Latest News

New app puts the WA Museum in your pocket
News | Created 20 Jan 2015
The Western Australian Museum’s incredible collections and valuable research are now more accessible than ever with the release of a new app that effectively puts the Museum in your pocket.

The new app – Reveal WAM – streams WA Museum content direct to your smartphone or tablet, and was released this morning.

Reveal WAM packages articles, blogs, videos and web features into a simple mobile app.

Digital Services Manager Morgan Strong said the Museum aims to reach the public in as many ways as possible.
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Historic shipwreck hunt bound for Christmas Island
News | Created 19 Jan 2015
Half a century after making a major shipwreck discovery that would lead to a lifelong passion for maritime archaeology, Graeme Henderson is setting out once more to find a Fortuyn.

On 19 January, Graeme and a team of Australian shipwreck archaeologists plan to leave Perth bound for Australia’s Indian Ocean territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos Keeling Islands on a quest they’re calling ‘Closing in on the Fortuyn’.
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Would you like to help plan our New Museum?
News | Created 12 Jan 2015
Forty West Australians are being asked to join the team planning the State’s New Museum.

A number of community panels are being established to provide input and feedback into the content and proposed design of the Museum that will open in 2020.

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said a people-first approach was being adopted to create a landmark museum building and unique visitor experience. You can read the Minister's full statement here.

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World’s smallest goanna lizard species discovered in the Kimberley region
News | Created 30 Dec 2014
The WA Museum is pleased to announce the discovery of a new species of goanna lizard from the Kimberley region.

The name of the new species is the ‘Dampier Peninsula Goanna’, so-called as this species is only known from the peninsula north of Broome and Derby, in the western Kimberley region of Western Australia. The scientific name is Varanus sparnus.
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New management for Brig Amity replica
News | Created 24 Dec 2014
The Western Australian Museum – Albany is proud to announce it has taken over visitor management for the Brig Amity replica after an extensive refurbishment program by the City of Albany.

Rachel Wilsher-Saa, WA Museum – Albany Regional Manager said since opening in 1976, the replica of the Brig Amity has been an integral part of the Albany landscape.
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Holiday Closure at the Museum
News | Created 19 Dec 2014
The holiday season is fast approaching and, as usual, the Museum’s metropolitan and regional sites will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.
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Historic Australian photographs now online
News | Created 18 Dec 2014
A collection of photographs documenting Australian life at the turn of the 20th century is now available on the Western Australian Museum’s website.

Five thousand images taken by Goldfields photographers John Joseph Dwyer and Thomas Faulkner Mackay have been digitised and are accessible to the public.

The collection documents everyday life on the Goldfields: from the development of the mining industry, to landscapes, to the personal lives of locals through portraits.
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A new species of deep-sea bone worm turns a reproductive strategy on its head
News | Created 15 Dec 2014
A study published today in Current Biology reveals a new species of marine bone-eating worm whose mating system defies what scientists thought they knew about this already bizarre creature. Unlike previously discovered species, these males are the same size as females.

When Osedax worms were first discovered 12 years ago, only females were found, feasting on bones deep in the ocean. The males were all dwarfs, permanently attached to females’ tubes in groups like harems.
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Muslim women’s style on display at WA Museum – Geraldton
News | Created 9 Dec 2014
An exhibition showcasing Muslim women’s contemporary fashion will open at the Western Australian Museum – Geraldton this week.

Faith Fashion Fusion: Muslim women’s style in Australia focuses on an emerging modest fashion market and the work of Australian Muslim designers and entrepreneurs.

A group of well-respected Australian Muslim women also share their experiences of faith and fashion, including three Geraldton women.
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Santa visits WA Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder
News | Created 4 Dec 2014
Santa will pay a special visit to the Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder during its Open Day this week.

Children will have the opportunity to have their photograph taken with Santa, as well as participate in free activities on St Barbara’s Day, Saturday 6 December.

WA Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder Manager Zoe Scott said there will be Christmas card making, hula hoop decorating, face-painting and poppy making activities on the day.
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Kimberley marine research findings and challenges
News | Created 26 Nov 2014
The Western Australian Museum has concluded its sixth and final expedition of an award-winning research project into the Kimberley’s unique marine life.

Aquatic Zoology Senior Project Officer Clay Bryce will present Kimberley Marine Life Secrets Revealed at the WA Maritime Museum this Wednesday 26 November as part of the Western Australian Museum’s In the Wild West lecture series.
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Da Vinci Machines at WA Museum – Albany
News | Created 26 Nov 2014
Experience Leonardo da Vinci’s genius first-hand when da Vinci Machines opens at the Western Australian Museum – Albany this Saturday 29 November.

This exciting exhibition features 60 of his visionary inventions in the areas of flying machines, nautical innovations, and machines of war, alongside 15 beautifully crafted replicas of famous da Vinci artworks.
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Contractors invited to submit interest to design, construct New Museum
News | Created 26 Nov 2014
Minister for Culture and the Arts John Day today invited local and international teams to submit expressions of interest to design and construct the New Museum for Western Australia in the Perth Cultural Centre. You can read the Minister’s full statement here.
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Hidden Treasures exhibition extended at the WA Museum
News | Created 13 Nov 2014
The Western Australian Museum is delighted to announce it is extending its season of the stunning exhibition Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul until 18 January 2015.

This beautiful exhibition of treasures once thought lost to the world contains more than 200 rare and beautiful objects dating back to the Bronze Age, from a place that was once at the crossroads of the world’s great civilisations.
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Building a web of knowledge about Weld Range
News | Created 11 Nov 2014
An update of research findings from the Weld Range in Wajarri Yamatji country will be presented at a public lecture next week at the Western Australian Museum – Geraldton.

Weld Range, near Cue in the Murchison region, is highly significant for the Wajarri Yamatji Traditional Owners.

It is home to the nationally heritage listed Wilgie Mia Aboriginal Ochre Mine, mined by Aboriginal people for thousands of years.
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The Goldfields commemorates Remembrance Day
News | Created 10 Nov 2014

Learn about the role young men from the Goldfields played in World War One tomorrow when military historian Graham McKenzie-Smith presents Goldfields Tunnellers and Sappers in World War One as part of the Western Australian Museum’s In the Wild West lecture series.

The Remembrance Day presentation details how many miners from the Goldfields joined the Tunnelling Companies of the Australian Imperial Force during World War One.
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Last Gentlemen of War: a story of decency, honour and humour
News | Created 7 Nov 2014
The Western Australian Maritime Museum today opened its doors to a compelling exhibition on the Battle of the Cocos, Australia’s successful first naval engagement in World War One which took place 100 years ago this weekend, on 9 November, 1914.
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Explore the rich history of Mid West mining online
News | Created 15 Oct 2014
The Western Australian Museum – Geraldton this week launched two interactive online activities allowing primary-aged students to explore the rich history of Mid West mining in a novel and fun way.

The two activities were developed thanks to a Your Community Heritage grant awarded to the WA Museum in 2012 from the Australian Government.

In the Miner to Magnate quiz children answer a series of questions on a range of different Mid West minerals from guano to gold, learning fun facts through entertaining infographics.
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Da Vinci Machines exhibition extended
News | Created 3 Oct 2014
The Western Australian Museum – Geraldton today announced a three week extension to its internationally acclaimed Da Vinci Machines exhibition, until Sunday 9 November.

Since the exhibition opened in July more than 8,000 people have explored and interacted with this amazing exhibition.

Regional Manager of the WA Museum – Geraldton Leigh O’Brien said the exhibition had been extremely popular, with many visitors astounded at the breadth of Leonardo da Vinci’s extraordinary talent.
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Final research expedition to include Rowley Shoals
News | Created 3 Oct 2014
The Western Australian Museum will lead a team of researchers to the Kimberley this week in the sixth and final expedition of an award-winning research project into the region’s unique marine life.

The 17-day survey from 30 September – 16 October includes 16 researchers from the WA Museum, Queensland Museum, the Australian Museum, Museum Victoria, the Herbarium of WA and Curtin University.
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