Below, we highlight Western Australia’s contributions to science, technology, medicine, and industry

 Wi-Fi Technology (1992)

One of the most transformative technologies of the modern world, Wi-Fi was developed by a CSIRO research team led by Dr John O’Sullivan (1943). The breakthrough relied heavily on radio astronomy research conducted in Western Australia, particularly at remote observatories. This innovation laid the foundation for global wireless communication and modern digital life.

Autonomous Mining and Remote Operations

Western Australia is a global leader in autonomous mining technology, including driverless haul trucks, remote operations centres and AI-assisted mineral extraction. Major companies operating from WA have set international standards for smart mining and large-scale automation.

Wave Energy & Renewable Innovation

Western Australia’s coastline has been used as a testing ground for wave-powered renewable energy systems, combining ocean science, engineering and sustainability. These projects contribute to global research into clean energy solutions.

Spray-On Skin Technology

Developed and applied in Perth by Professor Fiona Wood (1958), spray-on skin technology revolutionised the treatment of severe burns. By spraying cultured skin cells directly onto wounds, the method accelerates healing, reduces scarring and improves survival outcomes. The innovation gained global recognition after being used to treat victims of the 2002 Bali bombings and remains a major contribution to modern trauma medicine.

Helicobacter pylori Discovery — early 1980s

Discovered in the early 1980s in Perth, Western Australia, by Barry Marshall (born 1951) and Robin Warren (1937–2024), Helicobacter pylori is the bacterium responsible for most stomach ulcers and chronic gastritis. Identified at the Royal Perth Hospital, this breakthrough overturned long-held medical beliefs and transformed the treatment of gastrointestinal disease worldwide. The discovery led to effective antibiotic therapies and earned its discoverers the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, marking one of Western Australia’s most significant contributions to global medical science.

Burley Football — 1906

Created in 1906 in Western Australia by carpenter and former tanner’s apprentice Joe Burley, the Burley football was designed specifically for Australian Rules football to retain its shape and durability better than the rugby balls that had previously been used. Burley was asked to make a ball that “kept its shape” for the Western Australian Football Association (WAFA), and his design was first tried in a WAFA game in June 1906. The ball gained popularity and became the exclusive ball used by the West Australian Football League (WAFL) from 1921 onward, remaining a symbol of football in Western Australia and an enduring feature of the state’s sporting culture.

Avian Influenza Vaccine Marker (DIVA Technology) — early 2000s

Developed in Western Australia by scientist Cassandra James, the Avian Influenza Vaccine Marker is an innovation that allows authorities and farmers to differentiate between infected and vaccinated poultry during disease outbreaks. By enabling accurate surveillance without the need to cull entire healthy flocks, this breakthrough transformed biosecurity responses to avian influenza, reducing economic losses and improving animal welfare. The innovation represents Western Australia’s contribution to advanced agricultural science and global disease management strategies.

Harrington Seed Destructor (HSD) — late 2000s

Developed in Western Australia in the late 2000s by WA grain farmer Ray Harrington (born c. 1950s, living), the Harrington Seed Destructor (HSD) is an agricultural innovation designed to destroy weed seeds during the harvesting process. Integrated into harvesters, the system mechanically crushes weed seeds before they are returned to the soil, significantly reducing weed populations and lowering farmers’ reliance on chemical herbicides. Created in response to herbicide-resistant weeds in Western Australia’s grain regions, the HSD has since been adopted internationally and is regarded as a breakthrough in sustainable farming and global weed management.

Western Australia has been shaped incredible leaders, explorers, engineers, reformers and scientists whose work changed the state’s identity, infrastructure and knowledge. The individuals below are selected for lasting historical impact in WA — from early resistance and colonial-era development to world-leading medical and scientific breakthroughs.

Sir John Forrest (1847–1918) — Explorer, surveyor and statesman

Sir John Forrest was a surveyor and explorer who became the first Premier of Western Australia, shaping the colony’s development and early state institutions. His expeditions and political leadership are frequently cited as foundational in WA’s nineteenth-century history.

C. Y. O’Connor (1843–1902) — Engineer and infrastructure pioneer

Charles Yelverton O’Connor was WA’s first Engineer-in-Chief and is strongly associated with major public works that transformed the state’s infrastructure. His best-known projects include Fremantle Harbour and the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, both considered defining achievements in WA engineering history.

Edith Dircksey Cowan (1861–1932) — Social reformer and political pioneer

Edith Cowan became the first woman elected to an Australian parliament (Western Australia, 1921). Her work is closely linked to reforms affecting women, children and social welfare, marking a major turning point in WA’s civic and political history.

Professor Fiona Stanley (born 1946) — Epidemiologist and child health leader

Fiona Stanley is a leading epidemiologist whose work helped shape child health research and public policy in Western Australia. Her long-term influence in research institutions based in Perth made her one of WA’s most significant modern scientific figures.

Professor Barry J. Marshall (born 1951) — Medical scientist (Helicobacter pylori; Nobel Prize)

Born in Kalgoorlie, Barry Marshall’s research helped prove that Helicobacter pylori causes peptic ulcers — a breakthrough recognised with the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. His work is strongly linked to Western Australia through training and research in Perth.

Professor Fiona Wood (born 1958) — Burns surgeon and medical innovator (spray-on skin)

Based in Perth, Fiona Wood is internationally recognised for advancing burns treatment, including the development of “spray-on skin” technology. Her work became widely known through major clinical responses in WA and continues to shape burns care and research.

Professor David Blair (born 1946) — Physicist and precision-measurement pioneer

David Blair is an experimental physicist at the University of Western Australia whose work contributed to precision measurement science and gravitational-wave research. He is also associated with innovations such as the sapphire clock and WA-based research infrastructure supporting this field.