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The name “Perth” was chosen in tribute to Perth, Scotland, in honor of Sir George Murray, the 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, read in Fremantle on 18 June 1829, and is further corroborated by Charles Fremantle’s diary entry of 12 August 1829, which noted that the settlement was named according to Murray’s wishes.

Alongside its European name, the city also carries the Noongar name Boorloo, reflecting the traditional custodianship of the Whadjuk Noongar people over the land. Historically, Boorloo was recorded by Robert Menli Lyon in 1833, initially linked to the central business district and interpreted as “Perth, properly Point Fraser.” Other interpretations include “big swamp,” describing the lakes and wetlands that occupied the area where the central business district and Northbridge now stand. Some scholars suggest Boorloo derives from the Noongar word bilya, meaning “river,” highlighting the area’s connection to the Swan River.

The significance of the name Boorloo continues in contemporary Perth. In November 2024, the Premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook, along with ministers Rita Saffioti and John Carey, referenced Boorloo during the opening of Boorloo Bridge, emphasizing the city’s Indigenous heritage. Earlier that year, the Government of Western Australia highlighted the use of Boorloo Bidee Mia, meaning “Perth pathway to housing” in Whadjuk Noongar, reflecting ongoing efforts to recognize and celebrate Noongar culture within the modern urban landscape.

This dual identity, European and Noongar, underscores Perth’s rich cultural tapestry and the importance of preserving both its colonial history and the enduring connection of Aboriginal Australians to the land.