All Australian state capitals have some basic layout concepts in common - their downtown area lies on the banks of a river or estuary, not far from the sea, and all have some larger park or botanical garden in the vicinity of the city centre. Same for Perth, the capital of Western Australia. The river is the Swan River (named after the black swans living there), and the park the beautiful Kings Park, with the West Perth Botanical Gardens. Instead of the typical beachside suburb, Perth has a sister city on the ocean side,  Fremantle. With 1.5 million citizens, Perth is one of the smaller state capitals, but it has to offer much to the visitor. Above the Central Business District, as seen from the Swan River.