Australia chose to bat after winning the toss, but their openers Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield were unable to make the most of their opportunities.
Ellyse Perry then took the mound and joined Tahlia McGrath in a crucial 119-run partnership. However, England spinner Sophie Ecclestone disqualified McGrath for 61, ending the partnership.
Play was disrupted by rain, necessitating an early tea break and a 90-minute delay before the third session resumed. Ecclestone continued to pose a threat to Australia, dismissing captain Alyssa Healy and Jess Jonassen in one over to take two wickets.
Ellyse Perry, who has 15 boundaries to her name and has an impressive Test average of over 75, appeared to be on track to score her third century. Lauren Filer, a debutante from England, enticed Perry into a drive when she was 99. Nat Sciver-Brunt caught the ball in the gully after it flew off the outside edge after Perry made contact with it.
After that, Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland collaborated for 77 runs to limit Australia's damage. However, when England took the new ball, Gardner was eventually dismissed, and Lauren Bell caught her behind for 40.
Sutherland and newcomer Alana King remained unbeaten at stumps on 39.
The multi-format Ashes series will begin with this Test match and continue with three Twenty20 matches and three one-day internationals.
After losing the Ashes to Australia in 2021-2022, England wants to win them back.