Standing watch on the western tip of Australia overlooking the Indian Ocean sits Perth, a city of beautiful beaches, vineyards, and culture. Founded in 1829, the capital of Western Australia is a mere 2,000 miles from Sydney...and embraces its remoteness. From celebrating Australia Day and rugby matches to kangaroo appearances and idyllic days at the beach, see scenes from the edge of the continent.
Crowds cheer the arrival of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on the final day of their visit to Australia. Governed by a constitutional monarchy, Australia recognizes the Queen as the head of the government.
Pool photo by Hatherly Richard
A kangaroo joins the fun at the Perth International golf tournament, hopping up to the 4th hole at Lake Karrinyup Country Club.
Scott Barbour/Getty
Leading seaman Alan Mawer from the HMAS Anzac gets an impromptu hug from his three-year-old son Branden as his contingent prepares to set off on a military parade and reception in Perth to welcome home the country's soldiers from Iraq. Australia contributed a force of some 2,000 troops and three ships to the U.S.-led war on Iraq.
TONY ASHBY
A young woman takes in the annual Havaianas Thong Challenge World Record Attempt at Cottesloe Beach during a celebration of Australia Day. Each year, beachgoers compete to join a record number of inflatable flip-flop floats (known in Australia as “thongs”) together. Formerly known as Foundation Day, Australia Day is the country’s official national day celebrated on January 26 each year to commemorate the arrival in 1788 of the first fleet of convict ships from Great Britain.
Paul Kane/Getty
People sunbathe and swim at Perth's popular Cottesloe Beach, framed by the Indiana Tea House complex.
GREG WOOD
A man jogs through Kings Park as heavy fog begins to lift from the shrouded city. Perth, set on the Swan river, is a sister city to Kagoshima in Japan.
GREG WOOD
Sheep graze in a vineyard in the southwest wine growing region of Western Australia.
GREG WOOD
Greg Inglis of the Storm dives during round 14 of a National Rugby League match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Melbourne Storm at Members Equity Stadium in Perth.
Paul Kane/Getty
A young child watches a parade on the 90th anniversary of ANZAC day, an annual commemoration of the Australian and New Zealand troops who fought at Gallipoli during World War I.
Paul Kane
Stormtrooper Paul French greets a fan on day five of his over 2,000-mile foot journey from Perth to Sydney to raise money for the Starlight Foundation, an organization that aims to brighten the lives of ill and hospitalized children in Australia.
Paul Kane/Getty
Tourists visit the Round House, Western Australia's oldest remaining building. Originally built in the early 1830s as a prison, the building is still on show in the state's historical port city of Fremantle near Perth.
Greg Wood/AFP/Getty
A young Perth resident prepares to dive into the sea at Cottesloe Beach soon after a tsunami warning was cancelled on Tuesday, March 29, 2005.
Neil Eliot/AP
Cottesloe Beach hosts an annual Sculpture by the Sea outdoor art exhibition. Pictured here is Alejandro Propato of Argentina’s "Arte de las Playas."
Paul Kane/Getty
A helicopter tows a large Australian flag past the Perth city skyline before a fireworks show on the banks of the Swan River to celebrate Australia Day.
Paul Kane/Getty
