PDF version of the Perth Electorate map
PDF version of the North Metropolitan Region electorate map
Area (sq km): 24
Number of Electors: 32,096
Source:
Western Australian Electoral Commission.Origin of the Name:
The story of the naming of Perth begins with the instructions given to Captain Stirling, Lieutenant Governor designate of the proposed colony of Western Australia, regarding the foundation of the colony. Stirling received a letter from the Secretary for the Colonies, Sir George Murray, which read:
"Amongst your earliest duties will be that of determining the most convenient site for a Town to be erected as the future seat of Government. You will be called upon to weigh maturely the advantages which may arise from placing it on so secure a situation as may be afforded on various points of the Swan River, against those which may follow from establishing it on so fine a port for the reception of shipping as Cockburn Sound is represented to be...".
Stirling was therefore given the choice of establishing the chief town on Cockburn Sound, or "on various points on the Swan River". It has been established that Murray actually gave Stirling more explicit instructions, and advised him that failing the establishment of the town at Cockburn Sound, he was to fix the site for it at the confluence of the two rivers, the Swan and the Canning, or in other words, at Point Heathcote. Stirling had good reasons to disobey Murray, but briefly they were that it was that the Perth site was "decidely preferable in building materials, streams of water, and facility of communication".
Stirling did however gladly comply with Sir George Murray's command that the new town be called Perth. Murray's reasons for choosing the name, Perth, were purely sentimental and quite understandable, for he was both a Perthshire man and represented his birthplace in the House of Commons. The choice suited Stirling, himself a Scotsman, although it is recorded that at least one early settler, William Leake complained to the Home Office about the name. August 12, 1829 marked the day of the founding of the town, when Mrs Helen Dance cut down a tree. August 12 was also the birthday of King George IV.
Source: Western Australia. Department of Land Administration. Names and Places.
Suburbs and Towns with the Electorate:
Coolbinia *; Crawley *; East Perth *; Highgate; Kings Park; Leederville; Mt Hawthorn; Mt Lawley *; North Perth; Northbridge; Osborne Park *; Perth; West Perth *;
* = Suburb/Town split between more than one Electorate.
Source: Western Australian Electoral Commission.