List of museums in Western Australia facts for kids

Western Australia is a huge state, and it's packed with amazing museums! A museum is a special place where people collect and take care of interesting objects. These objects can be about history, art, science, or even nature. Museums let you see these collections and learn all sorts of cool things. They help us understand the past, learn about different cultures, and discover new ideas.

Ready to explore some of the awesome museums you can visit in Western Australia?

Awesome Museums in Western Australia

Explore History!

Western Australia has a rich history, from early settlers to big industries. Many museums help us step back in time and see how people lived and worked long ago.

Step Back in Time

• The Albany Convict Gaol Museum in Albany was once a real prison! You can explore what life was like for convicts.
• The Albany Co-operative Store, also in Albany, shows what a local shop was like in the past.
• Argyle Downs Homestead Museum near Kununurra is an old pioneer home from the 1880s. It's also called the Duracks Museum.
• The Augusta Historical Museum in Augusta shares stories about the local area's past.
• Azelia Ley Homestead Museum in Hamilton Hill is another great place to learn about local history.
• The Belmont Museum in Belmont also focuses on the history of its local community.
• Bridgedale in Bridgetown is a historic house managed by the National Trust.
• The Broome Museum in Broome tells the story of this unique pearling town.
• The Bunbury Museum and Heritage Centre in Bunbury explores the history of the city.
• The Busselton Museum in Busselton shares local history.
• The Carnamah Museum in Carnamah is run by the local historical society.
• The Chapman Valley Museum in Nanson focuses on the history of the Chapman Valley area.
• Chiverton House Museum in Northampton covers mining, farming, and social history.
• The City of Gosnells Museum – Wilkinson Homestead in Gosnells is an early 20th-century farm with old buildings and machines.
• The Claremont Museum in Claremont shares the history of Claremont.
• The Coalfields Museum in Collie tells the story of the local coal mining industry.
• The Corrigin Pioneer Museum in Corrigin celebrates the pioneers of the region.
• The Cunderdin Municipal Museum in Cunderdin has local history exhibits.
• Dead Finish Museum in Beverley is run by the Beverley Historical Society.
• The Denmark Historical Museum in Denmark shares local history.
• The Esperance Museum in Esperance has a wide range of local history items.
• The Goomalling Museum in Goomalling explores the history of the Goomalling area.
• Gwalia Historical Museum in Gwalia tells the story of this old mining town.
• Halliday House in Bayswater is managed by the Bayswater Historical Society.
• Heathcote Museum and Gallery in Applecross covers the history of a former hospital, local culture, and art.
• History House Museum in Armadale is a local history museum.
• Hyden Pioneer Town in Hyden shows what a pioneer town was like.
• The Irwin District Museum in Dongara is run by the Irwin District Historical Society.
• The Jarrahdale Old Post Office Museum in Jarrahdale shares the history of the town.
• King Cottage Museum in Bunbury is an old cottage run by the Bunbury Historical Society.
• The Kununurra Museum in Kununurra tells the story of the Kununurra area.
• Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage in Bluff Point is run by the Geraldton-Greenough Historical Society.
• Mandurah Community Museum in Mandurah shares the history of Mandurah.
• Melville Discovery Centre in Booragoon focuses on social history and culture.
• The Miller Bakehouse Museum in Melville is a 19th-century wood-fired bakery.
• Mount Flora Regional Museum in Watermans Bay is a local history museum.
• The Museum of Perth in Perth tells the story of the city.
• Narembeen Museums in Narembeen include St Paul's Museum, History Museum, and History and Machinery Museum.
• Old Farm, Strawberry Hill in Albany is the oldest surviving home in Western Australia.
• The Old Railway Station Museum in Northam shares local history.
• Old Roebourne Gaol in Roebourne is a historic gaol.
• Patrick Taylor Cottage Museum in Albany is an 1830s wattle and daub home.
• Peninsula Farm in Maylands is a mid-19th-century farmer's cottage.
• Residency Museum (York) in York is run by the Shire of York.
• The Rockingham Historical Society Museum in Rockingham shares local history.
• The Rottnest Island Museum on Rottnest Island tells the island's story.
• Royal Western Australian Historical Society Museum in Nedlands has a huge collection about Perth and Western Australia.
• Russ Cottage in Dongara is a historic house.
• Slater Homestead in Goomalling is a historic home.
• The Southern Cross & Yilgarn Districts Historical Museum in Southern Cross shares local history.
• Subiaco Museum in Subiaco focuses on the history of Subiaco.
• Swan Guildford Historical Society in Guildford covers the history of Guildford and the Swan Valley.
• The Wagin Historical Village in Wagin is an open-air museum.
• Wanneroo Museum in Wanneroo shares local history.
• Warden Finnerty's Residence in Coolgardie is a historic house.
• Wonnerup House in Wonnerup is a mid-19th-century house with a historic school.
• Woodbridge House in Woodbridge is a beautiful late 19th-century mansion.
• Woodloes Homestead in Cannington is a mid-19th-century house.
• The Wongan Hills and District Museum in Wongan Hills shares local history.

Old Prisons and Forts

• Bridgetown Old Gaol in Bridgetown was an old jail.
• Fremantle Prison in Fremantle is a huge mid-19th-century prison you can explore, including tunnels and prisoner art!
• Newcastle Gaol Museum in Toodyay, also known as Newcastle Gaol Museum, has old prison cells and a courtroom.
• Perth Gaol in Perth is part of the Western Australian Museum.
• Princess Royal Fortress in Albany is a historic fort with old cannons and barracks.
• Round House in Fremantle is the oldest building still standing in Western Australia, and it was once a prison.
• York Courthouse Complex in York includes a courthouse, cell block, and police station.

Life on the Farm

• Avondale Discovery Farm in Beverley is a research farm with old buildings and farming tools.
• Central Greenough Historic Settlement in Greenough is an old farming town from the mid-19th century.
• The Grain Discovery Centre in Narembeen teaches you about the wheat and grain industry.
• Hugh Manning Tractor & Machinery Museum in Serpentine has a collection of old tractors and farm machines.
• Mangowine Homestead in Nungarin is a historic farm home.
• The Wubin Wheatbin Museum in Wubin focuses on wheat farming.
• The Wyalkatchem CBH Agricultural Museum in Wyalkatchem has farming and transport exhibits.

How Things Were Made

• Connor's Mill in Toodyay is a historic flour mill.
• The Miller Bakehouse Museum in Melville is a 19th-century wood-fired bakery.
• No 1 Pump Station in Mundaring was a steam pump station that helped bring water to the Goldfields.
• Yarloop Workshops in Yarloop are historic railway workshops with working steam engines.

Amazing Machines!

If you love vehicles, Western Australia has some fantastic museums dedicated to all kinds of transport!

Cars, Bikes, and Trucks

• Bailup Ford Farm in Bailup has a collection of old cars (open by appointment).
• The House of Buick in Bedfordale specializes in Buick cars (open by appointment).
• Motor Museum of Western Australia in Whiteman Park has cars, motorcycles, and other cool items.
• Ridley's Motor Museum in Bertram also has a collection of old cars.
• The Vickers Holden Museum in Furnissdale is all about Holden cars (open by appointment).
• The West Coast Motor Museum in Mandurah has over 50 vehicles from 1915 onwards.
• York Motor Museum in York displays vintage and classic motor vehicles.

Planes and Trains

• Beverley Aeronautical Museum in Beverley celebrates Western Australian aviators.
• Aviation Heritage Museum in Perth has military and civilian aircraft, and even aircraft engines!
• Bus Preservation Society of Western Australia in Whiteman Park shows the history of buses in Western Australia.
• Don Rhodes Mining and Transport Museum in Port Hedland is an outdoor display of old mining machines and railway trains.
• The Merredin Railway Museum in Merredin is run by the Merredin Historical Society.
• Revolutions Transport Museum in Whiteman Park covers all kinds of land transport, including horse-drawn vehicles.
• South West Rail and Heritage Centre in Boyanup is run by Rail Heritage WA and has railway exhibits.
• Tractor Museum of Western Australia in Whiteman Park has vintage tractors, trucks, and engines.
• Western Australian Rail Transport Museum in Bassendean has historic steam locomotives and trains.

Ships and the Sea

• The Brig Amity in Albany is a replica of an early 19th-century ship.
• Australian Sailing Museum in Mandurah includes yacht models and the history of Australian sailing.
• Busselton Jetty Interpretive Centre in Busselton tells the story of the famous jetty.
• Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse at Cape Leeuwin offers lighthouse tours.
• Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse at Cape Naturaliste also has tours and maritime history.
• HMAS Ovens in Fremantle is a real submarine you can explore, part of the Western Australian Museum.
• The Museum of Fishing & The Sea - The Packout Room in Port Denison focuses on crayfishing and the natural history of the Irwin Coast.
• WA Shipwrecks Museum in Fremantle is part of the Western Australian Museum and has amazing items from ships wrecked along the coast.
• WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle, also part of the Western Australian Museum, has boats, fishing exhibits, and naval history.
• Whale World in Albany is located in a former whaling station and teaches about whales and the whaling industry.

Science, Art, and Nature!

Discover the wonders of science, admire beautiful art, and learn about the natural world.

Discover Science and Space

• Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum in Carnarvon tells the story of the satellite station used for NASA's Apollo Moon project. How cool is that?!
• Gravity Discovery Centre in Gingin is a hands-on science center focusing on physics and astronomy.
• Scitech in Perth has interactive exhibits where you can learn about science, technology, engineering, and maths.
• Wireless Hill Museum in Ardross is a historic radio station.

See Incredible Art

• Art Gallery of Western Australia in Perth is a major art gallery, part of the Perth Cultural Centre.
• ArtGeo in Busselton is a municipal art gallery.
• Berndt Museum of Anthropology in Crawley has Aboriginal art and culture, plus artifacts from other parts of the world. It's part of the University of Western Australia.
• Cullity Gallery in Nedlands is an art gallery at the University of Western Australia.
• Fremantle Arts Centre in Fremantle is a vibrant arts hub.
• Gwoonwardu Mia – Gascoyne Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural Centre in Carnarvon showcases Aboriginal culture and art.
• John Curtin Gallery in Bentley is an art gallery at Curtin University.
• Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery in Crawley is another art gallery at the University of Western Australia.
• Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre in Derby features art and culture from the Mowanjum Community.
• Museum of Performing Arts in Perth, located in His Majesty's Theatre, has costumes, photos, and other items from performances.
• Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts in Perth focuses on modern art.
• Warmun Art Centre in Kununurra is another place to see amazing Aboriginal art.

Animals and Nature

• Bellview Shell Collection in Witchcliffe has a collection of shells and coral.
• Dinosaur World in Denmark has dinosaur skeletons and even live birds and reptiles!
• Edward de Courcy Clarke Earth Science Museum in Crawley has minerals, rocks, fossils, and meteorites. It's part of the University of Western Australia.
• The Museum of Natural History, Academy of Taxidermy in Guildford has stuffed animal mounts.
• Piney Lakes Environmental Education Centre in Booragoon teaches about the environment and sustainable living.
• Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre in Cervantes helps you learn about the geology, plants, animals, and culture of the amazing Pinnacles Desert.
• Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery Centre in Denham explores the natural history, maritime stories, and culture of Shark Bay, which is a World Heritage Site.
• Western Australian Museum in Perth (currently closed until 2020) has exhibits on Aboriginal culture, natural history, and geology.

Special Collections!

Some museums have very specific and unique collections that are super interesting!

Sports and Games

• Kalgoorlie Boulder Racing Club Museum in Kalgoorlie-Boulder has horse racing memorabilia.
• The Nostalgia Box in Perth is all about video game consoles! You can see old consoles and learn about gaming history.
• WACA Museum in Perth is run by the Western Australian Cricket Association and tells the history of cricket and other sports played at the WACA Ground.

Unique Finds

• Australia Inland Mission Hospital Museum in Lake Grace was once a hospital for the Australian Inland Mission.
• Cola Café and Museum in Toodyay is a 1950s-style café with a collection of Coca-Cola items.
• Dardanup Heritage Park in Dardanup has working farm and industrial machines, including steam sawmills and tractors.
• The Department of Fire and Emergency Services Education and Heritage Centre in Perth shares the history of firefighting in Western Australia.
• The Greenbushes Eco Cultural Discovery Centre in Greenbushes covers the area's nature, environment, industry, and heritage.
• Koorda and Districts Museum in Koorda was a former hospital.
• Manjimup Timber Park in Manjimup focuses on the state's timber industry.
• The Merredin Military Museum in Merredin has military exhibits.
• Mundaring Travelling Museum in Mundaring has changing exhibits about the Shire of Mundaring.
• Mundaring District Museum in Mundaring is run by the Mundaring and Hills Historical Society.
• New Norcia Museum in New Norcia tells the history of the Aboriginal mission and has an art gallery.
• Northampton Motors & Machinery Shed in Northampton has old motors, trucks, and tractors.
• Northcliffe Pioneer Museum in Northcliffe covers local industry, farm life, Aboriginal tools, fossils, and machinery.
• Nungarin Heritage Machinery and Army Museum in Nungarin has pioneer and army items, including vehicles, uniforms, and agricultural machines.
• Old Court House Law Museum in Perth teaches about the history of law in Western Australia.
• Old Mill, Perth in Perth is a restored tower windmill.
• Sisters of St John of God Heritage Center in Broome shares social history related to the Sisters and Aboriginal people of the Kimberley.
• Western Australia Medical Museum in Subiaco focuses on medical history.
• Museum of the Great Southern in Albany covers the natural and social history of the region.
• Museum of Geraldton in Geraldton explores the heritage of the land, sea, and people of the Mid West.
• Museum of the Goldfields in Kalgoorlie-Boulder tells the history of the Goldfields and mining.

Museums That Are No Longer Open

• Museum of Western Australia Sports

Want to See More?

• List of museums in Australia