An alphabetical list of Museums in the Wheatbelt…
Ballidu
Ballidu Lodge Art Gallery
Address: 78 Fairbanks Street, Ballidu
Phone: +61 8 9674 1220
Fax: +61 8 96741285
Open: Saturdays 10am to 1pm or by appointment
Admission: Free
This is a contemporary art gallery hosting 3 exhibitions per year. The town also holds a “Sculptures in the Street” event, where art sculptures are placed around the town for a period of 12 months.
Bruce Rock
Bruce Rock Museum
Address: Johnson Street, Bruce Rock
Open: Monday and Friday 2pm to 4pm
Admission: Free
Step into Bruce Rock’s past. Find exhibits about district life style in the old bank building. Wander through the grounds to a blacksmith’s shop, an authentic one-teacher school and a replica mud brick cottage with pre 1940’s furnishings. Use information from the museum to explore old school sights in the shire.
Corrigin
Corrigin Pioneer Museum
Address: Entry from Brookton Highway
Phone: +61 8 9063 2414
Open: Sunday 2pm to 5pm or by request contact 08 9063 2246
Admission: $5 per adult children free
The collection of tools and restored farm machinery includes tractors in working order. See the blacksmith’s shop, the old one room school, the shearing shed and a collection of district photographs and other memorabilia. A wall at the enterance commemorates early settlers.
Cunderdin
Cunderdin Municipal Museum
Address: 100 Forrest Street, Cunderdin
Phone: +61 8 9635 1291
Open: Daily 10am to 4pm
Admission: Entry fee applies
The museum building, formerly the No. 3 Pump Station on the Golden Pipeline, features the town icon – the brick chimney. The collection includes the Worthington Engine that powered the No. 7 Pump Station, a crop-dusting plane, a railway dining car, a tractor and truck display and the re-sited Quelagetting one-teacher school. Also experience the sensation of an earthquake in the newly revamped Meckering Earthquake display situated in the Lifestyle Pavilion.
Dowerin
Dowerin District Museum
Address: Cotterell Street, Dowerin
Phone: +61 8 9631 1202
Fax: +61 8 9631 1193
Open: On request at the Shire Office
Admission: Entry fee applies
View how settlers lived in the period from 1915 – 1930’s in a house furnished from the period and artefacts from the district. A saddlery shop front contains early business memorabilia and pioneer history.
Goomalling
Goomalling Museum
Address: Throssell Street, Goomalling
Phone: +61 8 9629 1185
Fax: +61 8 9629 1127
Website: www.visitgoomalling.com.au/see/history/museum
Open: Open by appointment
Admission: Entry fee applies
The museum’s collection features machinery and memorabilia from the late 19th century. A furnished early 20th century one-teacher school room and headmaster’s residence are also contained within the precinct.
Slater Homestead
Address: Dowerin Road, Goomalling
Phone: +61 8 9629 1101
Fax: +61 8 9629 1017
Website: www.visitgoomalling.com.au/see/history/slater-homestead
Open: Saturday & Sunday 10am to 4pm (March to November)
Admission: Entry by donation
Slater Homestead is a group of buildings developed in the 1850′s. The precinct was rescued by the Shire of Goomalling in 2000, a conservation plan was adopted and consequently the homestead, barn and school room have all been restored. The Homestead Group has furnished the buildings to reflect the pioneering days and guests are encouraged to feel at home and even spend the night. Art exhibits are frequently changing to promote the different media and style. Periodic workshops are also offered.
Hyden
The Lace Place
Address: Wave Rock Road, Hyden
Phone: +61 8 9880 5182
Web: www.waverock.com.au
Open: Daily 9am to 4pm
Admission: Entry fee applies
Located in the Wildflower Shoppe and Tourist Information Centre at Wave Rock, the Lace Place collection dates back to the 1600′s. It features hand-made and machined lace, antique gowns and a wedding dress collection, including an off-cut from the 1981 wedding veil of the Princess of Wales.
Pioneer Town
Address: Wave Rock Road, Hyden
Phone: +61 8 9880 5022
Web: www.waverock.com.au
Open: Daily 8:30am to 5:30pm
Admission: Entry fee applies
This Exhibition includes a general store, chemist shop, bedroom and bar room with an extensive collection of furniture, household objects, farm machinery, domestic and commercial equipment and clothing. Wreckage from a 1944 bomber crash in Narembeen is also displayed.
Toy Solider Collection
Address: Wave Rock Road, Hyden
Phone: +61 8 9880 5022
Web: www.waverock.com.au
Open: Daily 9am to 4pm
Admission: Entry fee applies
The toy solider collection was previously owned by Alex Smith who amassed the 10,000 toy soldiers over 60 years in displays depicting battles fought over hundreds of years. Also on display is a ball dress which was worn to the ball the night before the Battle of Waterloo.
There is also a section devoted to the Rabbit Proof Fence, showing its history in photographs and also telling the story of Norm Froome, who worked on the fence construction.
Kellerberrin
Pioneer Museum
A Folk Museum featuring local memorabilia is located in the old Agricultural Hall (built 1897). Farming implements and machinery displayed around Pioneer Park provide an interesting backdrop for the local Folk Museum. Any person wishing to visit the Folk Museum may obtain a key from the Shire Office or Dryandra Hostel (next door to Park and Museum).
Koorda
Koorda and Districts Museum
Address: Ninghan Road, Koorda
Open: By appointment
Admission: Entry fee applies
Originally the Koorda Hospital, the museum houses a large array of medical instruments and hospital equipment, including some locally used and hand-made medical instruments belonging to Dr Chester. Early settler personal effects and equipment, photographs and machinery are also on display.
Kulin
Butler’s Garage (Kulin Museum)
Address: 77 Johnstone Street, Kulin
Phone: +61 8 9880 1551
Fax: +61 8 9880 1563
Open: By appointment
Admission: Free
This museum is not yet operational, with the garage being used for restoration work. Men’s Shed and other funding is being sought to build an exhibition area.
Lake Grace
Australia Inland Mission Hospital Museum
Address: Stubbs Street, Lake Grace
Phone: +61 8 9865 2140
Open: Daily
Admission: Entry by donation
This is the only remaining inland mission hospital building in WA. The facility was established in 1926 through the work of Dr John Flynn and the local community. The museum contains medical artefacts used in the early days before the new hospital was built in 1952.
Merredin
Merredin Railway Museum
Address: Great Eastern Highway, Merredin
Phone: +61 8 9041 3370
Open: Weekdays 10:00am to 1pm, Saturday 9am to 12pm & Sunday 11am to 2pm
Admission: Entry fee applies
The museum is run by volunteers so times may change due to unforseen circumstances.
The museum and arts centre displays the 1897 locomotive that hauled the Kalgoorlie Express, along with the old signal box with its array of 95 switching and signal levers. You can also see the early history of the Merredin area including the Pioneer Women’s Room and Memorial Rose Garden.
Merredin Military Museum
Address: Great Eastern Highway, Merredin
Phone: +61 8 9041 1204
Mobile: +61 429 411 204
Open: Monday – Saturday 10am to 3pm and Sunday by appointment
Admission: Entry fee applies
The museum is run by volunteers so times may change due to unforseen circumstances.
A fine collection of memorabilia, uniforms, vehicles and equipment relating to most conflicts from World War 1 onwards. Some vehicles have been restored to working order.
Narembeen
Narembeen Grain Discovery Centre
Address: Adjacent to Narembeen roadhouse
Phone: +61 9064 7315
Open: 9am – 5pm Monday-Sunday
Admission: Gold coin donation
A modern interpretive centre featuring farming from the early pioneer days through to the present and future. It features interactive displays, exhibitions, ipad videos and audios on the agriculture industry.
Nungarin
Nungarin Heritage Machinery & Army Museum Inc
Address: Military Drive, Nungarin
Phone: +61 8 9046 5108
Open: Monday – Saturday 9am to 12pm & 2pm to 5pm & Sunday by appointment
Admission: Entry fee applies
Tenth Light Horse military armoured vehicles and many items that support an army in the field are displayed in Western Australia’s only remaining WWII Five Base Ordnance Depot. In addition to militaria, dolls and matchbox toys are featured and an outstanding agricultural equipment collection reflects early settlers’ lives.
Mangowine Homestead
Address: 737 Karomin North Road
Phone: +61 8 9046 5149
Fax: +61 8 9321 6088
Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 1pm to 4pm & Saturday, Sunday 10am to 4pm
Admission: Entry fee applies
Mangowine was once an important wayside stop for the travellers to the goldfields. An interpreted walk trail now takes you from the homestead, wayside inn and cellars to wells, the site of an old barn and a family grave. Built (c.1876) for Charles and Jane Adams, this settler homestead is one of the best preserved complexes of early farm homsteads in the Central Wheatbelt. Caravan and camping area being established.
Southern Cross
Southern Cross & Yilgarn Districts Historical Museum
Address: 28 Antares Street, Southern Cross
Open: Weekdays 9:30am to 12pm & 1:30pm to 4pm, Saturday 9:30am to 12pm
Admission: Entry fee applies
Walk through the 1890’s courthouse and mining registry buildings to absorb the rich history of this gold-mining and farming district. You will see the working model of a gold battery, a camel wagon, the local burial register and a fascinating collection of minerals, machinery, photographs, documents and domestic memorabilia.
Wongan Hills
Wongan Hills and Districts Museum
Address: Corner of Camm & Mitchell Street, Wongan Hills
Phone: +61 8 9671 1179
Open: Sunday 1pm to 4pm or by appointment (Closed January & February)
Admission: Entry fee applies
Take a peek at early settlers’ lives in our old settler’ hut, school room or blacksmith’s shop or find out what was once used in the kitchen, dairy and home. A hospital ward display reflects the building’s original use and photographs, natural history and machinery display convey the district’s story.
Wubin
Wubin Wheatbin Museum
Address: Great Northern Highway, Wubin
Mobile: +61 427 553 622
Open: Daily 10am to 3pm (June to October)
Admission: Entry by donation
The museum is located in the heritage classified wheatbin built in 1939 and has working displays, photographs and models featuring the history of wheat handling. A machinery annexe displays vintage machinery and artefacts telling the stories of farming and people of the districts through the past century. The nearby old Railway Station houses the Tourist Information Centre as well as a rock and mineral collection and souvenirs.
Wyalkatchem
Wyalkatchem CBH Agricultural Museum
Address: Railway Terrace, Wyalkatchem
Phone: +61 8 9681 1027
Fax: +61 8 9681 1580
Open: Daily 10am to 3:30pm or by request
Admission: Entry fee applies
The museum is housed in one of the few 1936 type wheatbins that have been preserved. The museum was opened in 1981 with a collection of agricultural, transport and railway exhibits.
There are over 400 items in the collection, some housed in the wheat bin and others in a purpose built building consisting of two general purpose sheds and a reception entrance display area incorporating a visitor’s centre. This area has also been designed and built in the style of a 1930s weigh bridge to keep within the theme of the museum.
Many items in the collection have been restored and are in working order. Rare tractors such as a Marshal MP 6 and an American Waterloo Boy are on display along with many other tractors, farming implements and vehicles dating back to the 1920s. There is also a collection of historical memorabilia from the area.