I was born and raised in Perth and I can tell it has always been hot and very dry. There have always been water restrictions. Most years it gets up around 40 or over in the summer depending where you are. I find the city seems hotter now than it used to be and I think that is because of all the new freeways, so much more concrete and bitumen around now. It just reflects the heat back into the air whereas 40 years ago there was more grass and bush.
