3 Jun 2015Vessel Photos A collection of images and diagrams of vessels relevant to the history of HMAS Sydney (II), including HMAS Sydney (II) and HSK Kormoran. Read more Photo Galleries Western Australian Museum
3 Jun 2015Conspiracies Surrounding HMAS Sydney (II)Theories and Early Search Theory and speculation was expected in HMAS Sydney (II) case. With its status and the beliefs of the day, most Australians could not accept the German account of its loss. With speculation rife, accusations were soon made at both the Kormoran survivors and Government officials.Read more Article Western Australian Museum
3 Jun 2015Research and Findings on HMAS Sydney (II)Searches, Seminars and Findings In 1976, under the new Historic Shipwrecks Act, the Western Australian Museum became responsible for the wrecks of HMAS Sydney (II) and HSK Kormoran. Reports of the engagement, research, and claims that the wrecks had been found were collated in a file. At 56 volumes this is now the largest of all the Museum’s files.Read more Article Western Australian Museum
3 Jun 2015Finding HMAS Sydney (II)Finding Sydney Both David Mearns and the Finding Sydney Foundation (FSF) methodology converged on the need to find HSK Kormoran and then establish the approximate location of HMAS Sydney (II) relative to this site. This reflected the conclusions of the Museum’s 1991 HMAS Sydney (II) seminar.Read more Article Western Australian Museum
3 Jun 2015The Cole InquiryThe Cole Inquiry, and Findings Soon after the wrecks of HMAS Sydney (II) and HSK Kormoran were found, the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, AC, AFC and the Hon. Julia Gillard, announced the formation of a Commonwealth Defence Force Commission of Inquiry (COI). Presided over by the Honorable Terence RH Cole, AO, RFD, QC, this would inquire into and report on the circumstances associated with the loss of the HMAS Sydney (II) and the consequent loss of life.Read more Article Western Australian Museum
3 Jun 2015History of HMAS Sydney (II)HMAS Sydney (II), a Modified Leander Class Light Cruiser began life as the British Royal Navy’s HMS Phaeton on the 8 July 1933. Purchased by the Australian Government before her 22 September 1934 launch, she was renamed in honour of the Sydney (I), which had successfully destroyed a German Light Cruiser SMS Emden in 1914. Prior to her Australian arrival, she was active in the Mediterranean during the Abyssinian Crisis.Read more Article Western Australian Museum
3 Jun 2015Battle with the HSK KormoranSydney's Disappearance Departing Victoria Quay, Fremantle on Armistice Day, 11 November 1941, HMAS Sydney (II) was tasked with escorting the troop ship Zealandia for some of its journey to Singapore. With industrial action causing a 13-day delay, the Sydney was relieved by the HMS Durban at Sunda Strait on 17 November, then proceeded back to Fremantle.Read more Article Western Australian Museum
3 Jun 2015New Aboriginal art movement showcased at Western Australian Museum - AlbanyAn exhibition of unique works from an Aboriginal art movement emerging from the Western Desert will open this week at the Western Australian Museum – Albany. Warakurna: All the Stories Got into our Minds and Eyes features paintings and sculptures which were produced at Warakurna, a community at the foot of the Rawlinson Ranges in Western Australia, 300 kilometres west of Uluru (Ayers Rock), and will be on display from 6 June 2015.Read more News Sharna Craig
28 May 2015Make a difference to your MuseumThe Western Australian Museum – Geraldton is looking for community members to join its Community Advisory Committee. Nominations for two voluntary community representative positions are now open. WA Museum CEO Alec Coles said he hopes to receive Expressions of Interest from people who want to be part of the history and future of Geraldton and the Mid West.Read more News Sharna Craig
27 May 2015Celebrate WA Day at the WA Museum – Kalgoorlie-BoulderRelax with family and friends this WA Day and discover more about the Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder. A festival event on the Museum grounds will have a range of free activities for all ages including art, craft, balloon animals, and live music and dance performances. There will also be pony rides, a bouncy castle and a dog show. WA Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder Regional Manager Zoe Scott said the public holiday is a great time to explore and play at the Museum.Read more News Sharna Craig
26 May 2015Celebrate WA Day at the WA Museum – AlbanyRelax with family and friends this WA Day and discover more about the Western Australian Museum – Albany. A festival event on the Museum grounds will have a range of free activities for all ages, including art, craft, balloon animals, face painting, and music, circus, skipping and puppetry performances. There will also be a bouncy castle and a free community barbeque. WA Museum – Albany Regional Manager Rachael Wilsher-Saa said the public holiday is a great time to explore and play at the Museum.Read more News Sharna Craig
26 May 2015Celebrate WA Day at the WA Museum – GeraldtonRelax with family and friends this WA Day and discover more about the Western Australian Museum – Geraldton. A festival event on the Museum grounds will have a range of free activities for all ages, including art, craft, face painting, and live music and performances. There will also be circus workshops and roving performers, a bouncy castle and food and drinks available for purchase. WA Museum CEO Alec Coles said the public holiday is a great time to explore and play at the Museum.Read more News Sharna Craig
15 May 2015Compelling WA press photography on displayThe work of WA’s most exciting news photographers has been captured in the 2015 WA Press Photographer of the Year exhibition, currently on display at the Western Australian Museum in Perth. WA Museum CEO Alec Coles said the Museum is delighted to host this year’s exhibition. “This exhibition gives eyewitness accounts of this State’s major news events, sporting moments and incredible personal stories, captured by Western Australian photographers over the past year,” Mr Coles said.Read more News Sharna Craig
11 May 2015Explore our Egg CollectionThe Western Australian Museum is home to a large egg collection that has been put together over many years by the Museum's Curator of Ornithology, Ron Johnstone, and others. The egg plates in this gallery are from the Museum's collection and were photographed by Douglas Elford for the Handbook of Western Australian Birds - Volume IRead more Photo Galleries Western Australian Museum
5 May 2015Wildlife of the PilbaraThe Western Australian Museum Terrestrial Zoology team recently ran a field trip to Karijini and Millstream-Chichester national parks in the Pilbara, to collect tissue samples for the Molecular Systematics Unit’s Conservation Genetics of the Pilbara Fauna Project, funded by the Net Conservation Benefits Fund. Survey teams used a variety of techniques to sample for reptiles, mammals, frogs, trapdoor spiders, pseudoscorpions, land snails, insects and other invertebrate groups. Key habitats examined were gorges, mulga woodland and spinifex hummock-grassland on heavy clay soils.Read more Photo Galleries Lintette Umbrello
1 May 2015New images confirm the fate of HMAS Sydney (II)An expedition to survey the historic World War II shipwrecks of HMAS Sydney (II) and the German raider HSK Kormoran has produced new photographic evidence which appears to confirm why Sydney was so quickly disabled, leading to catastrophic damage and the devastating loss of everyone on board. New high resolution images taken two days ago by Curtin University on board DOF Subsea's vessel Skandi Protector clearly shows, for the first time, a 15cm shell hole through the bridge at the compass platform.Read more News Danny Murphy
28 Apr 2015Mission to document our worst naval tragedyAn expedition to survey the historic World War II shipwrecks of HMAS Sydney (II) and her nemesis HSK Kormoran using the latest high-resolution imaging technology has begun. Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said this was a very important expedition to one of the most inaccessible, yet significant heritage locations in Australia. Read the Minister's full statement. Read more News Sharna Craig
28 Apr 2015In-situ preservation of shipwrecksConservation scientists and conservators at the Western Australian Museum conduct research to develop new and improved techniques for ensuring the long-term preservation of our underwater cultural heritage sites. This article focuses on the unique conservation methods applied to the James Matthews shipwreck site.Read more Article Western Australian Museum
24 Apr 2015One Hundred Postcards from WWI front lineAn extraordinary collection of postcards sent to a Boulder woman from men serving on the front line of World War One will go on display at the Western Australian Museum – Perth, in time for Anzac Day. More than 100 postcards were sent from six young soldiers serving in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) to home-nurse Eliza ‘Lida’ Jane Downey. WA Museum history curator Stephen Anstey said the postcards were sent from the soldiers while they were training and on active duty overseas.Read more News Sharna Craig
20 Apr 2015A short history of the mineralogy collectionA rich hunting ground for prospectors and collectors, Western Australia has been a prolific source of new minerals and fine mineral specimens. Surprisingly, for one of Australia’s premier mining states, the mineral collection of the Western Australian Museum has had a chequered past. Placed in storage in the mid-1960s and inaccessible to the public for around twenty years, the collection was badly neglected. The history of the collection is a salutary lesson in what can happen to a public asset lacking curatorial responsibility.Read more Article Western Australian Museum