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History Timeline 1890 to 2000

A Quick Trip through Western Australia's History


1890-19001901-19101911-19201921-19301931-19401941-1950

1951-19601961-19701971-19801981-19901991-2000

1890 - 1900

1890

July

Imperial Act granting responsible Government.

 

John Forrest became the first Premier.

October

The Constitution was proclaimed on 21st.

 

Perth Waterworks were completed.

November

The Legislative Assembly was formed for the first time

December

First Ministry appointed.

 

1891

January

The first Parliament is opened.

March

The first Federal Convention was held in Sydney.

April

Railway from Midland to Gingin completed.

 
1892

August

Discovery of Coolgardie Goldfields.

November

Construction of the Fremantle Harbour commenced.

 

1893

 

Hannan's Goldfield at Kalgoorlie discovered.

April

Outbreak of small pox (46 afflicted, 7 died).

 

Telegraph line to Wyndham opened.

September

Railway from Perth to Bunbury opened.

 

1894

 

Midland Railway opened.

 

Perth Railway Station completed.

January

Mines Department created - E H Wittenoom made the first Minister of Mines.

July

Railway to Southern Cross opened.

 

Telegraph lines were extended to Kalgoorlie, Nanine and Cue.

 

1895

 

Diamonds were found at Nullagine.

 

Railway to Busselton opened.

 

School to be known later as Guildford Grammar School opened.

 

1896

March

Railway to Coolgardie opened.

September

Railway to Kalgoorlie opened.

 

Goldfields Water Supply Bill passed.

 

Great Southern Railway, from Albany to Beverley, bought by the Government from a private syndicate.

 

Soccer Football Association formed in Perth.

 

First cinematograph show at Cremorne Theatre.

 

Boan's "The People's Store" founded (rebuilt in the early 1900s)

 

1897

May

"SS Sultan" was the first vessel to berth in Fremantle harbour.

June

Railway to Guildford completed.

 

The Government announced a bonus for the discovery of asbestos.

 

1898

February

Railway to Boulder completed.

September

Railway from Greenhills to York opened.

 

Fremantle Markets opened.

 

Perth Mint established by Proclamation.

October

Fremantle Waterworks completed.

 

Perth Zoo opened in South Perth.

November

The first butter factory opened in Busselton.

 

Tin was discovered at Marble Bar.

 

1899

 

Goldfields Water Supply Project commenced.

 

Rich discoveries of tin in the Pilbara made.

 

Two ships, the "Carlyle Castle" and the "City of York", wrecked off the coast.

August

The Female Franchise Bill approved by the Legislative Council.

September

Tram service started in Perth.

October

Queens Gardens opened.

 

Public Education Bill passed, providing for free and compulsory education in State schools for all those of school age.

November

The first contingent to the conflict in South Africa departed from Albany.

 

The first motor car introduced by M Bargigli.

 

A goldfield is proclaimed at Donnybrook.

 

Iron ore mined at Collie for the first time.

 

1900

January

Separation Movement Conference held in Kalgoorlie.

February

Telephone cable laid to Rottnest.

March

Separation petition presented to the Government.

April

Bubonic Plague epidemic.

July

Federation Referendum held (Yes: 44,800, No: 19,691).

1901 - 1910

1901

January

The Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed on January 1st.

 

Queen Victoria died.

March

First Federal elections held.

April

The first general elections for the Legislative Assembly under the Constitution Act of 1899 were held.

June

Alexander Forrest died.

 

Duke and Duchess of York and Cornwall arrived in Perth.

July

Kings Park and May Drive named.

 

Population surpassed that of Tasmania so that Western Australia was no longer the least populous Australian State.

 

Katharine Mary Clutterbuck, Sister Kate, arrived in WA with 22 orphans and with the aid of other Anglican sisters, set out to establish a home for children at Parkerville.

 
1902

March

C Y O'Connor died.

May

Outbreak of bubonic plague in Fremantle.

June

The foundation stone of the Law Courts was laid.

 

Death of Premier George Leake.

July

The foundation stone for Parliament House was laid.

September

The Fallen Soldiers (South Africa) Memorial was unveiled in Kings Park.

 

Artesian water found in the Gascoyne.

 

Criminal Code Act punished abortion with up to 14 years imprisonment and also outlawed the killing and abandoning of children.

 

YWCA established by Miss Eva Edmeades in Northam.

 
1903

January

Opening of the Goldfields Water Supply in Kalgoorlie.

 

Dame Nellie Melba gave her first concert in Perth.

April

Outbreak of bubonic plague in Bunbury.

June

New Law Courts were opened.

July

Conference of State engineers recommended construction of trans Australian railway.

September

Mundaring reservoir overflowed for the first time.

 

Victoria Park Motor Service (precursor to RAC) was established.

 
1904

 

The first Labor Government formed with Daglish as Premier.

 

Opals were found at Coolgardie.

 
1905

 

Population hits total of 243,300.

 

Wheat supply overtook local demand for the first time.

 

Aborigines Act made the Chief Protector the legal guardian of every Aboriginal and half-caste child.

 
1906

 

Fremantle tramways installed.

 

Claremont showgrounds opened.

 

Federal Senate rejected Trans-Australian Railway by one vote.

 
1907

 

Population statistics showed an excess of departures over arrivals.

October

Collie-Narrogin railway was opened.

 

Western Australia entered the wheat markets of the world.

 

Canning stock route from the Kimberley was opened.

 

Cyclone at Onslow wrecked pearling vessels.

March

Rottnest proclaimed for public use.

 

Methodist Ladies' College opened.

 
1908

January

Saturday 1/2 day holiday for shops was introduced.

March

Expedition from Perth to open up a stock route from the Kimberleys to the Goldfields.

June

The Art Gallery in Perth opened.

 
1909

July

Survey of Trans-Australian Railway was completed.

 

Children's Hospital (later to become PMH) opened for underprivileged children.

 

Women's Service Guilds were founded.

 

Christ Church Grammar School opened.

 
1910

 

Parliament voted £25,000 to establish stations for Aborigines.

March

Government established the Immigration and Tourist Bureau.

April

New technical school was opened in Perth.

 

International Women's Day was established, but it was not celebrated in Perth until 1938.

1911 - 1920

1911

 

J Scaddan became Premier.

February

Perth Modern School was opened.

April

Census: Population 282,114.

July

Railway from Port Hedland to Marble Bar was opened.

 

Perth had the highest rate of home ownership of all the Australian capitals.

 
1912

February

Disastrous cyclone hit Kalgoorlie.

 

First meeting of Senate of the University of Western Australia with Sir Winthrop Hackett as Chancellor.

 

Kingsley Fairbridge inaugurated Child Migration Scheme, which led to the opening of Fairbridge Farm School in Pinjarra.

 

Scaddan Government established the State Shipping Service, which benefited the beef market.

 

Pearling industry peaked between 1912/13.

 

First equal divorce laws for men and women - Matrimonial Causes Law.

 
1913

March

University of Western Australia was opened.

May

Naval base works at Cockburn Sound commenced operations.

 

HMAS "Sydney" and "Australia" arrived on their maiden voyage.

 
1914

February

Crawley Municipal Baths were opened.

August

World War I broke out and ended 1918. The total number of WA enlistments was 32,231.

October

The first Western Australian contingent embarked from Fremantle.

 

Government distributed meal tickets after a demonstration by the unemployed.

 

Drought and war reduced harvest to such an extent that it was feared that local supplies would fail.

 

Small pox outbreak in Bunbury.

 

By 1914 WA had become an exporter rather than an importer of wheat.

 

Western Australian Farmers Cooperative was founded and exported the State's wheat crop between 1918 and 1922.

 
1915

April

Landing at Gallipoli.

November

Locally built plane was flown to Boulder.

 

Presbyterian Ladies College opened.

 
1916

January

Albany Jetty was erected.

February

Death of Sir Winthrop Hackett.

 

Irrigation scheme benefited Harvey citrus growers.

 

King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women opened.

 
1917

July

Floods at Moora and Northam.

October

Trans-Australian Railway was opened.

 
1918

February

Sir John Forrest became Lord Forrest when he was made a Peer of the Realm.

November

Armistice was announced.

 
1919

 

Tramway strike.

 

Death of Lord Forrest.

May

Wyndham Meat Works was opened.

August

Official opening of Honour Avenue in Kings Park.

September

Legislation passed to allow for women Justices of the Peace.

 

Parliament increased pay to members by 33 1/3%.

 

First modern aeroplane was flown in WA by Major Norman Brearley.

 

38,000 immigrants arrived in Western Australia from Britain between 1919 and 1922 .

 

1920

 

The first wool sales attended by foreign buyers in Perth.

July

Prince of Wales visited Perth.

 

Department for the North West created.

 

Women able to be elected to Parliament for the first time.

1921 - 1930

1921

 

Racial riots at Broome.

January

828 immigrants landed at Fremantle under the Immigration Overseas Settlement Scheme.

March

First group settlement established at Manjimup. Later to expand to Pemberton, Busselton, Augusta and Margaret River.

April

Census: Population 332,732.

 

Edith Cowan elected to the Legislative Assembly: The first woman to be elected to any Parliament in Australia.

December

Air Service to North West commenced.

 

Pedal radio in use in the Northern regions.

 

Throughout the 1920's banana growing was established as an industry on the banks of the Gascoyne river near Carnarvon.

 
1922

 

Immigration and Settlement Scheme formulated between British, Commonwealth and State to provide for annual settlement of 25,000 settlers.

 

Termination of State wheat pool at request of growers organisation. A growers voluntary pool was established in its place.

 

Formation of small settlements at Derby for cotton growing.

 

WA took 75,000 immigrants under the Empire Settlement Act.

 

Aherns opened its doors for the first time.

 
1923

September

The foundation stone of first section of UWA laid.

 

New General Post Office opened by Governor General Lord Forster.

 

WA's woollen mills commenced operations at Albany.

 

Record harvest of 18,920,271 bushells of wheat achieved for the 1923/24 season.

 

Women's legal status altered allowing women to practice law.

 
1924

March

General election, Mitchell Government ousted and Collier (Labor) formed Government.

June

The first radio broadcasting service was opened in Perth by farmers company - 6WF.

 

Population 364,124.

 

44 hour week extended to public service employees.

 

Record of 23,887,397 bushells of wheat was harvested in 1924/25 season.

 
1925

January

Shipping strike. Result: Overseas steamers avoided Fremantle.

March

Compulsory insurance under the Workers Compensation Act came into force.

October

First section of UWA was officially opened.

December

Population 372,183.

 

Assisted and nominated immigrants totalled 4,011.

 

The Hon Norman Keanan presented "Federation and WA: Papers outlining the State's case" to a State Advisory Committee.

 
1926

April

Laying of the foundation stone for St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral.

December

Population 378,746.

 

Initiation of bulk oil handling at Fremantle.

 

Operations commenced under joint Federal/State road construction scheme.

 

Abolition of the Department for the North West.

 

Federal Government offered to take control of WA north of the 26th parallel.

 

First State basic wage introduced.

 
1927

April

First consignment of bulk petrol arrived in Fremantle.

May

Duke and Duchess of York visited the State.

August

UWA's School of Engineering and Mining was opened.

 

Population 392,292

 

Western Australian Bank was purchased by Bank of New South Wales.

 

Royal Commission into treatment of Aborigines by police.

 

Record wheat harvest: 36 million bushells, the highest ever in the Commonwealth.

 

West Australian farmers entered into a third partnership with two larger superphosphate manufacturers (Cumming-Smith and Mount Lyall) and opened new works at Bayswater, Bunbury and Geraldton.

 
1928

 

Population 404,908.

 

Japanese Squadron visited Fremantle.

 

Fleet of airboats from England visited Perth.

 

Kingsford-Smith and Lieutenant Ulm reached Perth from Sydney having completed an air trip from San Francisco in August.

 

Financial year 1927/28 provided new record in trade. The value totalled £36,528,408 or £3,000,386 greater than the previous year.

 
1929

June

First airmail service was established.

October

New York Stock Exchange collapsed.

 

Centenary of the Foundation of Western Australia.

 

Parade through streets of Perth to commemorate Centenary of the State.

 

Regular aeroplane flights from Perth to Adelaide established. Perth also linked to Melbourne and Sydney by air.

 

24,000 cars, 8,000 trucks, 6,000 motorcycles and touring within the State had become commonplace.

 

J T Franklin elected first Lord Mayor of Perth.

 

"Talkies" first arrived (talking pictures).

 

Foundation stone of main buildings of UWA laid.

 

Massive fall in wheat and wool prices precipitated a crisis in Western Australia's economy.

 
1930

March

Rolf Harris was born.

 

The State Government issued 2,172 dismissals on its employees from May to October.

May

Dominion League of Western Australia, a secessionist movement, had its first meeting.

July

An expedition which included H Lassiter set out from Alice Springs to try and find a rich gold reef. The expedition resulted in Lassiter's death.

December

Perth was connected to Adelaide by overland telephone and thus to the rest of Australia.

1931 - 1940

1931

 

Population 433,686.

 
1932

May

Hans Bertram and Adolph Klausman put their aeroplane Atlantis down in the Kimberley region. Rescued early July.

 
1933

 

WA voters heavily in favour of seceding from the Commonwealth (For:138,654; Against: 70,706). The House of Commons rejected the subsequent submission and the issue lapsed.

June

Margaret Battye was the first woman to represent a client in a Court of Law and won her case.

 
1934

 

Royal Commission to investigate, report and advise upon matters in relation to the condition and treatment of Aborigines.

January

Antagonism between Australians and European migrants over allotting of jobs led to 2 days riot in Kalgoorlie.

March

Cyclone in Onslow. Gusts of up to 160km/hour destroyed nearly 3/4 of the houses.

October

His Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester, arrived in Fremantle. Gloucester Park trotting ground named in his honour.

 
1935

March

A severe cyclone battered the North West for 3 days. 20 pearling luggers and 140 lives were lost.

December

Unveiling of Vlamingh Memorial on Rottnest Island.

 

Return fare to Rottnest was 4 shillings.

 
1936

August

John Willcock became Premier until July 31 1945.

September

First football league meeting at the new Subiaco Oval headquarters.

 
1937

July

Opening of London Court.

December

Karrakatta crematorium opened.

 
1938

March

Opening of the Piccadilly Theatre. The first cinema in Perth with a modern airconditioning system.

June

The Westland Express began running between Perth and Kalgoorlie.

August

Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Francis Xavier opened in Geraldton (building began in 1916).

 
1939

January

Cyclone caused damage in Port Hedland.

August

Canning Dam overflowed for the first time.

September

Menzies declared Nation to be at war.

November

The State's first shot in the war was fired in Fremantle. The shot was fired across the bows of a Japanese whaling ship when it failed to use the correct signals whilst coming into port.

December

Opening of the new Fremantle traffic bridge that superseded the structure of 1866.

 

The Sunday Times reported that 1 car in every 170 was stolen during 1939, but that recoveries amounted to nearly 991.

 
1940

June

St John Ambulance Headquarters in Wellington Street officially opened.

June

The Italian motor ship "Remo" seized in Fremantle harbour as a prize of war following Italy's declaration of war.

October

Amateur Athletic Association held its first school boys championship at Leederville Oval.

1941 - 1950

1941

 

Population 473,213

February

Sunday Times printed first full colour comic.

April

An earthquake measuring 6.8 struck Meeberrie Station north east of Geraldton.

November

HMAS Sydney sank with loss of all 645 men off Carnarvon coast.

December

Bombing of Pearl Harbour.

 
1942

 

By 1942 there were 1,140 occupiers of the former group settlement blocks. Very few were immigrants.

February

HMAS Perth sank.

March

Japanese Aircraft bombed Broome, 70 died.

July

Japanese Aircraft bombed Port Hedland.

 

During World War II the British Government bought the State's entire wool clip. By 1944 production had fallen due to drought and labour shortages and didn't recover until 1951.

 

New Royal Perth Hospital opened.

 
1943

May

Naval installations at Exmouth gulf were attacked over 2 days by Japanese aircraft.

June

Minesweeper HMAS "Woolooroo" sank after colliding with US liberty ship off Fremantle.

September

Dorothy Tangney became first woman Senator in Australia. She was also the first Australian woman to be created Dame Commander of the order of the British Empire in 1968. The Federal electorate of Tangney was named after her.

 

Japanese aeroplanes bombed Kalumburu and killed Father Thomas, a woman and four children.

 
1945

May 9

VE Day.

July

Frank Wise became Premier until April 1947.

August 15

VP Day.

October

Agricultural Bank renamed Rural and Industries Bank.

 
1946

March

Western Australian Women's Parliament formed.

May

Aboriginal station workers in Port Hedland district went on strike for an increase in pay from 10 to 30 shillings, better conditions and the right to elect their own union representatives. Strike lasted for 3 years.

 

Factories and Shops Amendment: Payment of workers for non attendance due to ill health 1/2 day per month.

 

Post World War II was the State's second attempt at a Soldier Settler Scheme in the Porongorup and Stirling Ranges. Main difference this time was that the Government made sure properties were prepared before allocation. Only few took up this opportunity.

 

Pearling industry revived with refugees from Asia and Indonesia, who were employed. Export of crayfish tails from the Abrolhos and Lancelin fishing grounds.

 

Revival of Whaling.

 

Timber industry was quick to recover due to post war immigration and home building program.

 

Collie coal mining industry produced most of the black coal used by the railways and the SEC, which was established in 1945.

September

His Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester, as Governor General together with the Duchess visited until October 10. Gloucester Tree in Pemberton and Gloucester Park named after the Duke.

 
1947

April

Sir Ross McLarty became Premier until February 23 1953. He appointed Florence Cardell-Oliver as Minister without portfolio and then later Minister for Health. She was the first woman to hold Cabinet rank in Australia.

June

Introduction of the Air Beef Scheme, which brought cattle from the Kimberleys to the Wyndham meat works.

November

First Sheffield Shield game in Perth began. WA (440 runs) defeated SA (109 and 211 runs) in two innings. WA went on to win the Shield.

November

First Australind express train from Perth to Bunbury.

 

Federal Arbitration Court announced a standard working week of 40 hours, which was adopted by the WA Court.

 
1948

 

Royal Commission on betting.

 

John Winter was the first West Australian to win an Olympic gold medal in high jump at the London Games.

 

Old Vic Theatre Co with Laurence Olivier and Vivienne Leigh visited Perth.

October

Sir James Mitchell was Governor until June 30 1951.

December

Population 522,000. 40% of the people lived outside the metropolitan area.

 
1949

 

The WA branch of the Fellowship of Australian Writers accepted responsibility for maintaining Tom Collins House at Swanbourne. Formerly the Perth home of novelist Joseph Furphy commemorating his pen name.

July

McRobertson Miller airlines aircraft "Fitzroy" crashed near Guildford. 18 people were killed.

 

Australian Iron & Steel Ltd began to ship ore from the deposits on Yampi Sound off the Kimberley Coast.

 

Birth of Dennis Lillee.

September

Opening of Evan Davies Library in Fremantle, the first library wholly supported by a municipality.

 
1950

May

Town of Wittenoom proclaimed.

August

Town of Mandurah proclaimed.

December

Second Prohibition Referendum, first having been April 4 1925 (Yes: 73361; No: 203953).

 

Australian Whaling Commission established a shore station on Babbage Island near Carnarvon. Overseas wool prices soared due mainly to the Korean War. Led to a boom in the pastoral industry.

1951 - 1960

1951

 

Population 590,339.

January

Fires burned throughout the South West from January to April.

March

Supply of free milk to school children under 13 years.

November

Lt General Sir Charles Gairdner was Governor until June 26 1963.

 
1952

January

First guide-dog training centre in Australia opened in Shenton Park. Moved to Belmont in 1954 then to Melbourne in 1962.

 

Shirley Strickland won a gold medal at the Helsinki Games for hurdles and again in Melbourne in 1956.

February

Local strike action of metal workers began.

March

City of Subiaco proclaimed.

April

Nearly 5,000 workers were on strike state wide.

September

Legislation for the Library Board of WA was proclaimed.

October

Britain exploded first atomic bomb in Australian territory at Montebello Islands.

 
1953

 

First annual Festival of Perth held.

February

Albert R G Hawke Premier until April 2 1959.

June

Township of Kwinana proclaimed.

December

Western Australian Petroleum Ltd announced it had struck commercial oil at Rough Range the No 1well near Exmouth gulf.

 

Coincided with a mineral strike in the Exmouth gulf.

 

First traffic lights were officially used at the West Perth subway.

 
1954

March

Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh arrived in Kalgoorlie on the second leg of their Australian tour.

July

Death of Dr J S Battye.

 
1955

January

The harbour at Cockburn Sound opened to provide shipping facilities for new industries established at Kwinana.

 

The Western Mail ceased publication in its original form and became "The Countryman".

February

Kwinana oil refinery commenced operations.

 

Large oil refinery and steel rolling mill established in

 

Kwinana. New suburb of Medina housed many employees.

 
1956

May

Britain exploded two nuclear devices.

 

State received 58,000 immigrants from 1947 until 1956 assisted by the Federal Government.

 
1957

 

Provision was made for women to be on juries.

 
1958

 

Population 700,000

 

Highest growth rate of any State since the war.

July

Last tram service from Inglewood to Perth (route 8) run. Metropolitan Transport Trust established.

August

Mrs Jesse Isobel Edwards was appointed to the staff of the State Parliament and was Australia's first female Hansard reporter.

 
1959

April

Sir David Brand was Premier until March 3 1971.

 

Graylands Day Hospital opened. The name was changed to Selby Community Clinic in October 1967, which was closed September 1 1972.

July

Cities of Nedlands and South Perth proclaimed.

 

WA got its first regular showing of television. Channel TVW 7.

November

Official opening of the Narrows Bridge.

 
1960

March

Cyclone damaged Carnarvon.

 

Herb Elliot won gold medal for 1,500 m at the Rome Games.

May

ABW2 (ABCTV) television station began transmission.

November

Mangel's red and green Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos Manglesii) was officially declared the State's floral emblem.

 

Driving of the first pile for the new Fremantle railway bridge designed to replace the earlier structure downstream and therefore enlarged the capacity of Fremantle harbour.

1961 - 1970

1961

 

Population 755,213.

January

Massive fire at Dwellingup.

March

Karridale destroyed by fire which burned for three days.

 

Official opening of the satellite tracking station at Muchea.

October

Official opening of Serpentine's main dam. Construction began November 1 1957.

November

Discovery of vast iron ore deposits in the Pilbara.

 

Official completion of the Agricultural Areas, Great Southern Towns and Goldfields Water Supply Scheme.

 
1962

February

John Glenn circled the Earth in the inaugural US space flight in the space capsule "Friendship 7". Perth turned on its lights for the space traveller, who acknowledged the gesture and Perth became known as the "City of Lights".

March

Osborne Park hospital opened.

September

Huge iron ore deposits were discovered at Mt Tom Price.

October

Official opening of the new passenger terminal at the Perth airport.

 

Consecration of Anglican Cathedral of St Boniface in Bunbury.

November

Duke of Edinburgh opened the Commonwealth Games in Perth.

 
1963

January

First meeting of newly formed WA Trades and Labour Council, which proved a far more successful body than the short lived predecessors of 1891 and 1893.

March

The Council House Administrative Centre of Perth City Council was officially opened.

 

Official opening of Karnet Rehabilitation and Training Centre at Keysbrook.

April

Discovery of the wreck of the Dutch ship "Verguldedraeck" near Ledge Point , which sank in 1656.

May

Australia and USA signed an agreement for the US to establish and operate a naval communications base at Nor West Cape.

June

Official opening of Jandakot airport.

 

Maylands aerodrome ceased operations.

July

First stage of Ord River Irrigation Scheme opened.

 

Discovery of the "Batavia" at the Abrolhos Islands, which sank 1629. December

 

Town of Exmouth proclaimed

 

1964

March

Official opening of the Fremantle Port Authority building.

August

Midland Railway Company, the only private railway company in WA, was officially taken over by the WA Railways Commission.

October

The "moonstruck murderer" Eric Edgar Cooke was hanged for a series of murders committed. His was the last hanging in Western Australia.

November

Inauguration of daily flights by jet powered aircraft between Perth and the Eastern States.

December

Donald Campbell broke the world water speed record at Lake Dumbleyung in the hydroplane "Bluebird".

 
1965

June

STW 9 began transmitting.

 

Married Persons' Summary Relief - women were able to apply for welfare assistance pending a maintenance order or when maintenance was not being paid by the child's father.

 
1966

January

WMC found rich nickel deposits at Kambalda.

February

Decimal currency was introduced.

March

Australia's first commercial iron ore export cargo sailed from Geraldton to Japan.

April

Demolition of the Pensioners' Barracks leaving only the Barracks' arch.

May

The Muja power station was officially opened.

 

Declaration of Australia's third commercial oil field at Barrow Island.

June

First iron ore train travelled on the Hamersley railway. The line was officially opened July 1.

 

Goldsworthy railway was officially opened.

August

Official opening of the Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT) subsequently Curtin University of Technology. The institute was opened until January 1 1987.

 
1967

March

First country TV station BTW from Bunbury.

May

The Australian people approved the ending of Constitutional discrimination against Aboriginals by a record 90.8% vote.

August

Towns of Goldsworthy and Tom Price were proclaimed.

September

Nor West Cape naval communications station was officially commissioned.

 

Public Service Act Amendment allowing married women to hold office in the Public Service.

 

Opening of Ord River diversion dam.

 

WA Opera Company formed largely through the efforts of Guiseppe Bertinazzo and James Penberthy.

 
1968

May

City of Melville proclaimed.

October

Earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale struck Meckering at 10.58am.

December

Portable breath testing kits were issued to police patrolmen.

 

Industrial Arbitration Amendment for conditions for equal pay were granted to teachers and fully operational by 1972.

 
1969

January

The final dog spike was driven by the Premier to complete the Mt Newman railway.

March

The Coat of Arms of Western Australia was granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

April

First shipment of iron ore from Mt Newman left for Japan.

 

Sir Paul Hasluck became Governor General of Australia.

August

Town of Karratha proclaimed.

October

Poseidon Mining Company informed the Adelaide stock exchange it had discovered extensive nickel deposits near Laverton. Shares peaked at $280 on February 10 1970. By 1977 the company was in receivership.

 
1970

 

Margaret Court won the Tennis Grand Slam.

February

"Indian Pacific" arrived in Perth after inaugural journey.

March

Official opening of the WA Herbarium building in South Perth.

 

Earthquake measuring 6 on the Richter scale hit Calingiri 80 km north of Meckering.

April

Leonard Casley declared his property "The Hutt River Province" independent of the Commonwealth of Australia and himself administrator, Prince Leonard as a gesture of protest against government policies regarding wheat quotas.

May

First consignment of Kambalda nickel, refined at Kwinana, was shipped.

July

Minimum age for purchase and consumption of alcohol lowered to 18.

 

Perth branch of the Royal Mint renamed to the Perth Mint.

 

Start of liquor sales in hotels on Sundays.

 

Transcontinental microwave system was officially opened in Perth.

 

Death of Sir Walter Murdoch.

September

WMC's nickel refinery at Kwinana was opened.

October

The Fremantle branch of the Western Australian Museum opened in old insane asylum.

December

Ceremony was held to mark the sale of the millionth bale of wool at the Albany wool sales.

 

Franchise was extended for election to both Federal and State Parliaments by lowering the minimum voting age to 18.

 

First test cricket match played in Perth.

1971 - 1980

1971

 

Population 1,070,347.

January

City of Stirling was proclaimed.

March

John Tonkin became Premier until April 8 1974.

April

World premiere of "The Nickel Queen", which was shot on locations in Western Australia.

 

First Hungry Jacks was opened in Innaloo.

June

Vietnam War demonstration in Hay Street headed by John Tonkin.

November

Prospector train was officially opened.

 

The Natives (citizenship rights) Repeal Act gave full citizenship rights to Aboriginals.

 

Family Planning Association of Western Australia was founded.

 
1972

February

The Ambassadors Theatre, a popular city cinema since September 29 1928, closed its doors with a screening of "Diamonds Are Forever".

April

Oliver Dixon appointed Western Australia's Parliamentary Commissioner for Administrative Investigations (Ombudsman) first such appointment in Australia.

June

Town of Dampier proclaimed.

 

Ord River dam (forming Lake Argyle) was officially opened as a part of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme.

October

Fremantle Arts Centre opening was celebrated.

 

Ralph Sarich named inventor of the year with the orbital engine.

 

In the early 70's Lang Hancock funded a secessionist movement with little support.

December

Western Australia's Lamb Marketing Board began operations.

 
1973

January

The Concert Hall in Perth was officially opened.

July

First Avon Descent held.

July

Murdoch University was formally established.

October

Numbat and Black Swan were declared official faunal emblems for Western Australia.

 

Women's Electoral Lobby was founded as a non party political group to identify, expose and lobby against sexism in society.

 
1974

March

Charles Court became Premier until January 25 1982.

May

The opening of the Stirling Bridge, making a second bridge for road traffic across the Swan River at Fremantle.

December

Official opening of the Perth Entertainment Centre.

 
1975

 

The Laverton Royal Commission investigated clashes between police and Aboriginals at Laverton and Skull Creek in December 1974 and January 1975. It found police unable to justify arrests.

March

Daylight saving referendum (Yes: 250640, No: 290179).

April

The Bunbury inner harbour was officially opened.

June

Shirley Finn, brothel keeper, was shot while sitting in her car near her South Perth home. The killer was never discovered.

 
1976

July

A bomb exploded at the Bunbury woodchip loading wharf.

September

First journey of the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway.

October

Lt P Lewis and Capt. P Peelgrane won air race from Perth to Sydney in an Australian army Bell Kiowa helicopter.

 
1977

February

Government of Sir Charles Court was re-elected.

April

Five miners died at the Agnew nickel mine when an ore bucket crashed to the shaft floor.

July

City of Gosnells was proclaimed.

August

Most powerful earthquake recorded in WA occurred in the Port Hedland region and measured 7.5 on the Richter scale.

 

Guy Baskin was the first Western Australian to win Australian Writers Guild Award for the best documentary/TV script on Yagan.

November

Prince Charles visited Perth.

 

6UVS FM commenced as Perth's first stereo fm radio station.

 

Limited commercial production of marron began.

 
1978

April

Cyclone Alby caused widespread damage in the South West.

 

The last train for Meekatharra railway.

June

Donnelly River timber mill was closed.

October

First Italian arts festival was opened.

November

The last whale was taken off Albany.

 
1979

 

Sesquicentenary of Western Australia

 

Prince Charles embarked on longest WA tour ever undertaken by a Royal.

March

City of Canning was proclaimed.

July

Debris from disintegrating Skylab fell on the South West of Western Australia.

September

The last passenger train ran on the Perth/Fremantle railway line. The line reopened July 29 1983.

October

City of Bunbury was proclaimed.

 

Noonkanbah West Kimberley Pastoral Project set aside for Aboriginal use - in 1979 the Noonkanbah Aboriginal community opposed an application to look for oil near Pea Hill, a sacred site that had been classified by the Western Australian Museum.

 
1980

 

Death duties were no longer payable on the estates of people dying after January 1 1980.

February

Charles Court was re-elected.

August

Attempt made to blockade a convoy of drilling equipment at Noonkanbah. This action was the culmination of a long fight by Aboriginal owners to prevent drilling on their land. Oil was not found.

November

Cinema City was opened.

 

His Majesty's Theatre was reopened after being restored by the Government.

1981 - 1990

1981

 

Population 1,320,221.

May

Publication of "A Fortunate Life" by A B Facey.

July

Friends of Battye Library inaugurated.

 

Abolition of the rule whereby a married woman has at all times the country of domicile of her husband.

 

1982

January

Ray O'Connor became Premier until February 25 1983.

February

Death of Albert B Facey.

May

The Mount Henry Bridge was officially opened.

July

First test tube baby born at King Edward Memorial hospital.

October

John Sanders reached home port Fremantle in the boat "Perie Banou" after sailing twice around the world.

 

1983

February

Brian Burke became Premier until 25 February 1988.

May

Conviction of the Mickelberg brothers.

April

Prince and Princess of Wales visited Perth via Bunbury.

July

The first legal game of two-up in Kalgoorlie.

September

"Australia II" won America's Cup at Newport.

October

City of Bayswater was proclaimed.

 

Safety House Association of Western Australia was introduced.

 

1984

April

Second daylight saving referendum (Yes: 329536, No: 392340).

August

The opening of Geraldton's regional art gallery was celebrated.

 

First stage of the Nor West Shelf Gas Project began piping gas to Perth.

October

Abolition of capital punishment.

 

Equal Opportunities Act proclaimed to provide remedies in respect of discrimination on grounds of sex, marital status, pregnancy, race, religion, political conviction or involving sexual harassment.

 

1985

April

The Alexander Library was opened.

May

Western Australia's first AIDS death.

 

Albany abattoir closed its doors and left 400 people without jobs.

September

The Anglican Synod in Western Australia agreed to accept women as deacons, the first step to priesthood. The first women deacons were ordained in1986.

October

City of Wanneroo was proclaimed.

November

City of Armadale was proclaimed.

December

Burswood Casino, WA's first legal casino was opened.

 

1986

 

Elizabeth Jolley's "The Well" won Miles Franklin Award.

January

First annual Bindoon Rock festival.

February

Brian Burke was re-elected.

 

Ernie Bridge was appointed as the first Aboriginal Cabinet Minister.

March

Halleys Comet.

 

SBS commenced broadcasting.

April

Boans closed down after trading since 1895.

May

Final shipment of ore from Cockatoo Island.

June

Last trading day of the Palace Hotel (R & I Tower is behind the facade now).

October

Perth International airport was officially opened.

November

Pope John Paul II visited Perth.

 

1987

January

Formal inauguration of Curtin University of Technology.

March

The West Coast Eagles played their first game in the extended VFL competition, defeating Richmond at Subiaco Oval 20:13 to 16: 23. The Eagles went on to win 11 matches in their first season.

 

Crocodile killed American tourist swimming in Prince Regent river.

 

The Bunbury regional art gallery was opened.

1987/88

 

At a National level WA was the most significant State in terms of turnover and value added mining. Nearly 60% of National capital expenditure on mining in WA principally on the LNG phase of the North West Shelf Project and several major new gold mines.

 

The record employment figure of 20,796 persons in the mining industry represented 3% of the total labour force.

 

1988

February

Dr Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury visited Perth.

 

Peter Dowding became Premier until February 12 1990.

March

John Sanders completed a triple navigation of the world in his yacht "Perie Banou".

April

City of Rockingham was proclaimed.

May

Channel 10 was the first new commercial television station to commence broadcasting in Perth in 23 years.

November

The merchant bank Rothwells went into provisional liquidation.

December

Inaugural Hopman Cup was held and made a profit in its first year.

 

1989

January

Kings Park was severely damaged when an arsonist lit two devastating fires.

 

Kalgoorlie-Boulder was proclaimed a city.

March

As at this date meat cattle comprised 93% of the State's cattle herd.

June

As at this date there were 5,553 km of railway owned and operated by Westrail with a further 731 km of rail owned by the Commonwealth Government and operated by Australian National railways.

October

Death of Professor Gordon Reid, who was the 25th Governor of WA.

 

Official Corruption Commission was set up.

 

The previous peak sheep population of 1976 (34.8million) was exceeded for the first time in 1989 when flock numbered 37.1million.

 

1990

January

Western Australian Higher Education Council commenced operations to advise Government institutions on planning, coordination, development and financing of post secondary and higher education in WA.

 

Perth recorded its hottest day on record 45.8 degrees C.

February

Sir Francis Burt KCMG was appointed as Governor of Western Australia.

March

Measles Control Program was launched with the aim to eradicate measles by 1995.

April

Mandurah became a city. There were now 19 cities, 10 towns and 109 shires in Western Australia.

June

The estimated population of Perth was1,193,130 - more than double that of 1965.

 

Casuarina Maximum Security prison was commissioned.

November

The Premier announced a Royal Commission into commercial activities of Government and other matters (WA Inc).

 

On the first Saturday in December each year, West Australian motorcyclists met to ride into the city, bringing with them gifts for the needy children at Christmas. In 1990 this event took place for the 15th year in succession, making it the longest running of any charity ride in Australia.

December

Resignation of Premier Dowding.

1991 - 2000

1991

 

New East Africa exhibit at the Perth Zoo opened. Described as the best and most advanced of its kind in the world. Children's Zoo designed as a WA farm also opened.

January

Edith Cowan University (formerly WACAE) established as a multi campus institution.

 

The World Swimming Championships were held in Perth.

April

A crushing defeat for Labor in Geraldton. Election left WA Premier Carmen Lawrence with a minority Government relying for survival on the support of independents.

 

The new Batavia gallery opened at the WA Maritime Museum.

December

The "Young Endeavour" arrived in Fremantle.

 

1992

 

University of Notre Dame Australia, WA's first private university, commenced receiving students.

 

Centennial of the Western Australian Museum.

 

Western Australians voted against daylight saving in the third referendum on the issue.

 

West Coast Eagles won AFL Grand Final beating Geelong 16:17 to 12:13.

 

Cabinet endorsed sale of the SGIC and a 49% stake in the R&I Bank.

 

Findings and recommendations of the WA Inc Royal Commission were presented to the Governor.

January

Operation Isabella: 56 Chinese refugees were rescued after landing in the North West.

 

Work commenced on Carnarvon's first town beach.

June

The new Perth Children's Court was opened.

 

Installation of equipment for a closed circuit television system for taking the evidence of children and other vulnerable witnesses commenced in Perth Supreme Court in 1991/92.

 

Barcelona Olympics: Western Australia contributed a record of 41 competitors to the Australian team of 298. 5 Months earlier ice speed skater Richard Niezielski became the first West Australian to compete at a Winter Olympics in Albertville.

1991/92

 

WA won Sheffield Shield for the 13th time.

 

WA won the Women's National Basketball League title for the first time.

 

West Perth, the State's oldest existing football club (formed 1891) announced, it would change its name to the Joondalup Falcons and relocated to Joondalup in 1994.

 

In the 5 months to June 1992 WA went from having Australia's highest unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted, to having the lowest.

 

In Southern Cross a woman, Rev Dawn Kenyon, became Australia's first woman Anglican parish priest.

 

1993

February

Richard Court elected Premier.

 

In WA 28 countries were represented either by a consular agent, vice consul, consul, consul general or trade representative; including Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Seychelles, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UK, USA.

April

A stolen armoured personnel carrier was driven on a 90 minute rampage through the City of Perth.

October

WA gained important standing in the dinosaur stakes after scientists found the 110 million year old remains of a dinosaur near Kalbarri.

December

Greenmount Hill truck collision disaster.

 

Lang Hancock had a planet named after him situated in an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

 

WA Native Title Legislation, which extinguished native title flowing from the Mabo decision, was rushed through and then challenged by the Kimberley Land Council in the High Court.

 

A group of children found a 2,000 year old egg of an elephant bird of Madagascar.

 

Major General Philip (Michael) Jeffery AC MC named as WA's Governor.

 

1994

March

Perth plunged into darkness when a power blackout robbed the city of electricity for 8 hours.

 

A letter bomb killed Perth detective Geoffrey Bowen in the NCA's Adelaide headquarters.

July

Fremantle Dockers' name and colours were announced.

October

The "Endeavour" replica left Fremantle for Sydney.

 

The Eagles won the Grand Final against Geelong at the MCG.

November

First water restrictions in 16 years introduced in Perth, Mandurah and the Goldfields.

December

Dame Mary Durack Miller died.

 

1995

 

1.26 million people, representing nearly 75% of the Western Australian population lived in the metropolitan area.

March

High Court dismissed the WA Government's challenge to the Federal Native Title Act and ruled WA's rival Mabo Legislation invalid.

July

First Booze Bus introduced to Western Australian streets.

 

The world's oldest footprints were found in Kalbarri, suggesting animals first left water for land 30 million years earlier than previously thought.

September

Bankwest was sold to the Bank of Scotland for $900 million.

October

The former Premier John Tonkin died.

 

State wide 24 hour union blockade as a protest over the second wave industrial legislation.

 

Perth Wildcats won the NBA title.

November

WA jockey Damien Oliver won the Melbourne Cup on Doriemus.

 
1996

February

17 year old yachtsman David Dicks set out to be the youngest person to circumnavigate the world solo and non-stop.

April

Cyclone Olivia swept across the Pilbara.

September

Gracetown disaster.

November

David Dicks returned home to a hero's welcome.

 
1997

January

Elle McPherson makes a series of commercials for Tourism WA.

October

Shark attacks two surf skiers off North Cottesloe Beach.

 

1998

January

World Swimming Championships in Perth.

February

SAS troops leave Perth to prepare for war with Iraq.

May

Four sailors die in fire on HMAS Westralia.

November

Perth's lights again welcome American astronaut John Glenn.

 

1999

March

Moora floods again as a result of Cyclone Vance – category 5 cyclone the fastest ever to cross the Australian coast.

June

New Zealander, Barry Matthews, appointed as State's new Police Commissioner.

December

State Coroner to open investigation into death of Lang Hancock

 

Nearly 2000 illegal immigrants try to enter WA off North West coast.

 

2000

July

Prince Leonard of Hutt River, North of Geraldton, celebrates 30 years as ruler of the Hutt River Province.

August

A twin-engined Beechcraft headed for Leonora with seven West Australians on board crashes in Queensland – all were killed.

November

Perth man killed by 4.5m white pointer shark at North Cottesloe beach.

December

Barrack Square Belltower opened in time for the Centenary of Federation.

 
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