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The capital of the state of Western Australia, Perth, has long been referred to as the most

isolated city in the world.

While there is some debate as to whether this title is accurate, the fact remains that

Perth is the only large city in a

circuit of more than 2,000 kilometers. It sits on the other side of the country to the

more heavily populated eastern states, home to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and the next

nearest capital city is South Australia's Adelaide, a 28-hour drive away.

Perth is located in the lower western corner of the state and is adjacent to the Indian Ocean.

Another body of water, the Swan River, cuts through the middle of Perth, dividing the city in two,

with much of the central business district built

up along its banks.

East of the city is home to sprawling hills and parklands filled with the native flora and iconic

Australian bush.

Winters in Perth are mild, reaching atop temperature of 19 degrees Celsius on average, while the summers are renowned

for their dry heat. In the warmer months, swimmers and surfers flocked to Perth's coastline

to enjoy popular beaches such as Cotterslow and Scarborough. During the late 1950s, the city was home to about 388,000 people,

but was rapidly growing due to a baby boom and post-World War II migration.

Even as the city expanded and swelled, a sense of innocence remained.

...