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The Best Museums in Perth I Keep Coming Back to Learn New Things
Perth isn’t just about pristine beaches and kangaroo sightings. It’s also a city filled with culture, creativity, and curiosities.
Ever wondered what a blue whale skeleton looks like? Then come visit the WA Museum Boola Bardip.
Curious as to how old wheelbarrows were used back then? The Revolutions Transport Museum is more than happy to show you.
And that’s just a glimpse of what the museums in my fine city have to offer! So grab your sunhat, slap on some sunscreen, and let’s go for a walk to explore the city’s fascinating museums.
WA Museum Boola Bardip
Website: https://visit.museum.wa.gov.au/boolabardip
Address: Perth Cultural Centre
Contact details: +61 1300 134 081
Operating hours: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (MON-SUN)
Price
Adult – $15
Concession – $10
Child (15 years old and below) – FREE
Start your tour with the biggest museum in Perth, the WA Museum Boola Bardip. Located in the Perth Cultural Centre, this museum is a captivating cultural institution that weaves together the threads of history, science, and indigenous heritage.
In fact, its name, Boola Bardip, means ‘many stories’ in the Noongar language and perfectly reflects its mission to share diverse narratives. Here, I was able to immerse myself in the rich culture and stories about the local Aboriginal peoples.
Furthermore, I saw exhibits that showcase Western Australia’s unique flora, fauna, and geological wonders. My personal favourite is the museum’s centrepiece artefact, an awe-inspiring 24-metre blue whale skeleton.
Pro tip: Make your visit here more memorable by buying yourself a souvenir from the WA Museum Boola Bardip gift shop! Some amazing stuff you can buy here are taxidermied insects, mini globes, rare fossils, and Indigenous artworks.
In case you don’t have the time to visit their store, you can still buy these amazing products from their online shop.
The Art Gallery of Western Australia
Website: https://artgallery.wa.gov.au/
Address: Perth Cultural Centre
Contact details: +61 8 9492 6600
Operating hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (WED-MON)
You can satisfy your art curiosities by visiting the Art Gallery of Western Australia, also located in the Perth Cultural Centre. It was founded in 1895 and was originally housed in the Jubilee Building with the State Museum and Library.
By 1979, the museum’s main gallery was finished, which is a modernist building inspired by the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. Within its walls is an extensive collection of 18,000 artworks spanning from 1829 to the present.
Some notable artworks you should keep an eye out for during your visit here are Frederick McCubbin’s Down on His Luck, and my personal favourite, Noongar artist Christopher Pease’s 34-metre light-based artwork Targets.
Pro tip: There’s always something new on display in the Art Gallery of Western Australia, so you’re guaranteed to see new artwork every time you visit.
You can find out what new exhibitions this museum has on display by checking out this page.
Scitech
Website: https://www.scitech.org.au/
Address: City West Centre Corner Railway Street &, Sutherland St, West Perth
Contact details: +61 8 9215 0700
Operating hours: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM (MON-SUN)
Price
Adult – $24
Concession – $16
Child (4-17) – $15
Scitech, located in West Perth, is one of my favourite museums to visit on this list. As a not-for-profit organisation, its mission is to increase engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics across Western Australia.
At the heart of this museum lies the Discovery Centre, where you’ll encounter 160 interactive science exhibits. It also has regular shows that feature puppets and live experiments to explain complex science concepts in an easy-to-understand format.
Aside from the Discovery Centre, Scitech also has a planetarium that lets you explore the vastness of space and the wonders that reside in it. The planetarium also has some non-space-themed shows available, like the Animal Kingdom.
Pro tip: Still itching to learn more after your visit to Scitech? Don’t worry because their digital publication called Particle offers a tonne of content, like articles and podcasts, to keep you updated in the STEM fields.
WA Shipwrecks Museum
Photo credit: dive.jpeg
Website: https://visit.museum.wa.gov.au/shipwrecks
Address: 47 Cliff St, Fremantle
Contact details: +61 1300 134 081
Operating hours: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (MON-SUN)
Are you keen on learning more about Perth’s rich maritime history like me? The WA Shipwrecks Museum, located in Fremantle, unravels the stories of treacherous voyages and shipwrecks along Western Australia’s coastline.
Housed within the historic Commissariat buildings, this museum had shown me plenty of notable artefacts and relics, for instance, the original timbers from the infamous Batavia, which met its watery fate in 1629.
Aside from its impressive shipwrecks collection, the WA Shipwrecks Museum also offers the Commissariat Tour for those interested in learning more about the iconic building it resides in and its many unique and fascinating historic features.
Pro tip: The WA Shipwrecks Museum features new exhibitions from time to time. You can find out about these in advance by downloading the WA Museum App, which is available on both the App Store and the Play Store.
With this app, you can also easily store your member card and tickets, as well as access exclusive offers unavailable to non-app users.
Army Museum of Western Australia
Website: https://armymuseumwa.com.au/
Address: Artillery Barracks, 6 Burt St, Fremantle
Contact details: +61 8 9430 2535
Operating hours:
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (WED, FRI, and SUN)
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM (THURS)
Price
Adult – $15
Seniors – $10
Child (17 and below) – $10
For those curious about Australia’s military history, the Army Museum of Western Australia is worth a visit. Nestled within the historic Artillery Barracks, it stands as a testament to the valour and sacrifice of Australian service members.
Established in 1977, this museum meticulously preserves the rich military history of Western Australia.
Its galleries vividly depict the different wars our soldiers had participated in, including both World Wars, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam, and Afghanistan.
Another thing military history fans will come to appreciate about the Army Museum of Western Australia is its extensive display of tanks, artillery pieces, and military vehicles. Some notable examples I’ve seen are their Leopard 1 and M3 Lee tanks.
Aviation Heritage Museum
Website: https://aviationmuseumwa.org.au/
Address: Air Force Memorial Estate, 2 Bull Creek Dr, Bull Creek
Contact details: +61 8 9311 4470
Operating hours: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (MON-SUN)
Price
Adult – $15
Seniors – $10
Child (17 and below) – $7.50
The Aviation Heritage Museum, located in Bull Creek, is a mecca for fans of aeroplanes. Established in 1979, it’s operated by the RAAF Association of Western Australia and lets you see the evolution of planes through time.
As a plane enthusiast myself, I’m amazed by the impressive collection of military and civilian aircraft housed here. Some iconic planes you’ll find here are the Avro Lancaster, the Supermarine Spitfire, and the PBY-4 Catalina flying boat.
Of course, its collection isn’t limited to propeller planes, as it also features some sleek jets like the De Havilland Vampire. You’ll also be pleased to know that it’s the only museum outside of the UK that has the iconic Tornado GR4 on display!
Pro tip: Do you have a fellow aeroplane enthusiast who you think will love checking this place out? Give them one of the Aviation Heritage Museum’s gift cards.
Not only will you be making a friend happy, but you’ll also be helping the museum earn more funds for the restoration and maintenance of its iconic collection!
Revolutions Transport Museum
Photo credit: learningwith3
Website: https://www.whitemanpark.com.au/trains-trams-museums/revolutions-transport-museum
Address: Whiteman Park, 233a Drumpellier Dr, Whiteman
Contact details: +61 8 9209 6040
Operating hours: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (MON-SUN)
Now that you’ve seen the history of seafaring and flying, it’s time to learn about the history of land transportation, too! The Revolutions Transport Museum, located in Whiteman Park, offers a captivating journey through the evolution of land transport.
The museum’s rich history is intertwined with the Whiteman Collection, a treasure trove of objects collected by Lewis Whiteman. A former owner of a brick company, Lewis had a passion for collecting antiquities like old machinery and vehicles.
Here, I saw horse-drawn wagons, locomotives, trams, and road vehicles! Beyond the artefacts, the museum also celebrates Aboriginal stories and songs like Singing The Train.
Pro tip: After your visit to the Revolutions Transport Museum, you can also explore the amazing natural wonders in Whiteman Park.
In particular, the Caversham Wildlife Park is quite famous among tourists thanks to its friendly population of kangaroos and koalas.
There are also plenty of bush trails you can explore in Whiteman Park, so make sure to wear running shoes and light clothing before visiting this place!
The Nostalgia Box Museum
Website: https://thenostalgiabox.com.au/
Address: 69 Plaistowe Mews, West Perth
Contact details: +61 1300 184 423
Operating hours:
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM (WED, THURS, FRI, and SUN)
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (SAT)
Price:
Adult – $18.70
Concession – $16.50
Child (5-15) – $13.20
The Nostalgia Box Museum, located in West Perth, can be accurately described as a heaven for gamers. Founded by Jessie Yeoh in 2015, this museum is a captivating tribute to the evolution of video games.
Today, it houses over 100 video game consoles, including beloved ones like the first Sony PlayStation, and obscure ones like Nintendo’s Virtual Boy. Interestingly, this museum is the first interactive video game console museum in Australia.
This means that, unlike traditional museums, this one invites visitors to actively engage and play with the exhibits.
So if you’re someone like me who’s looking to relive your childhood days of playing Mario 64 or Pokemon after school, then this is the perfect place for you!
Pro tip: The Nostalgia Box Museum hosts quiz nights from time to time if you want to hang out and interact with fellow gamers. Here, you can enjoy a night of booze, pizza, and unlimited access to their video game collection for only $22.
You can buy your ticket on this page. Please take note that this is an extremely popular event and slots are limited, so make sure to book yours ASAP!
