Western Australia's Engineering Timeline
From Engineering Heritage Australia
| Year | Event | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| -48,000 | Human occupation of Devils Lair Cave, near Margaret River. | Buildings |
| -40,000 | Wilgie Mia Ochre Mine in the Weld Range near Cue thought to be the world's longest continuous mining operation. | Mining |
| -20,000 | Finger markings in Koolanda Cave on the Nullarbor. | Communications |
| -7,500 | Minang Noongar people construct fish traps in Oyster Harbour, bar the mouth of the Kalgan River, east of Albany. | Food |
| 1616 | Dirk Hartog in the 'Eendracht' land on Dirk Hartog Island. | Transport |
| 1618 | Visits by Haevick Claeszoon van Hillegom in the 'Zeewolf'. | Transport |
| 1619 | Naming of the Abrolhos Islands by Houtman in the 'Dordrecht'. | Transport |
| 1622 | Naming of Cape Leeuwin following the voyage of the 'Leeuwin'. | Transport |
| 1622 | Wreck of the 'Tryall' (British) north west of the Monte Bello islands. | Transport |
| 1627 | Journey along the southern coast of WA by Francois Tyssen in the 'Gulden Zeepaerdt'. | Transport |
| 1628 | G F de Witt lands near Roebourne. | Transport |
| 1629 | Wreck of the 'Batavia' on the Abrolhos Islands. | Transport |
| 1644 | Voyage of Abel Tasman charting coast from Arnhem Land to Roebuck Bay. | Transport |
| 1656 | Wreck of the 'Gilt Dragon' | Transport |
| 1658 | Samuel Volkerson on the 'Waekende Boey' discovers Rottnest. | Transport |
| 1687 | Admiral Duquesne Guitton on the 'Lóiseau' sails along the coast near Fremantle. | Transport |
| 1688 | William Dampier sails into King George Sound. | Transport |
| 1696-1697 | William De Vlamingh names Rottnest Island and Swan River. | Transport |
| 1699 | William De Vlamingh anchors in Shark Bay. | Transport |
| 1712 | Wreck of the 'Zuytdorp' north of the Murchison River. | Transport |
| 1727 | Wreck of the 'Zeewijk' on the Abrolhos Islands. | Transport |
| 1728 | Launch of the Sloepie from the wreck of the 'Zeewijk' on the Abrolhos Islands. First ever European ship built in Australia. | Transport |
| 1772 | Louis Francois Marie Allenoon, commanding the 'Gros Venture', lands on Dirk Hartog Island and claims the land for France. | Transport, Leadership |
| 1791 | Naming of King George Sound by George Vancouver in the 'Discovery'. | Transport |
| 1792 | Captain D'Entrecasteaux sails along the southern coast looking for Francois La Perouse. | Transport |
| 1801-1802 | Thomas Nicholas Baudin's investigation of the West Australian coast. | Transport |
| 1801-1802 | Matthew Flinders in the 'Investigator' charts the West Australian coast. | Transport |
| 1818 | Louis De Freycinet in the Uranie explores the Shark Bay area. | Transport |
| 1819-1822 | Coastal surveys by Phillip Parker King in the 'Mermaid'. | Transport |
| 1825 | Jules Dumont Durville in the 'Lástrolabe' visits King George Sound on a scientific expedition. | Transport, Environment |
| 1826 | Edmund Lockyer arrives from NSW at King George Sound (later Albany) and establishes the first settlement in W.A. with troops and convicts. (December 25) | Buildings, Leadership |
| 1827 | Lockyer claims the western third of New Holland land for the British Crown. (January 21) | Leadership |
| 1827 | James Stirling aboard the 'HMS Success' surveys the Swan River with a view to settlement. (March) | Transport |
| 1828 | Syndicate formed in London for colonisation of Swan River. | Leadership |
| 1829 | Captain Fremantle takes formal possession of the western third of New Holland for the British Crown. (May 2) | Leadership |
| 1829 | James Stirling officially proclaims the territory of Western Australia. (June 18) | Leadership |
| 1829 | First buildings constructed on Garden Island. | Buildings |
| 1829 | Perth is founded. (August 12) | Buildings, Leadership |
| 1830 | A group of settlers is persuaded by Stirling to establish their community near Cape Leeuwin, thus forming the town of Augusta. | Buildings |
| 1831 | Round House gaol at Fremantle is completed to a design by Henry Reveley. (January 18) | Buildings |
| 1831 | William Kernot Shenton constructs a horse powered flour mill in Fremantle. (February) | Buildings, Food |
| 1831 | Swan River canal cut by John Crane creating Burswood as an island to improve river navigation and monthly boat service established between Fremantle and Guildford. | Transport |
| 1831 | First newspaper established. | Communications |
| 1832 | Perth gaol and guard house constructed by Henry Trigg. | Buildings |
| 1832 | Town of Augusta surveyed by A Hillman and barracks constructed by G Layman and J Cook. | Buildings |
| 1833 | First flour mill erected at Perth by Henry Reveley operated by waterpower. (January) | Buildings, Food |
| 1833 | First wind powered flour mill erected at Point Belches by William Kernot Shenton. (August) | Buildings, Food |
| 1834 | Colony exports its first wool shipment by Henry Rivett Bland from York. | Transport |
| 1834 | Henry Reveley, Perth's chief civil engineer, prepares designs for Government House. | Buildings |
| 1834 | Ellen Stirling laid foundation stone of Government House in October 1834. | Buildings |
| 1834 | Ferries were operating across the Swan River at Fremantle, Preston Point, Mount Eliza and at Guildford. | Transport |
| 1835 | William Kernot Shenton has the second Point Belches (South Perth) flour mill constructed by millwrights Paul and James Lockyer. | Buildings, Food |
| 1835 | Commissariat Store completed to a design by Henry Reveley by Henry Trigg and B Maycock. (July) | Buildings |
| 1836 | First brewery established by Stokes and Watt. (February) | Food |
| 1836 | The 'Lady Stirling' was built at Fremantle. | Transport |
| 1836 | Perth Courthouse constructed by Messrs Powell, Thompson and Jecks to a design by H W Reveley. (December) | Buildings |
| 1837 | Albion Brewery on Spring Street established by James Stokes. | Food |
| 1837 | The Fremantle Whaling Company began operating and built the tunnel under Arthur's Head. | Transport |
| 1837 | Road communication was established between Perth and Albany. | Transport |
| 1837 | First major export cargo from the Swan River Colony on the 'Hero' being 80 tons whale oil, 4.5 tons whalebone, 50 tons timber, 8 tons wool, 1,500 lbs of gum and 2 emus. (November) | Transport |
| 1838 | Government House completed, after demolition of the first Governor's residence on the same site. | Buildings |
| 1839 | Public Offices completed on the site of the current Council House to a design by Henry Reveley. | Buildings |
| 1841 | Bridge at the Perth end of the Causeway completed. (July) | Transport |
| 1841 | Goal completed at Guildford. | Buildings |
| 1841 | Western Australian Bank established. | Leadership |
| 1841 | A weekly mail service began from Guildford to York and Northam and also a monthly service between Perth and Albany. | Communications |
| 1842 | Perth Town Trust toll jetty completed. (November 9) | Transport |
| 1842 | Henry Trigg began the foundations of the first lighthouse on Rottnest Island. | Transport, Buildings |
| 1843 | First causeway opens over the Swan River and a toll is charged. (24th May) Designed by WA's first Surveyor General, John Septimus Roe, and modified by Superintendent of Works, Henry Trigg. Replaced in 1864. | Transport |
| 1845 | W. Forrest constructed the Brunswick Bridge. | Transport |
| 1845 | The first steam ship 'HMS Driver' visited Fremantle. | Transport |
| 1845 | Military Barracks built by soldiers of the 51st Regiment at Kojonup. | Buildings |
| 1845 | Public offices and lockup built at Bunbury. | Buildings |
| 1847 | Board of Works established under the chairmanship of William Knight. (November 11) | Leadership |
| 1848 | Gregory exploration party discovers lead ore in the bed of the Murchison River near Northampton. | Mining |
| 1849 | Final pile on first Canning River Bridge driven by contractor Solomon Cook to a design by Henry Trigg. (December 10) | Transport |
| 1849 | Collie River Bridge at Australind completed. | Transport |
| 1849 | Geraldine Mine commences extracting lead ore from the bed of the Murchison River. | Mining |
| 1849 | Copper discovered at the Geraldine Mine. | Mining |
| 1850 | First convicts arrive aboard the 'Scindian' with Comptroller General, Royal Engineer Captain Edmund Henderson. (June 1) | Leadership |
| 1851 | First lighthouse near the centre of Rottnest Island (June 1) and another on Arthur’s Head were completed. | Transport, Buildings |
| 1851 | A coaling depot for mail steamers was established at Albany. | Transport |
| 1851 | Mechanics Institutes were established in Perth and Fremantle. | Engineering Practice |
| 1851 | Lt. Wray, RE., arrived with the 20th Company of Royal Engineers. | Leadership |
| 1852 | First mail steamer, the 'Australian' followed by the 'Chusan' and 'Formosa' began a regular service via Albany from Britain. | Transport |
| 1852 | Smelting Furnace constructed at the Geraldine Mine near Northampton. | Mining |
| 1853 | Fremantle Commissariat Store completed to a design by James Manning under the supervision of Lieutenant Wray. | Buildings |
| 1853 | Mineral exports from Port Gregory commence with 55 tons of pig lead valued at £1,200. | Mining, Transport |
| 1854 | First postage stamps are introduced. Going against tradition, W.A. issued stamps bearing the image of a black swan and not the reigning monarch. | Communications |
| 1854 | Perth Boy's School completed to the design of William Ayshford Sanford. (September) | Engineering Practice |
| 1854 | Lt. Du Cane, RE., supervised construction of the Guildford Bridge. | Transport |
| 1855 | Fremantle South Bay Jetty completed on the site of Reveley's old stone jetty. | Transport |
| 1855 | Steamboat the 'Les Trois Amis' began service on the Swan River. | Transport |
| 1856 | Perth Goal and Courthouse completed to design of Richard Roach Jewell. (September) | Buildings |
| 1857 | Steamboats 'Pioneer' and 'Lady Stirling' made their first trips on the Swan River. | Transport |
| 1857 | Construction begins on first Town Jetty at Geraldton. | Transport |
| 1858 | Lighthouses lit at Point King and on Breaksea Island near Albany. | Transport |
| 1859 | P&O Steam navigation Company built a jetty at Albany. | Transport |
| 1859 | Convict Establishment (Fremantle Goal) completed to the design of Edmund Henderson, having taken inmates since 1855 when the Gate House was completed. | Buildings |
| 1864 | Government House completed to a design by Edmund Henderson, Richard Roach Jewell and James Manning. | Buildings |
| 1864 | Original Bunbury Jetty built by William Forrest. | Transport |
| 1864 | Second Causeway Bridge open for traffic in August and officially opened by Governor Hampton on 12 November 1867. Replaced in 1952. | Transport |
| 1864 | A timber bridge on stone piers (which still stand) was built by John Maley at Greenough. | Transport |
| 1865 | Fremantle Lunatic Asylum completed to a design by Edmund Henderson. | Buildings |
| 1865 | First 526 feet of the Busselton Jetty constructed by Harry J Yelverton. | Transport |
| 1866 | Bridge over the river at Fremantle opens to a design by James Manning and Captain Grain. (Built by convicts) | Transport |
| 1866 | The Pensioner Barracks first stage completed, designed by Richard Roach Jewell. | Buildings |
| 1867 | S. Cook finished reconstructing the Perth Causeway to a design by R Jewell. | Transport |
| 1867 | New bridge over the Helena River at Guildford opened. (November 12) | Transport |
| 1867 | A steam flour mill was opened at Northam. | Buildings, Food |
| 1868 | Transportation of convicts from England ends with a total of 9,721 having been transported to the colony. Last ship 'Hougoumont' arrives. (January 10) | Leadership |
| 1868 | Dongara Jetty completed, constructed by Ben Mason. | Transport |
| 1869 | First telegraph line opens between Perth and Fremantle, built by Edmund Stirling and Alexander Cumming with technical advice from ex convict James Coates Fleming. (June 21) | Communications |
| 1870 | John Forrest leads the first expedition to cross Australia from west to east. (March 30 August 27) | Transport |
| 1870 | Perth Town Hall, designed by Richard Roach Jewell and James Manning opens. (June 1st) | Buildings |
| 1870 | Albany Post Office completed to a design by James Manning, constructed by George Adams and John Mattison. | Buildings |
| 1870 | The Vasse lights were lit in Geographe Bay. | Transport |
| 1870 | Imperial authorities empower Governor in Council to waive the right of the crown to minerals. | Mining |
| 1871 | First private railway in the state running on wooden rails. It was built by the Western Australian Timber Co and ran from Lockeville near Busselton to Yokonup. | Transport, Materials |
| 1871 | Alexander Forrest leads an expedition from Perth to the Goldfields and Esperance. | Transport, Communications |
| 1871 | Districts Road Act is passed and 18 Road Boards are established. (3 more added by the end of the year) | Transport |
| 1872 | Telegraph connected from Perth to Fremantle, Guildford, Newcastle (Toodyay), Northam, York, Pinjarra, Bunbury and Albany by the Electro Magnetic Telegraph Company. | Communications |
| 1872 | Mason & Bird opened a private railroad from Jarrahdale to Rockingham. | Transport |
| 1872 | A copper mine was opened at Whim Creek. | Mining |
| 1873 | 750 feet Fremantle Long Jetty completed, constructed by Mason, Bird and Co. | Transport |
| 1873 | Streets of Perth were lit with oil lamps. | Electricity |
| 1874 | The telegraph reached Geraldton. | Communications |
| 1875 | A cyclone destroyed the pearling fleet in Exmouth Gulf. | Environment |
| 1876 | The telegraph reached Esperance. | Communications |
| 1877 | Telegraph connects Perth to Adelaide, Darwin and London with the completion of the line to Eucla. (December 9th) | Communications |
| 1878 | The first telephones in Perth were connected by a private line. | Communications |
| 1878 | The lighthouse on Point Moore near Geraldton was lit. | Transport |
| 1879 | First Government railway in the State constructed from Geraldton to Northampton. (July 6) | Transport |
| 1879 | First edition of the West Australian newspaper. | Communications |
| 1879 | Swan Brewery buildings constructed on Mounts Bay Road. | Buildings, Food |
| 1881 | Railway from Perth to Guildford completed, constructed by John Robb. (February 14) | Transport |
| 1881 | Trinder Anderson and Company, with offices in London, began operating coastal ships. | Transport |
| 1883 | Discovery of Coal on the Collie River. | Mining |
| 1884 | Eastern Railway extension from Guildford to Chidlows Well opened, constructed by J W Wright. (March 11) | Transport |
| 1884 | The 'SS Natal' began a regular service between Perth and Singapore. | Transport |
| 1885 | The first payable gold is discovered at Halls Creek. | Mining |
| 1885 | Contract for 300 foot jetty at Derby let to David Law. | Transport |
| 1885 | The telegraph reached Cossack in the Pilbara. | Communications |
| 1885 | Gas lighting of streets in Perth and private company opened the Fremantle gasworks. | Energy |
| 1885 | Railway reached Northam and York. | Transport |
| 1885 | A sanitation commission was established in Perth. | Water |
| 1886 | Kimberley goldfield proclaimed. | Mining |
| 1886 | Jarman Island Lighthouse completed. | Transport |
| 1886 | West Australian Steam Navigation Company begins a regular service from Perth past the Kimberley to Singapore. | Transport |
| 1886 | Commencement of Western Australian Electric Light and Power Company and opening of the Perth gasworks. | Energy |
| 1887 | W. J. Hancock installed the first public telephone service in Perth and Fremantle. | Communications |
| 1887 | Water was reticulated in the West Ward of Fremantle. | Water |
| 1887 | Gold discovered at Southern Cross. | Mining |
| 1887 | The Northern Railway from Geraldton reached Walkaway. | Transport |
| 1887 | Timber jetty constructed at Eucla | Transport |
| 1888 | Western Australian Land Company built a jetty at Albany and began constructing a railway northward to Beverley. | Transport |
| 1888 | Yilgarn Goldfield at Southern Cross proclaimed. | Mining |
| 1888 | Eucla Jetty built by Baillie, Davies and Wishart. | Transport |
| 1888 | 14 bed Albany Hospital completed. | Buildings |
| 1888 | Pilbara Goldfield proclaimed. | Mining |
| 1888 | The horse tramway was completed from Roebourne to Cossack. | Transport |
| 1888 | Tin discovery at Greenbushes. | Mining |
| 1888 | The telegraph reached Wyndham in the East Kimberley. | Communications |
| 1888 | Government House lit by electricity. | Electricity |
| 1889 | Great Southern Railway from Albany to Beverley opens. | Transport |
| 1889 | Submarine telegraph cable reached Broome from Java. | Communications |
| 1890 | First shipment of cattle from the Kimberley arrives at Fremantle in June. | Transport, Food |
| 1890 | Ashburton Goldfield proclaimed. | Mining |
| 1890 | E. Keane resumes building the Midland Railway northwards from Midland Junction. | Transport |
| 1891 | Murchison Goldfield proclaimed. | Mining |
| 1891 | C.Y.O'Connor arrives in Western Australia. | Leadership, Transport, Water |
| 1891 | Perth receives its first reticulated water supply with the opening of Victoria Reservoir by City of Perth Water Supply Company. (1 October) | Water |
| 1891 | The WA Electric Light and Power Company illuminated the chambers of the Legislative Assembly. | Electricity |
| 1891 | Fort Scratchley was opened at Albany. | Defence |
| 1892 | Construction of Fremantle Harbour begins. | Transport |
| 1892 | Arthur Bayley and William Ford discover gold at Fly Flat near Coolgardie. | Mining |
| 1892 | Copper found at Ravensthorpe. | Mining |
| 1892 | Coolgardie safe invented. | Engineering Practice |
| 1892 | Princess Royal Fortress in Albany is operational | Defence |
| 1893 | Paddy Hannan finds gold at Kalgoorlie. | Mining |
| 1893 | Electricity becomes available in Perth City. | Electricity |
| 1893 | Decision to create a Department of Mines. | Mining |
| 1893 | South Western railway completed from Pinjarra to Bunbury. | Transport |
| 1894 | All major mining centres are connected to Perth by telegraph. | Communications |
| 1894 | Perth Gas Company generated its first electricity at 110 volts. | Electricity |
| 1894 | Department of Mines (including Geological Survey) open for business from offices in Perth. | Mining |
| 1894 | Coolgardie and Dundas Goldfields proclaimed. | Mining |
| 1894 | Northam to Southern Cross railway completed. | Transport |
| 1894 | Geraldton to Mullewa railway completed. | Transport |
| 1894 | Cossack Wharf completed by Nelson and Martinson. | Transport |
| 1894 | Midland Railway from Midland to Walkaway opens. | Transport |
| 1895 | Government purchases Great Southern Railway. | Transport |
| 1895 | Duplicate rail bridge at mouth of Swan River for stone cartage from Rocky Bay to South Mole constructed. | Transport |
| 1895 | Bucket Dredge 'Fremantle' cuts through bar at the mouth of the Swan River. | Transport |
| 1895 | Artesian water found at Midland. | Water |
| 1895 | Construction of the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse | Transport |
| 1895 | Karrakatta Camp gazetted, renamed Irwin Training Centre in 1948, and then Irwin Barracks | Defence |
| 1896 | Government purchases Perth Water Supply and appoints first Metropolitan Water Works Board. (5 October) | Water |
| 1896 | Southern Cross to Coolgardie railway completed by Wilkie Brothers. | Transport |
| 1896 | Cape Leeuwin lighthouse completed, constructed by M C Davies to a design by G T Poole. | Transport |
| 1896 | Babbage Island lighthouse off Carnarvon completed. | Transport |
| 1896 | Second Rottnest lighthouse completed by Parker and Rhodes. | Transport |
| 1896 | The Eastern Railway Mahogany Creek deviation, involving the first rail tunnel in the colony, was completed. 'N' Class 4-4-4T locomotives introduced. | Transport |
| 1896 | Geraldton Jetty extended to 1700 feet by J McDowell. | Transport |
| 1896 | Napier Bell submitted plans for sewering Perth and Fremantle. | Water |
| 1897 | S.S. Sultan becomes the first steamer to use the new Fremantle Harbour. (May) | Transport |
| 1897 | Titles Office building, Perth, completed to a design by G T Poole. | Buildings |
| 1897 | Coolgardie to Kalgoorlie railway completed. | Transport |
| 1897 | Mullewa to Cue railway completed. | Transport |
| 1897 | Government acquired the Great Southern Railway between Beverley and Albany, which increased its length of lines to 1,000 miles. Government Railways began electric interlocking and installing its own electric power plant. | Transport |
| 1897 | 2,810 foot jetty completed at Esperance. | Transport |
| 1897 | A total of 17 separate goldfields and another four mining districts are established throughout the state. | Mining |
| 1897 | Niagara Dam was built north east of Kalgoorlie. | Water, Mining |
| 1897 | Construction of the Alexander Bridge over the Blackwood River | Transport |
| 1898 | First self propelled motor car imported. | Transport |
| 1898 | Construction of the Perth Tramway System begins. | Transport |
| 1898 | Perth Observatory completed. | Engineering Practice |
| 1898 | City Baths opened 5th March, designed by G. R. Johnson. | Buildings |
| 1898 | Two triple expansion steam engines began supplying piped water to Fremantle. | Water |
| 1898 | Work on Goldfields Water Supply commences with a rail spur from Mundaring and a temporary dam on the Helena River. | Water |
| 1898 | Collie Coalfields Railway completed. | Transport, Energy |
| 1898 | The Northern Railway reaches Cue and the Eastern Goldfields railway reached Menzies. | Transport |
| 1898 | The Mines Department establishes its first State Battery. | Mining |
| 1898 | Herbert Hoover appointed as mine manager at Sons of Gwalia gold mine. | Mining |
| 1899 | First electric tram operates in Perth. (Hay St.) | Transport, Electricity |
| 1899 | Water reticulated to Subiaco, Leederville and North Perth. | Water |
| 1899 | Perth Mint opens. (June 20) | Mining |
| 1899 | Dr Diehl demonstrated his bromide cyanide process for recovering gold from telluride ore at Kalgoorlie. | Mining |
| 1899 | G. P. Stevens experimented with radio communications to Rottnest Island. | Communications |
| 1899 | Kalgoorlie water pipeline begins construction. | Water |
| 1899 | 4,340 foot Carnarvon jetty completed by M Price. | Transport |
| 1899 | 3,200 foot breakwater completed for Bunbury Harbour. | Transport |
| 1900 | Perth Technical College was opened. | Engineering Practice |
| 1900 | Royal Mail steamers began calling at Fremantle. | Transport |
| 1900 | Collie Coalfield produced 116,000 tons of coal. | Energy |
| 1900 | A submarine telephone cable was laid to Rottnest Island. | Communications |
| 1900 | 860 foot jetty at Onslow completed. | Transport |
| 1901 | Perth was joined to Cape Town by telegraph cable. | Communications |
| 1901 | Splatt Wall & Company opened their generating station at Midland. | Electricity |
| 1901 | C. Palmer recommended bacterial treatment of sewage from Government House. | Water |
| 1902 | Northam Goomalling railway completed. | Transport |
| 1902 | Frank Allen appointed first Director of Mining Schools. | Mining |
| 1902 | Trams began operating between Boulder and Kalgoorlie. | Transport, Electricity |
| 1902 | A program to drill artesian bores to supply water to Perth was commenced. | Water |
| 1902 | Mundaring Weir was completed. | Water |
| 1903 | Goldfields water scheme is opened. | Water |
| 1903 | Classes commence at School of Mines Kalgoorlie in November. | Engineering Practice, Mining |
| 1903 | Menzies Leonora railway completed. | Transport |
| 1903 | Steam trams begin operating at Leonora. | Transport |
| 1903 | Cue Nannine railway completed. | Transport |
| 1903 | The two moles at Fremantle and the breakwater at Bunbury are extended. | Transport |
| 1903 | Point Sampson 2,097 foot jetty completed. | Transport |
| 1903 | Supreme Court building, Perth, completed. | Buildings |
| 1903 | Parliament House opened (July). | Buildings |
| 1903 | Subiaco opened its electric light plant. | Electricity |
| 1904 | Dunsborough Lighthouse was lit on Cape Naturaliste. | Transport |
| 1904 | R Anketell began construction of the rabbit proof fences. | Environment |
| 1905 | First tram operates in Fremantle. | Transport, Electricity |
| 1905 | Commenced construction of Greenmount Reservoir to supply water to Midland Junction and Guildford. Water reticulated in 1907. | Water |
| 1905 | Eastern Goldfields Railway extended to Laverton. | Transport |
| 1905 | Midland rail workshops complex completed and final transfer of staff from Fremantle. | Transport, Manufacturing |
| 1906 | Second Fremantle Railway Station opened. | Transport |
| 1906 | Narrogin to Darkan and Goomalling to Dowerin railways completed. | Transport |
| 1906 | Forts Arthur Head and Forest completed; protected Fremantle in WW1. | Defence |
| 1907 | Wagin to Dumbleyung, Katanning to Kojonup and Collie to Darkan railways completed. | Transport |
| 1907 | Leonora operates its first electric tram. | Transport, Electricity |
| 1907 | With completion of No. 3 rabbit proof fence, 2,027 miles of fences constructed. | Environment |
| 1907 | Laying of underground telephone circuits begins in Perth. | Communications |
| 1908 | Port Hedland 766 foot jetty completed. | Transport |
| 1908 | Trans Australia railway survey led by R J Anketell. | Transport |
| 1909 | Subiaco oval opened with timber grandstand. | Buildings |
| 1909 | Narrogin to Wickepin and Coolgardie to Norseman railways completed. | Transport |
| 1909 | Bedout Island lighthouse completed. | Transport |
| 1910 | Mount Magnet to Black Range and Nannine to Meekatharra railways completed. | Transport |
| 1910 | Forty two telephone exchanges operating in the State. | Communications |
| 1910 | Perth Technical School completed. | Engineering Practice |
| 1910 | Cape Inscription and Point Cloates lighthouses completed. | Transport |
| 1911 | First aeroplane flight in Perth. Bristol Boxkite piloted by J.J. Hammond. (January 3rd.) | Transport |
| 1911 | Bickley Brook Reservoir opened. | Water |
| 1911 | Tramlines in Perth extended to Leederville and North Perth. | Transport |
| 1911 | Goomalling to Wongan Hills railway completed. | Transport |
| 1911 | Cape Leveque lighthouse completed. | Transport |
| 1911 | University of W.A. begins construction at Irwin St , Perth. University relocates to Crawley in 1925 | Engineering Practice |
| 1912 | State Steamship Services commences, later to become State Shipping Service. (1919) | Transport |
| 1912 | Applecross Wireless station opened for shipping and inter continental communications. | Communications |
| 1912 | Vlaming Head lighthouse completed. | Transport |
| 1912 | Port Hedland to Marble Bar railway completed. | Transport |
| 1912 | Government railway imported M Class Garret locomotives. | Transport |
| 1912 | Septic tanks at Claisebrook and percolating filters at Burswood commissioned for Perth sewerage system. | Water |
| 1913 | First wireless (radio) station opens in Applecross. | Communications |
| 1913 | University of W.A. commences operation. | Engineering Practice |
| 1913 | Commencement of Trans Continental Railway construction from Kalgoorlie. | Transport |
| 1913 | Perth City Council purchases the Perth Gas Company with its works and generating stations and establishes its Electricity and Gas Department. | Electricity, Energy |
| 1913 | Sewage pumping stations opened at Mill Street in Perth and Market Street in Fremantle. | Water |
| 1913 | Artillery Barracks opened - now a significant military heritage building, in Burt Street, Fremantle | Defence |
| 1914 | First successful Australian made aeroplane flies at Coolgardie. (17 May.) | Transport, Manufacturing |
| 1914 | State's first automatic telephone exchange opened in Perth. | Communications |
| 1914 | Crawley Baths opened 7th February by Premier John Scaddan. | Buildings |
| 1914 | Wongan Hills to Mullewa railway completed. | Transport |
| 1916 | East Perth Electric Powerhouse opened with a capacity of 12.5 MW. | Electricity |
| 1916 | Harvey Weir completed and Harvey Irrigation District opened. | Water |
| 1917 | Trans Australian Railway line from Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta opened. | Transport |
| 1918 | Wyndham Meatworks jetty completed. | Transport |
| 1919 | Government built meatworks at Wyndham opened. | Food, Manufacturing |
| 1919 | Government acquired the Perth Tramways. | Transport, Leadership |
| 1920 | First trans continental flight. Melbourne to Perth. DH4 piloted by F.S. Briggs. (Landed in Perth December 2.) | Transport |
| 1921 | First airmail service established. (December) | Transport |
| 1922 | Western Australian Airways becomes the first in Australia to commence scheduled commercial flights. It took passengers between Geraldton and Derby. (Later to become MacRobertson Miller Aviation in 1934.) | Transport |
| 1922 | Bottle Creek (Narrogin) and Wicherina (Geraldton) Dams completed. | Water |
| 1923 | Perth General Post Office completed. | Buildings |
| 1923 | Conversion of street lighting from gas to electricity completed. | Electricity |
| 1924 | Radio station 6WF conducts first radio broadcasts on 4th June. | Communications |
| 1924 | Maylands aerodrome opened after the Commonwealth Government acquires the 130 acre site. | Transport |
| 1925 | Churchman's Brook Pipehead Dam was completed. | Water |
| 1926 | Fremantle Railway Bridge collapsed in a flood. | Transport |
| 1926 | Main Roads Board created. (previously Roads and Bridges Branch, PWD) | Transport, Leadership |
| 1927 | Interstate telegraphy transferred to Trans Australia rail alignment and Eucla telegraph station abandoned. | Communications |
| 1927 | Voice repeater station installed at Merredin to improve telephony between Perth and Kalgoorlie. | Communications |
| 1927 | Salmon Gums to Esperance railway completed. | Transport |
| 1928 | Minderoo Bridge across the Ashburton River (the first in steel and reinforced concrete) completed. | Transport |
| 1929 | Aero Club of Australia (W.A. Branch) later Royal Aero Club is incorporated. | Transport |
| 1929 | Western Australian Airways begin regular flights between Perth and Adelaide with DH 66 Hercules airliners. | Transport |
| 1930 | Premier of Western Australia makes the first telephone call across the Nullarbor. | Communications |
| 1931 | Harvey Weir raised, Drakesbrook Dam completed and Waroona Irrigation district opened. | Water |
| 1931 | First reinforced concrete berths opened in Geraldton Harbour. | Transport, Materials |
| 1931 | Collie power station opened. | Electricity |
| 1932 | Central buildings at the University of Western Australia completed and St. George's College officially opens. | Buildings |
| 1932 | Meekatharra to Wiluna railway opened. | Transport |
| 1932 | Equipment for bulk handling of wheat opened at Fremantle. | Food, Transport, Engineering Practice |
| 1932 | Start of program for relaying and cement lining of water mains in the Metropolitan Area. | Water |
| 1933 | Establishment of a trolleybus service from East Perth to Leederville via Wellington and Cambridge Streets, first permanent trolleybus system in Australia. | Transport, Electricity |
| 1933 | Wellington Dam on the Collie River completed. | Water |
| 1933 | Cooperative Bulk Handling Ltd established. | Food, Leadership |
| 1933 | Australian Broadcasting Commission completed a relay link between Adelaide and Perth. | Communications |
| 1934 | A lease was assigned over iron ore deposits at Koolan Island in Yampi Sound off the coast of the Kimberley to the Nippon Mining Company backed by the Japanese government. | Mining |
| 1934 | Harvey River Diversion constructed between 1930 and 1935. | Water |
| 1935 | Flying Doctor base opens at Port Hedland. | Transport, Communications |
| 1935 | Esperance Jetty completed. | Transport |
| 1935 | First rural automatic telephone exchange opened at Brunswick Junction and trunk telephone services reached Meekatharra. | Communications |
| 1935 | Fortress Fremantle operational, along with Rottnest Island gun battery | Defence |
| 1936 | High gold prices encourage investment and Comet Gold mine opened at Marble Bar. | Mining |
| 1936 | Automatic telephone exchanges opened at Maylands and Victoria Park. | Communications |
| 1936 | Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Works commissioned and Burswood works closed. | Water |
| 1937 | Public and government outcry when Nippon Mining proposed not to use Australian labour but to send its own engineers to construct the Koolan Island mine. | Mining, Leadership |
| 1937 | Government Railway began operating Governor class diesel electric railcars and the Cue to Big Bell railway completed. | Transport |
| 1938 | East Perth B Power Station with a capacity of 25 MW was completed. | Electricity |
| 1938 | Piccadilly Theatre with air conditioning was opened in Perth. | Buildings |
| 1938 | 'Westland Express' with connection to the Trans Australian Railway began running between Perth and Kalgoorlie. | Transport |
| 1939 | King Edward Memorial hospital completed. | Buildings |
| 1939 | Main Roads Department opened the third and current road traffic bridge at Fremantle. | Transport |
| 1939 | RAAF Pearce airbase operational | Defence |
| 1940 | Canning Dam which had commenced in 1933 was completed and opened. | Water |
| 1941 | Samson Brook Dam completed. | Water |
| 1941 | Improved roads reached Eucla and Esperance from Norseman. | Transport |
| 1941 | Meeberrie Station earthquake 7.2 on the Richter Scale. WA's largest measured earthquake. | Engineering Practice, Buildings |
| 1942 | The 2,000 ton slipway was completed at Fremantle. | Transport |
| 1943 | Australian Blue Asbestos Ltd commences mining at Wittenoom. | Mining |
| 1943 | Coastal defensive fortifications constructed in the Perth area and Geraldton. | Defence |
| 1943 | Artillery road construction, allowing armoured units to move between Perth, Geraldton and inland | Defence |
| 1943 | Leighton Gun Battery on Buckland Hill was commissioned | Defence |
| 1944 | Perth Airport developed for military purposes to comprise two 6,000 foot runways. | Defence, Transport |
| 1945 | Labour shortages as a result of the Second World War caused many mines to cease operation, and following the war, many did not re open. | Mining |
| 1945 | The State Electricity Commission was established. | Electricity, Leadership |
| 1946 | TAA began regular services with DC4 aircraft to the eastern states. | Transport |
| 1947 | Stirling Dam on the Harvey River completed. | Water |
| 1947 | Main Roads Department began reconstructing the Perth Causeway. | Transport |
| 1947 | Establishment of charcoal fired pig iron plant at Wundowie. | Materials, Manufacturing |
| 1948 | State Electricity Commission began Stage 2 of South Fremantle Power Station and took over the Gas and Electricity Department of the City of Perth. | Electricity, Leadership |
| 1949 | First export of heavy mineral sands for testing. | Mining |
| 1949 | Western Collieries began mining coal at Collie. | Mining, Energy |
| 1950 | BHP opened its open cut iron ore mine on Cockatoo Island with first shipment to its Port Kembla steelworks in 1951. (mine closed in 1984) | Mining |
| 1950 | RAAF Learmonth established (upgraded to 'bare base' in 1971) | Defence |
| 1951 | Mundaring Weir raised. | Water |
| 1951 | South Fremantle Power Station began generating at 50 Hz with transmission at 66KV. | Electricity |
| 1951 | Diesel locomotives began service on the Trans Australian Railway. | Transport |
| 1952 | Causeway reconstruction completed and opened. | Transport |
| 1952 | Atomic device exploded at the Monte Bello Islands. | Defence, Energy |
| 1953 | WAPET discovers oil at Rough Range, near Exmouth Gulf | Energy |
| 1953 | First Traffic Lights installed in Perth. | Transport |
| 1953 | Dredging for Kwinana industrial development begins in Cockburn Sound. | Transport |
| 1954 | First Narrows bridge begins construction. | Transport |
| 1954 | Construction of BHP blast furnace and steel rolling mill at Kwinana. (opened in 1956) | Materials, Manufacturing |
| 1954 | South Fremantle Power Station begins burning oil. | Electricity |
| 1954 | ADG diesel mechanical railcars introduced on Perth suburban services and X Class 2 Do 2 diesel electric locomotives begin mainline service. | Transport |
| 1954 | Twelve circuit telephone system opened between Perth and Port Augusta. | Communications |
| 1955 | BP Australia opens its oil refinery at Kwinana. | Energy |
| 1955 | International airport opened at Guildford. | Transport |
| 1955 | East Perth Power Station enlarged to 55 MW. | Electricity |
| 1956 | Commencement of mining of mineral sands, chiefly ilmenite, in the Capel area. | Mining |
| 1956 | Wellington Dam Hydro Power Station brought online. | Water, Electricity |
| 1956 | Construction of Wellington to Narrogin pipeline completed. | Water |
| 1956 | The 132 KV Bunbury to Cannington Line operating at 66 KV (connecting the Metropolitan and South West Power Schemes) brought online. | Electricity |
| 1956 | Bulk grain terminal opened at Albany. | Food, Transport |
| 1956 | First LPG produced from feedstock from BP Kwinana by Kleenheat Gas for cooking, heating and gas refrigeration in rural households. | Energy |
| 1957 | Campbell Barracks established, in Swanbourne | Defence |
| 1958 | Tram services finish in Perth. | Transport |
| 1959 | First black and white television broadcast in Perth. | Communications |
| 1959 | Narrows Bridge and Kwinana Freeway Stage 1 opens to traffic. | Transport |
| 1959 | Radio telephone circuit completed to Derby. | Communications |
| 1959 | Muja Open Cut was opened at Collie. | Energy, Mining |
| 1960 | Raising of Wellington Dam by 50 feet was completed. | Water |
| 1960 | BHP opened its iron ore mine at Koolyanobbing (closed in 1983) and the Commonwealth Government lifts embargo on export of iron ore. | Mining |
| 1960 | A Class diesel electric locomotives of 1300 HP were introduced. | Transport |
| 1960 | Commencement of bauxite mining at Jarrahdale. | Mining |
| 1961 | Serpentine Dam which had begun in 1957 was completed. | Water |
| 1961 | Bunbury power station commissioned. | Electricity |
| 1961 | Muchea Satellite Tracking Station opened. | Communications |
| 1962 | Perry Lakes Stadium completed for Empire games. | Buildings |
| 1962 | Passenger terminal at Perth Airport opened and jet flights from Perth to London start. | Transport |
| 1962 | Perth gets the name 'City of Light' as John Glenn passed over the city in his Mercury spacecraft. | Leadership |
| 1962 | The Bendix G15 becomes the first functional computer to be installed in W.A. It was second hand and cost 21,000 pounds. It had just 7kb of memory. | Engineering Practice |
| 1962 | The 66 KV network extended to Albany. | Electricity |
| 1963 | First load of Jarrahdale bauxite railed to refinery at Kwinana. | Mining |
| 1963 | Opening of Laporte Titanium Dioxide Plant at Australind. (1 November)(Not fully operational until 5 June 1964) Due to effluent disposal problems associated with the sulphate process, the plant was replaced by a chloride process plant at Kemerton. (opened 11 November 1988) Australind plant closed on 30 October 1990. | Mining, Manufacturing |
| 1963 | Construction of the Ord River Diversion Dam and the Logue Brook Dam were completed. | Water |
| 1963 | ALCOA began producing alumina at Kwinana. | Materials, Manufacturing |
| 1963 | Jandakot Airport opened and Maylands closed. | Transport |
| 1964 | NASA tracking station at Carnarvon completed. | Communications |
| 1964 | Oil discovered on Barrow island. | Energy |
| 1966 | US Navy builds a communications station at North West Cape. | Defence |
| 1966 | Decimal currency is introduced on (February 14th.) | Leadership |
| 1966 | Discovery of high grade nickel ore at Kambalda. | Mining |
| 1966 | Commencement of iron ore production from Mt Tom Price to Dampier. | Mining |
| 1966 | Asbestos mining at Wittenoom discontinued. | Mining |
| 1966 | Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT) located at Bentley, completed. | Engineering Practice |
| 1966 | TV transmitted by satellite from England to Carnarvon. (Wimbledon and test cricket) | Communications |
| 1966 | Muja A&B power station brought online. | Electricity |
| 1966 | Construction of Waroona Dam completed. | Water |
| 1966 | Construction of deep water jetty at Broome completed. | Transport |
| 1967 | Oil production begins on Barrow Island. | Energy |
| 1967 | Shark Bay Salt commenced export from Useless Loop. | Manufacturing |
| 1967 | Kambalda Nickel mine commenced production. | Mining |
| 1967 | First iron ore railed from Mt Goldsworthy and shipped from Port Hedland. | Mining |
| 1967 | Construction of standard gauge rail from Fremantle to Kalgoorlie completed. | Transport |
| 1968 | Meckering earthquake 6.9 on the Richter Scale. Most damaging in WA. (14 October) | Buildings, Engineering Practice |
| 1968 | BHP opened its blast furnace at Kwinana. | Materials, Manufacturing |
| 1968 | Pelletising plant at Dampier was opened. | Mining, Manufacturing |
| 1968 | BP commissioned its ammonia nitric acid plant and CSBP began making fertiliser. | Manufacturing, Food |
| 1968 | Four tube coaxial cable completed from Perth to Carnarvon. | Communications |
| 1969 | Closing of Australia's last remaining trolleybus lines to Wembley and Floreat. (29 August) | Transport |
| 1969 | Standard earth station for INTELSAT was established at Carnarvon. | Communications |
| 1969 | Control of the WA School of Mines transferred from the Department of Mines to the Western Australian Institute of Technology. | Mining, Leadership, Engineering Practice |
| 1969 | Sealing of the Eyre Highway from Norseman to Eucla completed. | Transport |
| 1969 | Discovery of Nickel at Mt Windarra. | Mining |
| 1969 | Leslie Salt commenced export from Port Hedland. | Manufacturing |
| 1970 | Standard gauge railway finally goes all the way to Sydney. | Transport |
| 1970 | Discovery of the Eneabba mineral sands deposits. | Mining |
| 1970 | East West microwave radio link connected Western Australia to the National Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) system. | Communications |
| 1970 | Kwinana power station brought online. | Electricity |
| 1970 | Dedari Pumping Station, the last of the G&AWS steam plants, was converted to diesel operation. | Water |
| 1970 | Murdoch University opens. | Engineering Practice |
| 1970 | Federal Metric Conversion Act passed for Australia to transition to metric units. | Engineering Practice |
| 1970 | Lake Mcleod salt commenced export from Cape Cuvier, gypsum export added in 1997. | Manufacturing |
| 1971 | Discovery of the Agnew nickel deposit. | Mining |
| 1971 | Discovery of the Telfer gold deposit. | Mining |
| 1971 | Discovery of the Yeelirrie uranium deposit. | Mining, Energy |
| 1971 | The Prospector travelling at up to 120 km/hr began operating between Perth and Kalgoorlie and the last steam locomotive was retired from service. | Transport |
| 1971 | Lower Helena Diversion Dam, pump station and pipeline to Mundaring Weir completed. | Water |
| 1971 | WANG Parmelia gas pipeline from Dongara to Pinjarra commissioned. | Energy |
| 1971 | The North Rankin and Goodwyn natural gas fields on the North West Shelf offshore from Dampier were discovered. | Energy |
| 1972 | Lake Argyle was formed by the completion of the Ord River Dam. | Water |
| 1972 | Discovery of Golden Grove copper zinc deposit. | Mining |
| 1972 | Dampier Salt commenced export from Dampier. | Manufacturing |
| 1972 | Ralph Sarich 'invents' the Orbital Engine. | Engineering Practice |
| 1972 | Narrows Interchange / Mitchell Freeway Stage 1 opened. | Transport |
| 1972 | Construction of the alumina refinery at Pinjarra completed. | Manufacturing, Mining |
| 1973 | Construction of South Dandalup Dam completed. | Water |
| 1973 | A gas turbine of 20MW began operating at Geraldton and the 132KV line between Perth and Geraldton was energised. | Electricity |
| 1973 | The causeway to Garden Island was completed. | Defence |
| 1974 | Stirling Bridge at Fremantle opened. | Transport |
| 1974 | ALCOA opened its alumina refinery at Pinjarra. | Manufacturing, Mining |
| 1974 | Mineral sands mining began near Eneabba. | Mining |
| 1974 | Speed signs and road distances converted to metric. All new vehicles have metric odometers and speedometers. | Transport, Engineering Practice |
| 1975 | First colour television broadcast. | Communications |
| 1975 | Westrail was established with 7,800 km of track and 200 diesel locomotives. | Transport |
| 1975 | The 330 KV line between Kwinana and the Northern Terminal was energised. | Electricity |
| 1975 | Bunbury Inner Harbour was officially opened. | Transport |
| 1976 | Completion of major bulk grain export port facilities at Geraldton (1937), Fremantle (1942), Albany (1956), Esperance (1962) and Kwinana (1976). | Food, Transport |
| 1976 | WA Chip and Pulp commenced operation in Manjimup and the export of wood chips from Bunbury Inner Harbour. | Materials, Transport |
| 1976 | Sealing of the Eyre Highway in South Australia completed. | Transport |
| 1976 | Discovery of Teutonic Bore copper zinc deposit. | Mining |
| 1976 | Allendale Square completed, becoming WA's tallest building. On its opening, the building was the largest fully aluminium clad freestanding tower in Australia, and one of the largest in the world. | Buildings |
| 1978 | Kwinana Power Station began burning coal and micro wave links were completed to all Power Stations. | Electricity |
| 1978 | HMAS Stirling commissioned | Defence |
| 1979 | Perth to Fremantle railway line is CLOSED! | Transport |
| 1979 | Last train ran to Meekatharra, the Donnelly River Timber Mill closed and the last whale was taken at Albany. | Transport, Materials, Environment |
| 1979 | Cadoux earthquake 6.1 on the Richter Scale. Second most damaging in WA. | Buildings, Engineering Practice |
| 1979 | Discovery of the AK1 diamond pipe in the Kimberley, the Granny Smith gold deposit and the Scuddles copper zinc deposit. | Mining |
| 1979 | Construction of Wungong Dam completed. | Water |
| 1979 | Telecom commissioned its first digital telephone system using 30 circuit pulse code modulation. | Communications |
| 1980 | Gold discovered at Boddington. | Mining |
| 1980 | An LPG gas plant at Albany and wind generators of 50 & 22KW on Rottnest Island were commissioned. | Energy, Electricity, Environment |
| 1980 | High pressure sodium lights were introduced. | Electricity |
| 1981 | The bitumenised road surface reached Broome. | Transport |
| 1981 | Diamond mining began in the Kimberley. | Mining |
| 1981 | Woodside opened module construction sites at Henderson (then called Jervoise Bay) and Geraldton Harbour. Construction of Woodside's offshore pipeline from North Rankin to Withnell Bay near Karratha, and the onshore facilities for natural gas processing, also began. | Energy |
| 1982 | Mount Henry Bridge across the Canning River was opened. | Transport |
| 1983 | Ben Lexcen designed Australia II wins the America's Cup. | Engineering Practice |
| 1983 | Railway from Perth to Fremantle re opened. | Transport |
| 1984 | Dampier to Perth gas pipeline competed. North West Shelf commenced gas sales to SECWA. (16 August) | Energy |
| 1984 | ALCOA opened its Wagerup alumina refinery with bauxite ore from the Willowdale mine located East of Waroona. | Manufacturing, Mining |
| 1985 | Dampier to Perth gas pipeline extended to Bunbury. | Energy |
| 1985 | Opening of Technology Park in Bentley. (July) | Engineering Practice |
| 1985 | Discovery of the Kintyre uranium deposit. | Mining, Energy |
| 1985 | Argyle Diamonds commences AK1 production. | Mining |
| 1986 | Perth International Terminal building opens. | Transport, Buildings |
| 1986 | The last shipment of iron ore left Cockatoo island. | Mining |
| 1986 | Final national microwave link completed from Kununurra to Katherine. | Communications |
| 1987 | West Australian Institute of Technology became Curtin University. | Engineering Practice |
| 1987 | AMC commissioned its synthetic rutile plant at Narngulu, a suburb of Geraldton, using the Becher process to treat ore mined at Eneabba. | Manufacturing, Mining |
| 1987 | First wind farm in Australia opened at Salmon Beach near Esperance. | Electricity, Environment |
| 1988 | RAAF Curtin, Derby, operational as a 'bare base' | Defence |
| 1989 | First shipment of LNG to Japan. (August) | Energy |
| 1989 | Commissioning of quartzite mine at Moora and Silicon Smelter at Kemerton by Barrack Mines Ltd, now Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd. (December) | Manufacturing, mining |
| 1989 | Discovery of gold at Plutonic Bore. | Mining |
| 1989 | Notre Dame University opened at Fremantle. | Buildings |
| 1989 | Edith Cowan University, combining several tertiary educational facilities, opens, with new campus at Joondalup. | Buildings |
| 1992 | Joondalup railway line is opened becoming the first new metropolitan line opened in over 100 years. | Transport |
| 1996 | Goldfields gas pipeline completed, Yaraloola to Kalgoorlie, later extended to Esperance. | Energy |
| 1997 | Beenyup Mineral Sands mine in Scott River area opened by BHP. Mine closed in April 1999 due to clay recycling in dredging ponds, and sand abrasiveness, limiting plant capacity. Mine site rehabilitated. | Mining, Manufacturing |
| 1999 | Collie power station brought online. | Electricity |
| 2002 | Albany Plantation Export Company (APEC) commences wood chip exports from Albany. | Materials, Transport |
| 2005 | Commissioning of HIsmelt Process Plant at Kwinana, with a capacity of 820,000 tonnes of pig iron per annum, by a consortium led by Rio Tinto. Closed in 2011, refer The West Australian | Manufacturing |
| 2006 | The Perth Seawater Desalination Plant, located in Kwinana, started operating in November 2006 and produces 45 billion litres of fresh drinking water a year. | Water |
| 2007 | Mandurah Railway opens (December). | Transport |
| 2021 | Carnarvon Jetty severely damaged by Cyclone Seroja on 12 April. | Transport |
The first version of this Timeline titled 'A Preliminary List of Dates of Significant Engineering Works in Western Australia' was prepared by D. A. Cumming in September 1993. Mr. Cumming acknowledged assistance from 'Date It!' and 'More Dates', both published by Friends of the Battye Library (Inc).
