29 Jul 2020Fairy tale like shells, some as small as a grain of sand. At least 26 new species discovered in the Kimberley.The world’s tiniest and least known shells can look like something from a fairy tale! Western Australian Museum scientists discovered at least 26 new species of these exquisite marine animals off the Kimberley coast.Read more News Flora Perrella
8 Jun 2020Comprehensive field guide to seastars captures esteemed 60-year careerTo mark World Oceans Day, renowned Western Australian Museum scientist 90-year-old Loisette Marsh launched her magnum opus – Field Guide to the Seastars of Australia. WA Museum CEO Alec Coles said Ms Marsh was one of only two scientists in Australia who specialised in echinoderms (the group of marine invertebrates that includes seastars, brittle stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sand dollars, and crinoids) taxonomy, making this book a significant contribution to science.Read more News Flora Perrella
4 Jun 2020WA Museums reopen this weekend!All Western Australian Museum sites will reopen to visitors on Saturday, 6 June. We cannot wait to welcome people back to our sites, and we can assure everyone that the health and well-being of our visitors, staff, volunteers and contractors is our single most important priority.Read more News Katherine Jeffries
2 Jun 2020Nine new species of pseudoscorpions from Indo-West PacificNine new species of pseudoscorpions have been described by Western Australian Museum scientists. Previously there were 26 species of the Garypus pseudoscorpion known to science, and, of those, only a few came from the Indo-West Pacific region. Head of Terrestrial Zoology at the WA Museum Dr Mark Harvey and his colleagues Dr Joel Huey, Jose Carvajal, and Mia Hillyer recently published a paper naming the new species. The discoveries are a result of the WA Museum’s review of national and international museum specimens.Read more News Flora Perrella
5 Mar 2020WA’s own Whale Super HighwayOne of the greatest animal migrations on the planet takes place along the Western Australian coast every year. From the Kimberley’s Camden Sound to the freezing waters of Antarctica, this 6,500km route is taken by some of the largest animals on Earth, Humpback Whales. The WA Maritime Museum is showcasing this extraordinary migration in a superb immersive film experience, Under the Dome: Whale Super Highway. This 180-degree cinematic adventure takes a stunning look at the life of these gentle giants as they make their journey.Read more News Flora Perrella
4 Mar 2020Illuminating the biodiversity of the Ningaloo CanyonsThe unique creatures of the Ningaloo Canyons will be studied and catalogued by researchers from the Western Australian Museum in an expedition to the largely unexplored deep sea environment. The researchers, led by Western Australian Museum Molecular Systematics Unit Manager Dr Nerida Wilson, will set sail from Fremantle on March 8 aboard the research vessel RV Falkor. The 82m Falkor is owned by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, which was established by Eric and Wendy Schmidt in 2009.Read more News Flora Perrella
3 Mar 2020Prehistoric shark teeth found in Western AustraliaCape Range National Park near Exmouth was once a feeding ground for some of the largest prehistoric predators that ever lived in Earth’s oceans. Western Australian Museum scientists made the discovery when they uncovered 38 teeth belonging to Carcharocles megalodon, a prehistoric shark that research suggests grew to between 15 and 19 metres in length.Read more News Sharna Craig
28 Jan 2020Iconic blue whale skeleton returns to the New MuseumWestern Australia’s iconic and much-loved blue whale is back, ready for the New Museum opening in November 2020! Premier Mark McGowan and Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman this morning announced the spectacular new display in Western Australia’s New Museum. The 24-metre blue whale skeleton has been excitingly suspended in a dynamic ‘lunge-feeding’ pose in the heritage-listed Hackett Hall building.Read more News Katherine Jeffries
12 Dec 2019Encrusting sponge found in Kimberley coral reefsThe coral-killing sponge Terpios hoshinota has been detected in the Kimberley for the first time by scientists from the Western Australian Museum. Terpios hoshinota is commonly referred to as ‘black disease’ because of its colour and because it overgrows both live and dead coral. It has been reported in many areas of the Indo-Pacific, including the Great Barrier Reef, but has not previously been found in Western Australian waters.Read more News Katherine Jeffries
6 Dec 2019Culture WA - Western Australia’s cultural collections made digitalThis week, the Culture WA search portal, a free digital platform providing access to 1.6 million items from WA’s main cultural institutions, was launched.Read more News Katherine Jeffries
5 Dec 2019SOS - Save Our Sub! The Foundation of the WA Museum is seeking your support to repair and repaint the iconic submarine HMAS Ovens. The significance of HMAS Ovens Ovens is an Oberon class submarine which served for over 30 years. Named after the Irish Australian Explorer John Ovens (1788-1825), Ovens is not only one of Fremantle’s best known landmarks, it is a critical item in the State’s museum collections and a significant part of Australia’s naval history.Read more News Katherine Jeffries
4 Dec 2019New Museum for WA shortlisted for national construction awardWestern Australia's New Museum is among six national finalists for the 2020 Australian Construction Achievement Award. The award showcases world-class solutions and excellence in construction projects. The New Museum submission highlighted the delivery of the project as a landmark cultural infrastructure project for the State, integrating contemporary architecture with stunning heritage-listed buildings. Construction of the Museum includes the new building, heritage restoration works and a central energy plant servicing the Perth Cultural Centre.Read more News Katherine Jeffries
3 Dec 2019Innovation and inspiration from the Roman Empire An exhibition that transports visitors back more than 2,000 years to one of the most technologically significant times in the history of the western world opens at the WA Maritime Museum this Saturday, 7 December. Western Australian Museum CEO Alec Coles said Ancient Rome: Epic innovators and engineers showcases the military genius of the Roman Army, the inspiring technology used to construct Rome, and the innovations that helped develop and maintain the Roman Empire for centuries.Read more News Flora Perrella
30 Oct 2019Stunning underwater images throw light on Australia’s worst naval disaster For more than 66 years the wrecks of two ships destroyed in what is still Australia’s worst ever naval disaster sat silently on the ocean floor, their location a mystery. HMAS Sydney II and the German raider HSK Kormoran both sank after a short, fierce battle in November 1941. 81 men from Kormoran died. All 645 men on Sydney were lost.Read more News Flora Perrella
22 Oct 2019Striking mask exhibition opens at Museum of Geraldton An exhibition of 12 striking masks and related cultural materials celebrating the rich and continuing tradition of mask making in Zenadh Kes (Torres Strait) opens this Saturday, 26 October, at the Museum of Geraldton. On display for the first time in Western Australia, Evolution: Torres Strait Masks explores the long-standing importance of ceremonial masks in Torres Strait culture, and how they influence contemporary art forms.Read more News Flora Perrella
9 Oct 2019Expression of Interest: Unique Harbourside Opportunity Fremantle‘A’ Shed Redevelopment Fremantle Ports and the Western Australian Museum are seeking expressions of interest for the redevelopment and leasing of one of WA’s most iconic locations - the heritage-listed ‘A’ Shed on Victoria Quay, facing the Inner Harbour.Read more News Katherine Jeffries
2 Oct 2019Exciting marine discovery in deep sea canyon off Perth A biodiversity expedition to the Perth Canyon Marine Park – described by international experts as one of Australia’s subsea treasures – has discovered five new species of deep sea glass sponges, exciting scientists about the prospect of further exploration and future discoveries.Read more News Flora Perrella
26 Sep 2019Expression of Interest: Museum of the Goldfields Advisory CommitteeThe WA Museum is seeking expressions of interest from residents of the Goldfields region to join the Advisory Committee of the Museum of the Goldfields. The primary role of the Advisory Committee is to link the Museum with the community it serves. This is “two-way” liaison: representing the community to the Museum and acting as an advocate for the Museum in the community. The Advisory Committee meets 2 - 4 times per year to consider general business and being a member is a non-remunerated position.Read more News Katherine Jeffries
12 Sep 2019New purple-loving barnacle discovered off WA coast A new species of barnacle, Membranobalanus porphyrophilus, has been named and described after being discovered living on reefs off Rottnest Island. The striking purple-coloured barnacle was first identified in Western Australia and was later found in the South Australian Museum collection, having been collected in waters around Kangaroo Island. Western Australian Museum Curator of Aquatic Zoology, Mr Andrew Hosie, said the barnacle was discovered during fieldwork by the Museum’s Aquatic Zoology Department.Read more News Flora Perrella
26 Aug 2019Central Kimberley reef communities survive global coral bleachingRemote reef communities in the central inshore Kimberley survived the 2016 global bleaching event, giving hope to Western Australian marine scientists looking to find ways to combat the effects of climate change. A recent publication confirms the breakthrough discovery by a team of Western Australian Museum scientists. The researchers examined the composition and health of marine organisms at 13 coral reef sites in the Bonaparte Archipelago – a largely inaccessible area of the inshore central Kimberley.Read more News Hillary Henry