City: Western Australia
Top Things to do in Western Australia
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10 History Museums in Western Australia That You Shouldn't Miss
Western Australia (abbreviated as WA) is a state occupying the entire western third of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east. Western Australia is Australia's largest state, with a total land area of 2,529,875 square kilometres (976,790 sq mi), and the second-largest country subdivision in the world, surpassed only by Russia's Sakha Republic. The state has about 2.6 million inhabitants – around 11% of the national total – with 92% living in the south-west corner, mostly in the Perth area, leaving the remainder of the state sparsely populated.
Restaurants in Western Australia
1. The Sacred India Gallery
2. City of South Perth Historical Society Inc.
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Open Fridays 10-4, Saturday, Sunday 1 - 4pm Original artworks by May Gibbs, creator of the iconic Gum-Nut Babies and Snugglepot and Cuddlepie with items of local history are exhibited in this distinctive 1904 building restored as an Art Museum and Gallery. From 1889 May Gibbs lived in a charming home across the road from this building, part of a unique group of five heritage buildings.
Reviewed By 619jeffry - Essendon, Australia
The South Perth Historical Society is housed in a handsome colonial era red brick building. Displays change regularly -- when I visited, it was an exhibition devoted to May Gibbs, who is best known for her Gumnut Babies. The museum is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Fridays and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Entry is gratis. The museum is on the corner of Mends St and Mill Point Road. Parking is usually available nearby.
3. Bridgetown Police Station Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Bridgetown Police Station Museum was built in 1880 and served as a police station until 1973. The Museum has recently had interpretive panels and new displays installed, to make it a contemporary, interesting historical museum
Reviewed By Suzelacruze - Perth, Australia
The museum is open Saturdays from 10 to 2. The volunteers are really nice and knowledgeable. We really enjoyed reading about the history of the town. The pictures and artefacts were very interesting. I particularly liked the farming and blacksmithing equipment. Well worth a visit.
4. Western Australian Medical Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By 619jeffry - Essendon, Australia
Medicine has come a long way from the early days of the last century, when medicine was sometimes as much an art as a science. The exhibits often look like instruments of torture rather than methods of treatment. The Museum is open 10:30 am to 4:00 pm on Wednesday, and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on the second Sunday of the month. This museum is worth a detour, it is at the rear of the King Edward Memoral Hospital for Women (KEMH), or "KIng Ted" as it is often called.
5. Fremantle Prison
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,057 reviews
Fremantle Prison is one of Western Australia’s premier tourist attractions and the only World Heritage listed building in the State.The Prison was built by convicts in the 1850s and was used as a place of incarceration for almost 140 years. With solitary cells and gallows Fremantle Prison is a monument to a system of punishment that is uncomfortably recent. Fremantle Prison now holds the key to history, mystery and fun. Step inside and do time with experienced guides on a fascinating Prison Day Tour. Explore the labyrinth of tunnels 20m beneath the Prison by foot and by boat on a Tunnels Tour adventure. Feeling brave? Delve into the darker side of the Prison’s history on an eerie Torchlight Tour.
Reviewed By R2072TOjulieb - Caulfield, Australia
We had Chris for our True Crime Tour and Janine for our Torch Light tour which were both really good and worth doing. The True Crime tour talks about crimes committed but does not go in to too much detail and therefore is not gross. If you want to hear more about the Claremont case I can recommend the Crime Junkie pod cast which has an episode on the case... This does however go in to a fair amount of detail and would not be recommended for under 16s. The Torch Light tour is good and a very different experience again. A little scary at times but great fun and interesting history on the place.
6. Albany's Historic Whaling Station
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,143 reviews
Spend a day exploring the world’s only complete whaling station tourism attraction and gain fascinating insight into Albany’s colorful past. Follow informative trails to learn the stories of the men and women whose livelihood depended on Australia’s whaling industry. There are a variety of activities to experience and see such as short films within the converted whale oil tanks, a giant blue whale skeleton display, precious scrimshaw art, and a world-renowned marine animal art collection. You may even climb aboard the Cheynes IV, the world’s only preserved Whalechaser ship. Afterwards, relax in a cafe overlooking one of Albany’s most picturesque bays and enjoy free BBQ facilities in a beautiful Regional Wildflower Garden.
Reviewed By Henny52 - Walton-On-Thames, United Kingdom
An absolutely fascinating (albeit rather gruesome) history of the whaling industry in Albany that includes a 40 minute guided tour (Shelly was excellent - both very knowledgeable and animated) as well as lots of free to roam exhibits around the whole site. It’s quite eerie in parts and the short videos (all seem to be 8 minutes long) are so interesting....but some are quite gory. It demonstrates how barbaric the whaling industry was until it closed in 1978 and how the country is now a much better place without it. Whales are now treasured rather than hunted. There is a 3D film, a holographic film and a film showing interviews with former employees. It really is so interesting. You can climb aboard the Cheynes IV whale chaser ship as if it docked for the last time yesterday and visit the various parts of the factory, see the tools, equipment and machinery used and experience how it all worked. There are various whale skeletons to see too, including the enormous pigmy blue whale. It’s a sad and moving experience, but absolutely fascinating at the same time. We arrived for the 2pm tour but still hadn’t finished seeing everything by the time the doors closed at 5pm. The $32 entry ticket also includes access to a botanical garden and wildlife centre, but we ran out of time to visit those. We were so impressed with the place and would 100% recommend it to everyone. We just wish we’d had about an hour or so longer to see everything. We’d advise doing the guided tour at the beginning to give a feel of the place before exploring the rest on your own. Tours run on the hour between 10am and 3pm.
7. Museum of Geraldton
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 491 reviews
Overlooking the Indian Ocean, the Museum of Geraldton celebrates the rich heritage of the land, sea and people of the Mid West region. Discover ancient landforms, Yamaji history and culture, and the region’s unique natural landscapes and marine environment. The archaeological riches from four Dutch shipwrecks - Batavia, Gilt Dragon, Zuytdorp, and Zeewijk, are revealed in the Shipwrecks Gallery. Visitors can join a guided highlights tour available daily at 11.30am. Witness the wrecks of HMAS Sydney (II) and HSK Kormoran as they currently lie, 2,500 metres deep on the ocean floor, in From Great Depths, a moving exhibit and 3D film. The Museum’s shop has a great range of souvenirs, gifts and educational items suited to all ages and interests. The Museum is open daily 9:30am - 3:00pm. Closed all public holidays.
Reviewed By H7161JHmatthewt - Bunbury, Australia
Great displays and well knowledgable staff, Great selection of books and gifts, amazing artefacts and history. Really set me up for my trip to the Abrolhos. Could do with a cafe, toilets super clean. Enjoyed very much, a thank you Geraldton.
8. Kununurra Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 40 reviews
The Kununurra Museum run by the Kununurra Historical Society (KHS) is open Monday to Friday - 12:30 to 5:30pm - Always Dependent on Volunteer Availability. Entry $2 (min donation - No EFTPOS available :^) May be open some weekends so If the gate is open and Open sign out - Please come in). Kununurra Museum is in a purpose-built Archive and Museum facility - A dynamically active collecting institution and museum with multi-screen digital slideshows over 20,000 images at the Museum and almost 3,000 images online (Flickr) also searchable in Trove. We are actively collecting and receive over 100 new archives/objects per year. As well as the Kununurra Museum website also search YouTube for "Kununurra Museum" to find our YouTube Channel. Visit the Kununurra Museum in person, just 225 metres from the PO at 72 Coolibah Drive Kununurra. Come in to soak up some incredibly interesting Kimberley-history, of local, State & National significance. Hope you enjoy your visit! TIA
Reviewed By SDWassman - Darwin, Australia
Kununurra Museum, does not look like much from the outside, but inside there is a treasure trove of historical artefacts relating to the Kimberley, including a wealth of information and personal information of the early explorers/settlers such diary’s, notes etc. Geological specimens from the area are also abundant and very interesting. The museum is run by Andrew Barker, President of Kununurra Historical Society, who relies on donations to keep the museum and the regions history alive and receives little to no funding. Unlike most museums, Andrew encourages the items to be touched - examined & probed,in order to gain the full appreciation & understanding of the object. Andrew’s enthusiasm, passion and wealth of knowledge, and his eagerness to share this information is simply amazing. We loved it, and if you visit Kununurra, this museum is a must to visit.
9. Broome Historical Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 875 reviews
Broome's fascinating past comes to life when you visit one of the best regional museums in Australia. Our significant collection is housed across three heritage buildings and illustrates the settlement, society and industry of our unique town. Browse exhibits on pearling, wartime, communication, transport and more in fully air conditioned comfort. We provide an extensive photograph collection, research facilities, children's activities and sell local history books and postcards.
Reviewed By PanaD100
Well worth a visit lots to see and absorb and the volunteers who run the place do such an excellent job, we spent over two hours there and loved every second.
10. Busselton Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 111 reviews
Reviewed By S7528XWians
An amazing collection of a wide range of items related to farming,business and household living. Also a number of old and re-created buildings.Very helpful volunteers on hand.
