16 Feb 2021Enjoy the Omeo wreck, but ‘look don’t touch’ to preserve the significant site and its sea life. The Western Australian Museum has joined the City of Cockburn to appeal for visitors to the Omeo wreck at Coogee Maritime Trail to take care of the historic site. The popular underwater Trail off Socrates Parade in North Coogee has experienced an influx of visitors in recent months as more people explore their own backyard during COVID-19 travel restrictions. As a result, the area has been inundated with visitors, many standing on the wreck, causing damage to the fragile steel hull while also harming the marine habitat and the sea life it supports.Read more News Flora Perrella
29 Jan 2021Gogo digital platform provides a deep dive into amazing stories at WA Museum Boola BardipToday the Western Australian Museum launched an innovative digital guide to the WA Museum Boola Bardip. Named ‘Gogo’ the guide provides a huge amount of additional information about 250 specially selected items in the Museum. It allows visitors to take a ‘highlights’ tour around each of the eight exhibition galleries, or explore the stories behind the collections in much more detail. Using oral histories, letters, photographs, videos and expert interviews, and some augmented reality, Gogo provides a rich new experience for visitors.Read more News Flora Perrella
27 Jan 2021Rare species of cave-dwelling spiders named in honour of Thai cave rescuersNew species of the world’s most specialised cave-dwelling trapdoor spider, Troglodiplura, have been named in honour of key people involved in the 2018 Thai cave rescue. Four new species of the rare, blind, cave-dwelling spiders found only in permanently dark zones in caves of Australia’s Nullarbor Plain have been named and published by Western Australian Museum scientists. WA Museum lead scientist Dr Mark Harvey said he and his team wanted to pay tribute to the key people involved in the Thai cave rescue and named the new species in their honour.Read more News Flora Perrella
7 Jan 2021New genus of schizomid named after WA Museum’s Dr Mark HarveyCan you imagine having an entire genus named after you? This great honour was bestowed upon the Western Australian Museum’s Head of Terrestrial Zoology Dr Mark Harvey, when his colleagues named a new genus of schizomid, or short-tailed whipscorpion, after him. The team, led by Rodrigo Monjaraz-Ruedas, discovered six new schizomid genera in their study, and named one Harveyus, in recognition of Mark’s exceptional contributions to schizomid research.Read more Article Katherine Jeffries
16 Dec 2020The Vikings are here! Real Viking Age artefacts at the WA Maritime MuseumThe largest collection of authentic Viking artefacts to ever come to Western Australia is now on display at the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle! The international touring exhibition Vikings: Warriors of the North, Giants of the Sea offers a fascinating glimpse into the dramatic world of ancient Vikings at home and abroad.Read more News Flora Perrella
28 Oct 2020Researchers count 13 new species of fanged arachnids in the PilbaraResearchers from the Western Australian Museum and The University of Western Australian have discovered 13 new species of the elusive ‘spricket’ in Australia’s north-west, a creature that looks like a cross between a spider and a cricket and is only around 3mm long and 0.5mm wide.Read more News Flora Perrella
4 Sep 2020Stunning underwater images throw light on Australia’s worst naval disaster at the WA Shipwrecks Museum 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
26 Aug 2020National Science Week 2020 - see the videosThanks to everyone who attended the National Science Week 2020: Deep Blue - Meet the Scientists Q&A [RV Falkor Expedition] at the WA Maritime Museum on August 18th. Watch the videos Meet the Scientists 2020 Read more Article Katherine Jeffries
25 Aug 2020COVID-19COVID-19 UPDATE At the Western Australian Museum, the health and safety of our visitors, volunteers and employees is our priority. We have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place and we are following Government advice.Read more Article
24 Aug 2020Win a Broome AdventureThe Foundation for the WA Museum and Channel 7 are giving you a chance to win a once in a lifetime Broome adventure worth up to $40,000! You and a friend could win return flights to Broome, a five-night luxury adventure aboard True North AND five nights at Cable Beach Club. To find out more visit https://fwam.com.au/2020Lottery Read more News
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
29 May 2020Our WA Day HeroesOn the first Monday of June each year, Western Australians unite to celebrate WA Day. Whether it’s our rich and diverse culture, relaxed lifestyle, world-class cuisine or endless blue skies… There are so many reasons for us to celebrate what makes WA, and its people, so unique. For many years now, the WA Museum, in partnership with Celebrate WA, has helped deliver events at Perth, Fremantle, Geraldton, Albany and Kalgoorlie. There will be no festivals this year, however, we have jumped on board Celebrate WA’s call out to recognise Western Australian heroes, #WADayHero.Read more Article Katherine Jeffries
13 May 2020Collecting COVID-19Email Collecting COVID-19 On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organisation declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and by 11 February, the novel coronavirus disease was formally named COVID-19 .Read more Article Katherine Jeffries
13 May 2020International Day for Biological Diversity To celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, we’re giving you the chance to win this tote bag featuring the beautiful Ruby seadragon. The International Day for Biological Diversity is a time to re-connect to our natural world and work together to build a future of life in harmony with nature. Identify and win To win a tote bag all you have to do is tap into your inner taxonomist identify this animal: 🔵 🐳 Conditions of entry Museums and Taxonomy Taxonomy is the science of describing, naming and classifying organisms. Museum collections play a vital role in taxonomy and the description of new species adding to our knowledge of biodiversity. A Ruby seadragon specimen that was held in the WA Museum’s collection for almost 100 years was critical in providing information necessary to prove the discovery of a new species. Links ⤴ Meet Ruby WA's new seadragon ⤴ Its not the science of tax and five other things you should know about taxonomy ⤴ Keeping Date Taxonomy Western Australia ⤴ Taxonomy Australia Conditions of entry: Employees of the Western Australian Museum and their immediate families are not eligible to enter the competition. One entry per IP address. Entrants need to be over 18. The competition commences on 18 May 2020 and closes on 26 May 2020. Entries will be accepted from 5 December 2019 through to midnight on 5 February 2020. Entrants must provide contact information so that the winner can be contacted to redeem their prize. This information will not be used for any other purposes. The winners will be selected using the Excel Random Number Generator. The Western Australian Museum will not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever for personal injury suffered or sustained, in connection with the promotion, the use of the prize or any act or omission of the promoter, their respective agents, employees and contractors. #main{ float: none; margin: 0 auto; width: 100%; } .breadcrumb { display:none } figure{ display:none;} .pagearea{ padding: 0; max-width: 100%; } .wrapper { width: 100%; height: 55vh; overflow: hidden; /* align-items: center; */ display: flex; object-fit: contain; /* object-fit: scale-down; */ text-align: center; background: #fb1a2e; } .subsite-top { max-width:100%; margin-bottom:1rem; } .wrapper img { object-fit:contain; } .full { width: 100vw; display: flex; margin: auto; max-height: 66vh; margin-bottom:1.5rem; } .img1{ object-fit: contain; object-position: right; width: 50%; padding: 0.5rem; } .img2{ object-fit: contain; object-position: left; width: 50%; padding: 0.5rem; } .body-copy{ max-width:750px; padding: 0 1rem; margin:0 auto; } .main .form-submit{ background: #E30000; width: 100%; font-size: 1.5rem; } article ul { list-style: none; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0; font-size: 1.3333rem; } article ol{ margin:0 } article li a { border-bottom: 1px solid #E73B3B } .wam-date-name { font-size: 0.9em; text-align: center; color: #E73B3B; } strong{ color: #E73B3B; } p { font-size:18px; color:black; } h1 { text-align:center; padding-bottom: 0px; max-width: 1200px; margin: auto !important; } .messages { max-width: 960px; margin: auto; top: 0; right: 0; width: 100%; text-align: center; position: fixed; left: 50%; transform: translate(-50%); background: #E30000; color: white; border: none; padding: 2rem; } .messages h4{ color:white; } .messages p{ color:white; } /* Perfect Fourth - 1.333 Medium size screens */ @media only screen and (min-width: 700px) { h1, h2, h3, h4 { margin: 1.414em 0 0.5em; color:black; line-height: 1; } h1 { margin-top: 1.5rem; font-size: 3.157em; } h2 { font-size: 2.369em; } h3 { font-size: 1.777em; } h4 { font-size: 1.333em; } small, .font_small { font-size: 0.75em; } } /* Perfect fifth 1.5 Desktop and large devices */ @media only screen and (min-width: 1200px) { h1, h2, h3, h4 { margin: 1.414em 0 0.5em; line-height: 1.2; } h1 { margin-top: 0; font-size: 5.063em; } h2 { font-size: 3.375em; } h3 { font-size: 2.25em; } h4 { font-size: 1.5em; } small, .font_small { font-size: 0.667em; } } /* Golden Ratio 1.618 - Large screens */ @media only screen and (min-width: 1900px) { h1, h2, h3, h4 { margin: 1.414em 0 0.5em; line-height: 1.2; } h1 { margin-top: 0; font-size: 6.854em; } h2 { font-size: 4.236em; } h3 { font-size: 2.618em; } h4 { font-size: 1.618em; } small, .font_small { font-size: 0.618em; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px) { html { font-size: 100%; } } h2{ margin-bottom:0.5rem; } Read more Article Scott Bamford
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