The area of the present day Australian state of Western
Australia was 
first settled by Europeans in 1826 when the British established a
military outpost at King George Sound, near present-day Albany in 1826. In
1829, the Swan River Colony was established near present day state-capital,
Perth. Western Australia achieved self-government in 1890. It became an
Australian state as one of the six former British colonies that united to form
the Commonwealth of Australia on January 1, 1901. Western Australia covers the
Western One-Third of continental Australia and has a total land area of over 1M
square miles with a population of around 2.3M. It is bordered by the Northern
Territory to the North-East, South Australia to the South-East, Indian Ocean to
the North and West, and the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the
South.
first settled by Europeans in 1826 when the British established a
military outpost at King George Sound, near present-day Albany in 1826. In
1829, the Swan River Colony was established near present day state-capital,
Perth. Western Australia achieved self-government in 1890. It became an
Australian state as one of the six former British colonies that united to form
the Commonwealth of Australia on January 1, 1901. Western Australia covers the
Western One-Third of continental Australia and has a total land area of over 1M
square miles with a population of around 2.3M. It is bordered by the Northern
Territory to the North-East, South Australia to the South-East, Indian Ocean to
the North and West, and the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the
South.
Philatelic Profile:
The first stamps of Western Australia were a set of two
stamps in different designs showing Black Swan, the state bird, issued between
1854 and 1857. 
The set (Scott #1 to #2) catalogs for around $3.75K Mint and
around $775 Used. The Black Swan theme in different designs, colors, and
denominations along with certain surcharge overprints formed the stamp issues
of Western Australia during the period till 1902. Some of the other first sets
are valued well into the 1000s while the latter sets go in the 100s. Some used
sets (Scott #49 to #53, Scott #62 to #68) are relatively affordable going in
the 20s. The surcharge varieties are also affordable although there are error
varieties (double surcharges and such) that fetch a huge premium into the
1000s.
The set (Scott #1 to #2) catalogs for around $3.75K Mint and
around $775 Used. The Black Swan theme in different designs, colors, and
denominations along with certain surcharge overprints formed the stamp issues
of Western Australia during the period till 1902. Some of the other first sets
are valued well into the 1000s while the latter sets go in the 100s. Some used
sets (Scott #49 to #53, Scott #62 to #68) are relatively affordable going in
the 20s. The surcharge varieties are also affordable although there are error
varieties (double surcharges and such) that fetch a huge premium into the
1000s.
The first issues outside the Black Swan theme was a set of
twelve stamps issued between 1902 and 1905 featuring Queen Victoria (QV) head
portrait in different designs along with earlier Black Swan designs. The set
(Scott #76 to #88) is sought after and catalogs in the $1K range for Mint and
around $430 for Used. Western Australia continued to issue stamps till 1912
when stamps of Australia replaced Western Australian stamps. 
Numismatic Profile:
Few private token coins were used in Western Australia from
the mid-nineteenth century onwards. Prominent ones include Copper Pennies of
Alfred Davles of Fremantle, John Henderson of Fremantle, etc. The issues
catalog upwards of $175 in VF.
Collectible
Memorabilia:
Original 19th and early 20th centurymaps are a good collectible item of Western Australia.
Last Updated: 12/2015.
Last Updated: 12/2015.
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