The Perth team's announcement on Friday came a day after the Scorchers lost a bidding war for West Indies master blaster Chris Gayle, who opted against returning to Perth.
Gibbs, 37, is the seventh-leading scorer in T20 history with 2673 runs at an average of 26.20 and a strike-rate of 125.
The opener's tally of 113 matches at domestic and international level makes him the sixth-most experienced player in the game.
The South African demonstrated his hitting power with six sixes in one over in the 2007 one-day World Cup and one of his best innings was an 111-ball 175 against Australia in 2006 in Johannesburg in a one-dayer.
"I have known Herschelle for many years and have seen him destroy some of the best attacks in world cricket," former South African national coach Arthur said.
"I am looking forward to seeing him take to the Big Bash League in a similar manner and I'm sure the Perth Scorchers' fans will really warm to him."
The Scorchers' four other signings on Friday were Western Australian and Australian veteran Mike Hussey, young all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Tom Beaton.
Hussey, 36, was a member of the Chennai Super Kings who won this year's Indian Premier League T20 title.
Perth announced on Thursday it had poached New South Wales Shield captain Simon Katich, a native West Australian, for the new competition.
The eight new city-based sides have salary caps of $1 million per team. Gayle knocked back a $250,000 offer from Perth.
Hurricanes' coach Ali de Winter said on Friday national back-up wicketkeeper Tim Paine and Test spinner Xavier Doherty had signed with the new Hobart team, alongside crowd favourite and Pakistan import Rana Naveed.
The SCG-based Sydney Sixers signed New South Wales state players Steve Smith and Moises Henriques, while Cameron Borgas and Daniel Harris will play for Adelaide Strikers.
Rounding out 14 signings announced on Friday, Chris Lynn and Nick Buchanan will play for Brisbane Heat.
The main contracting window closes on July 22, with teams needing to sign a minimum of 14 players and a maximum of 18, including up to two from overseas, in that time.
- AAP
Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, wa First posted July 1, 2011 18:00:00
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