Black swan and family

The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x858, 1053 KB) Summary Black Swan on the Swan River, Perth Western Australia. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x858, 1053 KB) Summary Black Swan on the Swan River, Perth Western Australia. ... Perth is the state capital and most populous city of Western Australia. ... Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Governor Premier Const. ...

It was named by the Dutch explorer, Willem de Vlamingh in 1697, after the famous black swans of the area. Willem de Vlamingh (born 28 November 1640, died ?) was a Dutch sailor who explored the southwest coast of Australia (then New Holland) in the late 17th Century. ... Events September 20 - The Treaty of Ryswick December 2 – St Pauls Cathedral opened in London Peter the Great travels in Europe officially incognito as artilleryman Pjotr Mikhailov Use of palanquins increases in Europe Christopher Polhem starts Swedens first technical school. ... Binomial name Cygnus atratus (Latham, 1790) The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is an Australian waterbird and the official state bird of Western Australia. ...

The Swan River drains the Avon and Swan Coastal catchments, which have a total area of about 121,000 km². The Avon River contributes the majority of its freshwater flow. The climate of the catchment is Mediterranean, with mild wet winters, hot dry summers, and the associated highly seasonal rainfall and flow regime. Avon River Location of the Avon River The Avon River is a river in Western Australia. ...

While the Swan River has not been dammed, two of its tributary rivers - the Helena River and the Canning River - have been dammed for collection of water supplies, at Mundaring Weir and Canning Dam. The Helena River is a tributary of the Swan River, Western Australia Location It rises in country east of Mount Dale and moves to the north west to Mundaring Weir, where it is dammed. ... Canning River is a very good river. ... Mundaring Weir is a dam across the Helena River, in Western Australia. ...

The estuary is subject to a microtidal regime, with a maximum tidal amplitude of about one metre, although water levels are also subject to barometric pressure fluctuations.

The Perth Water location on the river adjacent to the City of Perth is a popular place for viewing the annual Australia Day fireworks, with over 400 000 people crowding the foreshore, Kings Park and boats on the river. Perth Water is the section of the Swan River between the Causeway to the east, and Narrows Bridge to the west - a large wide but shallow section of river on the southern edge of the City of Perth, Western Australia. ... Australia Day is Australias official national day, January 26. ... 2006 Skyworks from the Applecross foreshore. ... Lemon-scented gums along Fraser Avenue, Kings Park Kings Park (, ) is a natural bushland park located in Perth, Western Australia. ...

The Noongar believe that the Darling Scarp is said to represent the body of a Wagyl - a snakelike being from Dreamtime that meandered over the land creating rivers, waterways and lakes, it is thought that the Waugal created the Swan River. The Noongar (alternate spellings: Nyungar / Nyoongar)[1], are an indigenous Australian people who live in the southwest corner of Western Australia from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast. ... Darling Range (~2000 ft elevation), Perth, Swan River estuary. ... The Wagyl or Rainbow Serpent The Wagyl (alternative spelling Waugal or Waagal) is, according to Noongar culture, a snakelike Dreamtime creature responsible for the creation of the Swan and Canning Rivers and other waterways and landforms around present day Perth and the south-west of Western Australia A superior being... The word Dreamtime has several meanings: Dreamtime is the mythology of Australian Aborigines. ...

Matilda Bay on the Swan River, with Mount Eliza and the Perth skyline in the background

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (8723x1337, 4084 KB) Summary Matilda Bay on the Swan River, Perth, Western Australia. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (8723x1337, 4084 KB) Summary Matilda Bay on the Swan River, Perth, Western Australia. ... Mount Eliza is a hill which overlooks the city of Perth, Western Australia and forms part of Kings Park. ...

Interaction With Man

Early in the settlement the Perth flats restricted the passage of all but flat bottom boats traveling between Perth and Guildford. It was decided that a canal be built to bypass these creating Burswood island. In 1831 it took seven men 107 days to do the work. Once completed, it measured about 280m in length by an average top width of nearly 9m which tapered to 4m at the bottom; the depth varied between nearly one metre and six metres. Further improvements were made in 1834.

Due to the sandy terrain that Perth sits upon the streets were sandy dusty bogs which caused Governor Stirling in 1837 to report to the Secretary of State for Colonies that:

“At the present time it can scarcely be said that any roads exist, although certain lines of communication have been improved by clearing them of timber and by bridging streams and by establishing ferries in the broader parts of the Swan River …”

Causeway Southern section including previous structure

Other parts of the river also required dredging all material was just dumped on the mud flats through which they were dredging filling in the mud flats. This action would have been a contributing factor to the damaged caused by the 1862 flood. It wasn't until the establishment of the Government rail between Fremantle and Guildford Via Perth that river was no longer the main transport route. Image File history File links Causway_no. ... Image File history File links Causway_no. ...

With building of the Fremantle harbour in the 1890's and the removal of the limestone reef blocking the mouth of the river. The dredging of the area to build the Harbour effectively changed the river dynamics from a winter flushing flow to a tidal flushing esturary. It was also at this time that the Helena River was dammed as part of C Y O'Connor's ambitious and successful plan to provide water to the Kalgoorlie Goldfields.

The river has been used for the disposal all kinds of waste. Even well into the 1970s various local councils had rubbish tips on the mud flats along the edge of the river. Heavy industry also contributed its share of waste into the river from wool scouring plants in Fremantle to fertilizer and foundries sited in the Bayswater - Bassendean area. Remedial sites works are still on going in these areas to remove the toxins left to leach into the river.

During the summer months there is problems with algal blooms killing fish in the river the cause is high nutrients running off from farming activities in the ctachment areas. The occasional accidental spillage of sewage and chemicals also cause sections of the river to be close to all human access. The river has survived all this and is in remarkable condition.

North/south rivalry

Many Perth residents define themselves as living either north of the river or south of the river. As Perth has grown dramatically in recent years, and development has been mainly on a north/south corridor running parallel to the coast, this separation has grown with (highly dubious) claims that one never goes to the other side, or does not associate with others from the other side. These claims are generally made light-heartedly.

Eastern end of The Causeway taken from Burswood Park

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2966x323, 203 KB) Summary Photo taken (15th Oct 2005) and supplied by Nachoman-au. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2966x323, 203 KB) Summary Photo taken (15th Oct 2005) and supplied by Nachoman-au. ... Burswood Resort and Casino Burswood International Resort Casino (, ) is located on the Swan River some five minutes from the city of Perth, Western Australia. ...

Geographic features

Location of the Swan River, with tributaries in light blue

Geographic features of the Swan River include: Image File history File links Download high resolution version (958x960, 46 KB)This image is a map of the area around Perth, Western Australia, showing the location of the Swan River, Western Australia. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (958x960, 46 KB)This image is a map of the area around Perth, Western Australia, showing the location of the Swan River, Western Australia. ...

Preston Point is a small headland in the Swan River, Western Australia. ... Point Walter is a headland in the Swan River, Western Australia. ... Alfred Cove is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Melville. ... Perth Water is the section of the Swan River between the Causeway to the east, and Narrows Bridge to the west - a large wide but shallow section of river on the southern edge of the City of Perth, Western Australia. ... Heirisson Island is named after Midshipman Francois Boniface Heirisson, who discovered it in June 1801. ... The Swan Valley is the area between Midland and Upper Swan through which the Swan River flows. ...

Bridges

Narrows Bridge Perth

There are eighteen road and railway bridges crossing the Swan River. These are (from Fremantle, heading upstream): Image File history File links Perth_narrows. ... Image File history File links Perth_narrows. ... A typical rural county road in Indiana, USA, where traffic drives on the right. ... A log bridge A bridge is a structure built to span a gorge, valley, road, railroad track, river, body of water, or any other physical obstacle. ... The term upstream has several possible meanings: In geography, upstream means literally towards the source of a stream or river, against the normal direction of water flow. ...

1. Fremantle Railway Bridge, Fremantle (Fremantle rail line)
2. Fremantle Traffic Bridge, Fremantle
3. Stirling Bridge (Stirling Highway), Fremantle
4. Narrows Bridge (Kwinana Freeway/Mitchell Freeway, Mandurah rail line), Perth (2001) - northbound
5. Narrows Bridge (Mandurah rail line), Perth (2006 - under construction)
6. Narrows Bridge (Kwinana Freeway/Mitchell Freeway), Perth (1959) - southbound
7. The Causeway (north), Perth to Heirisson Island
8. The Causeway (south), Heirisson Island to South Perth
9. Goongoonup Bridge, East Perth (Armadale rail line)
10. Windan Bridge, East Perth (Graham Farmer Freeway)
11. Garratt Road Bridge, Maylands - northbound
12. Garratt Road Bridge, Maylands - southbound
13. Redcliffe Bridge (Tonkin Highway), Bayswater
14. Guildford Road Bridge, Bassendean
15. Guildford Railway Bridge, Bassendean (Midland rail line)
16. Barkers Bridge, West Swan Road, Guildford
17. Whiteman Bridge, Middle Swan
18. Upper Swan Bridge, Upper Swan

Location of Fremantle, Western Australia Fremantle (32°03′15″S, 115°44′53″E) is a city located within the Perth metropolitan area on Australias western coast, at the mouth of the Swan River, 19 kilometres southwest of Perths Central Business District. ... Fremantle Line is a suburban railway line in Perth, Australia. ... Stirling Highway is allocated State Route 5. ... Narrows Bridge viewed from South Perth. ... The Kwinana Freeway is a long fast road linking Perth with Kwinana and beyond. ... The Mitchell Freeway is a 26 kilometre major arterial road in Perth, Western Australia linking Perth with the northern suburbs, and Joondalup currently marks the end of the freeway. ... Mandurah Line is a suburban railway line currently under construction in Perth, Australia. ... Mandurah Line is a suburban railway line currently under construction in Perth, Australia. ... The Causeway is the name of two bridges which span the Swan River in Western Australia at the eastern end of Perth Water. ... Heirisson Island is named after Midshipman Francois Boniface Heirisson, who discovered it in June 1801. ... The City of South Perth is a Local Government Area of Western Australia. ... East Perth is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within close proximity to the Perth CBD. It was in the early twentieth century the location of a gas works, a power station, railway yard, and sheds. ... Armadale Line is a suburban railway line in Perth, Australia. ... Entering the Northbridge tunnel on the Graham Farmer Freeway, Perth. ... Transperth Maylands Train Station Maylands is a suburb approximately 5 kilometres north-east of Perth located on the shore of the Swan River. ... Tonkin Highway is allocated State Route 4 Tonkin Highway is a major arterial road in Perth, Western Australia. ... Bayswater is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, situated approximately 10km from Perths GPO. The City of Bayswater is Local Government Area of Western Australia. ... The Town of Bassendean is a Local Government Area of Western Australia, located in the Perth metropolitan area some seven kilometers east of the CBD. Bassendean is also a suburb within this local government area. ... Midland Line is a suburban railway line in Perth, Australia. ... Guildford, Western Australia Guildford was established in 1829 on the Swan River, being sited near a permiment fresh water supply. ... Middle Swan is rural suburb of Perth, its part of the Swan Valley. ... Upper Swan is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. ...

Photo gallery

View from Kings Park over Perth Water View of the Swan River from Kings Park in Perth. ...	Narrows Bridge Perth Image File history File links Perth_narrows. ...	Another view of the Narrows Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1596x822, 161 KB)Narrows Bridge, Perth, Western Australia I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...	Northern section of the Causeway taken from Heirisson Island Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x743, 343 KB)Causway Northern section looking from Herrison Island File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Heirisson Island is named after Midshipman Francois Boniface Heirisson, who discovered it in June 1801. ...
Fremantle Traffic Bridge Structure Image File history File links Freotraffic. ...	Stirling Bridge Fremantle ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (3042x1191, 903 KB) Summary Stirling Bridge Fremantle Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Swan River, Western Australia ...	Swan River showing Perth Water with the Narrows in the foreground, and Melville Water on the right Download high resolution version (1440x552, 166 KB)This is an image I created myself using an Olympus C8080W digital camera and stitching together multiple photographs in Photoshop. ... Perth Water is the section of the Swan River between the Causeway to the east, and Narrows Bridge to the west - a large wide but shallow section of river on the southern edge of the City of Perth, Western Australia. ... Narrows Bridge viewed from South Perth. ...	Bassendean Rail and Road Bridges from Guildford Landing Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x848, 359 KB) Summary Photo taken (06th Jan 2006) and supplied by Nachoman-au. ... Guildford, Western Australia Guildford was established in 1829 on the Swan River, being sited near a permiment fresh water supply. ...

Further Reading:

SEDDON, George (1970). Swan River Landscapes, University of Western Australia: Printing Press. 085564043X.

BURNINGHAM, Nick (2004). Messing About in Earnest, Fremantle Arts Centre Press. 1920731253.

Bridging to South Perth by Lloyd Margetts A copy of his speech given to the South Perth Historical Society.