The city of Perth, Western Australia, derives its name from Perth, Scotland, in recognition of Sir George Murray, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies and Member for Perthshire in the British House of Commons. This naming was formalized in Lieutenant Governor James Stirling’s proclamation of the Swan River Colony on 18 June 1829 in Fremantle, which cited Murray’s wishes as the basis for the city’s designation. Contemporary evidence of this naming comes from Charles Fremantle’s diary, which explicitly references Murray’s influence in choosing the name.

Alongside its colonial heritage, the city is acknowledged by its Noongar name, Boorloo, which traditionally refers to the central business district, the local government area, or Perth more generally. First recorded by Robert Menli Lyon in 1833 as Boorlo, the term was initially interpreted to reference “Perth, properly Point Fraser.” Lyon also noted the name Byerbrup for the highland running through the town. Later studies suggested that Boorloo, or its variant bilya, may simply mean “river” in the Noongar language, while other interpretations associate the term with “big swamp,” referencing the chain of lakes around the central business district and Northbridge.

In 2024, Western Australian government officials emphasized the importance of Noongar heritage in public infrastructure. Premier Roger Cook, along with ministers Rita Saffioti and John Carey, referred to Boorloo while inaugurating the Boorloo Bridge, acknowledging the Indigenous name for Perth. Earlier in the year, the government explained that Boorloo Bidee Mia, meaning “Perth pathway to housing” in the Whadjuk Noongar language, reflects efforts to honor and incorporate Noongar language and culture in contemporary city planning.

Perth’s recognition of both its colonial and Indigenous heritage underscores a growing commitment to preserving historical identity while celebrating the city’s rich and diverse cultural landscape.