Perth sits on the ancestral lands of the Whadjuk people, one of the fourteen tribes forming the Noongar nation in south-western Western Australia. Archaeological evidence confirms that humans have inhabited the Perth region for at least 48,000 years, with Noongar oral traditions describing their presence since “time immemorial.” The Swan Coastal Plain wetlands, central to the area, have held both spiritual significance and provided vital resources for food throughout history.

At the time of British settlement, the central business district of modern Perth was within the territory of the Mooro clan, led by Yellagonga. The Mooro were part of the Whadjuk, whose communities were organized along the Swan River. Collectively, the Whadjuk and other Noongar clans form a socio-linguistic group that has maintained cultural continuity across the region for millennia.

The legal recognition of Noongar connection to the land has progressed in recent decades. In 2006, the Federal Court of Australia ruled in Bennell v State of Western Australia that Noongar native title persisted over the Perth metropolitan area. Following appeals, a landmark South West Native Title Settlement was negotiated, including the Whadjuk Indigenous Land Use Agreement. Finalized by the Federal Court on 1 December 2021, this settlement acknowledges the enduring rights and traditional ownership of the Noongar people.

Complementing this legal recognition, the Noongar (Koorah, Nitja, Boordahwan) (Past, Present, Future) Recognition Act 2016 formally recognizes the Noongar as the traditional custodians of south-western Western Australia. Today, Perth not only reflects its colonial and modern urban development but also honors its deep Indigenous heritage, fostering a city that acknowledges both history and culture.