling Range has the tallest peak for a thousand kilometres or more in any direction, known as Bluff Knoll. It is also an important site for endemic mygalomorph spiders, land snails, and native mammals such as the reintroduced numbat. The plains in the Stirling Range region were once hunting grounds for Indigenous Australian tribes, including the Qaaniyan and Koreng people, and the range features prominently in their Dreamtime stories.
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Average elevation: 1,001-2,000 ft or about 400 m
The elevation of most of Western Australia falls within the range of 1,001-2,000 feet or about 400 metres. This elevation characterizes the Western Plateau, which forms the bulk of the state. Western Australia consists primarily of broad plateaus interspersed with mountain ranges, such as the isolated King Leopold and Hamersley ranges in the north. The land is ancient and highly eroded, with no part of the state exceeding 1,249 metres (4,098 feet) in elevation, found at Mount Meharry in the Hamersley Range of the Pilbara region.
The Western Plateau, or Yilgarn Craton, is an extremely old geological feature that merged with other cratons to form Ur, one of the oldest supercontinents. This stable granite-gneiss shield area has been subjected to weathering processes for approximately 250 million years, resulting in its gently undulating plateau landscape. The Yilgarn Craton extends from 1,000 to 2,000 feet (300 to 600 metres) above sea level, with its highest point in the Stirling Range reaching 3,596 feet (1,096 metres).
The average elevation of Western Australia, at about 400 metres (1,200 feet), is higher than the average elevation of the entire Australian continent, which stands at only 330 metres. This relatively low elevation contributes to the arid climate experienced by much of the country. The low-lying nature of the land also means that surface runoff is rare, and rivers tend to be ephemeral, flowing only after rainfall.
The elevation range of 1,001-2,000 feet captures the varied topography of Western Australia, from the rolling hills of the Yilgarn Craton to the isolated mountain ranges in the north. This elevation range is indicative of the vast and ancient landscapes that characterize Western Australia, offering a window into the geological history of the continent and the processes that have shaped it over millions of years.
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Yilgarn Craton: an ancient, extremely eroded land
Western Australia is mostly low-lying, with an average elevation of around 400 metres (1,200 ft). The bulk of the region consists of the ancient Yilgarn Craton, which merged with other cratons to form Ur, one of the oldest supercontinents on Earth around 3–3.2 billion years ago. This land is extremely eroded and ancient, with no part of the state above 1,249 metres (4,098 ft) above sea level.
The Yilgarn Craton is a large structure that makes up a significant portion of Western Australia. It is composed of a variety of terrains, including sedimentary basins, Proterozoic fold and thrust belts, and granite-gneiss metamorphic terrain. The craton is home to the Murchison Province, which contains the Yarrabubba impact structure, previously considered the oldest meteorite impact crater at over 2 billion years old. The Yilgarn Craton itself is estimated to be even older, with some zircon grains in the Jack Hills dated at around 4.27 billion years, and one detrital zircon dated at 4.4 billion years.
The Yilgarn Craton has a generally flat topography, with minimal to no glaciation, resulting in comparatively minor erosion. However, the regolith, or weathered rock material, is extremely deep, with some areas completely converted to saprolite up to 100 metres below the surface. This deep regolith is believed to have formed during the Caenozoic and Palaeocene periods, as evidenced by the presence of fossilised tree roots. The groundwater in the Yilgarn Craton is often hypersaline, leading to significant salt lakes and high saline water tables, rendering parts of the land barren.
The Yilgarn Craton is Australia's premier mineral province, attracting significant investment in mineral exploration. It is extremely rich in mineral resources, containing around 30% of the world's known gold reserves, about 20% of the world's nickel reserves, 80% of the world's tantalum reserves, and substantial amounts of iron ore, copper, zinc, platinum, vanadium, titanium, and lead reserves. Mining activities are concentrated in greenstone belts around centres such as Kalgoorlie, Kambalda, Norseman, Meekatharra, and Wiluna.
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Perth: the isolated administrative centre
Perth, the capital of Western Australia, is one of the most isolated major cities in the world. With a population of over two million, it is the fourth-most populous city in Australia. Perth's nearest metropolis, Adelaide, is over 2,100 km away. Interestingly, Perth is geographically closer to Timor-Leste and Jakarta, Indonesia, than to Sydney.
Perth's isolation has resulted in a distinct and tight-knit music scene, with several famous musical performers hailing from the city, including the late AC/DC frontman Bon Scott. The city's isolation has also meant that it has never developed significant manufacturing industries other than those serving the immediate needs of its residents.
Perth's metropolitan area is divided into thirty local government bodies, including the City of Perth, which administers the central business district. The city houses the Parliament of Western Australia and the Governor of Western Australia. As the administrative centre for business and government, Perth dominates the Western Australian economy, despite the major mining, petroleum, and agricultural export industries being located elsewhere in the state.
Perth has a variety of entertainment, leisure activities, and cultural offerings. The Central Business District and the district of Northbridge are popular destinations for culinary experiences and nightlife. The city also boasts numerous museums and galleries, such as the Art Gallery of Western Australia and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA). Kings Park, with its Botanic Garden and almost 2,000 local plant species, is one of the largest city parks on Earth.
Perth's position at the banks of the Swan River and the Indian Ocean makes it a great destination for water sports fans. The nearby Rottnest Island, with an area of 19 km², is a popular spot for diving and exploring shipwrecks, colourful coral reefs, and small bays.
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Frequently asked questions
The elevation of most of Western Australia is 1,001-2,000 feet or 300-600 metres. The physical feature is the Western Plateau.
The average elevation of Western Australia is about 400 metres or 1,200 feet.
The highest elevation in Western Australia is 1,249 metres or 4,098 feet at Mount Meharry in the Hamersley Range of the Pilbara region.
Australia is the lowest continent in the world with an average elevation of only 330 metres.
