The establishment of Perth as a European settlement in 1829 marked a significant chapter in Western Australia’s history. Originally part of the Swan River Colony, the area saw its first comprehensive European settlement despite earlier British attempts in 1826 at King George’s Sound (later Albany). Named after the Swan River, the colony was initially informal but became known as "Western Australia" in 1832.

On June 4, 1829, British colonists aboard Captain James Stirling's ship, Parmelia, first saw the mainland, describing it as “as beautiful as anything of this kind I had ever witnessed.” On August 12 of the same year, Helen Dance, wife of the captain of the Sulphur, marked the founding of Perth by felling a tree. The early years, however, were not without turmoil. As European settlers expanded, tensions with the Noongar people escalated, leading to violent confrontations, including the murder of settlers, the execution of Whadjuk elder Midgegooroo, and the tragic events like the Pinjarra massacre in 1834. These clashes stemmed from a clash of cultures, particularly the introduction of agriculture and the restriction of Noongar traditional land and practices.

The 1850s marked a new phase for the Swan River Colony when convict labor was introduced. Perth was deemed in need of labor, and over the next 18 years, nearly 10,000 convicts arrived, outnumbering free settlers. Fremantle Prison, built by convicts, now stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1856, Perth was officially recognized as a city by Queen Victoria. However, life in the city remained quiet and relatively rural until the discovery of gold in the 1890s.

The gold rushes at Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie transformed Perth, with the city becoming a vital hub for the mining industry. The economic boom from the gold rush fueled significant infrastructure development, including roads, railways, and public buildings. Perth’s population surged from around 8,500 in 1881 to 61,000 by 1901, signaling its transition from a tranquil settlement to a bustling urban center.