Motor  Vehicles - Introduction

During the twentieth century the automobile came to play a central role in the lives of most Western Australians. The first car was registered for use in Western Australia in 1901. During this early period of motoring in the State only the wealthiest and most adventurous citizens owned vehicles.

Automobiles were signs of social standing and were used for recreation, even though motor vehicles were beginning to be used for business reasons. A hundred years later the vast majority of families in Western Australia owns some form of motor vehicle.