The New Museum journey so far

Article | Updated 7 years ago

The Western Australian Museum – Perth is starting to look a little different.

Find out more from WA Museum CEO Alec Coles - click the image below.

You may have noticed that our carnotaurus, Betty, has disappeared from the foyer. Don’t worry – she is now safe and sound at the Collections and Research Centre (CRC) in Welshpool. You can see her journey here and here.

You may also be aware that our galleries have been slowly closing to the public since December 2015. Diamonds to Dinosaurs, the Butterfly Gallery, the Mammal Gallery, the Bird Gallery, Katta Djinoong, and the Land and People gallery have all undergone (or are undergoing) the decant process to the CRC, which has been a time consuming and emotional task for many WA Museum staff and volunteers.

By the end of April the Dampier Marine Gallery and Discovery Centre will also be closed.

All of this effort has taken place so that planning and construction can begin for the New Museum.  The New Museum will open its doors in 2020, and needless to say there is a lot of work to do before then! But, as they say, it will all be worth it in the end. Western Australia deserves an amazing home for its incredible cultural and scientific collection, and this is exactly what the New Museum Project aims to do.

We know that four years is a long time to go without a museum – except you don’t have to go without at all!

The Western Australian Museum – Perth will still be in action in a variety of ways. You will be able to check out the incredible A History of the World in 100 Objects exhibition from the British Museum up until the 18^th of June – be sure not to miss it! There are a host of related events and activities connected to this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition. Discover it all on the event page, here.

Don’t forget that all of our other fantastic sites are open to the public. The Western Australian Maritime Museum, Shipwreck Galleries, and the Albany, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Geraldton regional sites will remain up and running, and will still host wonderful exhibitions, community events, educational programs, and public lectures (the list goes on) for the next four years and beyond. And of course you can pop in and visit the wonderful collections at these sites any time!

So, whilst the Western Australian Museum – Perth will be closing later this year, there will still be plenty of opportunities to connect with the unique collections and stories that call Western Australia home. 

Decant Content 

Just in case you've missed it, below is a series of videos, articles, photo galleries and interviews that show the journey of the New Museum Project so far. Click on an image to explore further! 

Katta Djinoong

The Mammal Gallery

The Bird Gallery

Transporting the Museum