175th Anniversary of the founding of Western Australia

2004 saw the 175th anniversary of the establishment of the Swan River Colony (later called the State of Western Australia) by Captain James Stirling in 1829. But the history of our State began a long time before this event. Aboriginal people have lived here for more than 50,000 years; however, it is during the past 175 years that we have taken part in a shared journey. It is this richness of experience and culture that has made Western Australia a better place to live. 2004 gave us the opportunity to commemorate the past, reflect on the journey and to celebrate our future.

The aims of the year were to:

develop awareness of our history and heritage
to recognise and value the diversity of our population
to encourage balanced debate about the past, the present and the future for Western Australia
to foster a sense of ownership and pride in our State
to provide a legacy of understanding through the support of events and program that will have ongoing significance.
To celebrate the achievements of all sections of the Western Australian Community.

These aims were reflected in the number events and activities that took place throughout the year. The 175th Anniversary website was also designed to provide background information on our history.