Find out about the Aboriginal people that have always lived in the area, the pastoralists, Afghan cameleers and the construction of the Eyre Highway. Hear the story of the crashlanding of NASA's Skylab in 1979.

In 1974 the No 3 Pump Station was classified by the National Trust (WA) and in 1999 it was permanently entered on the Heritage Council of Western Australia’s State Register of Heritage Places. The following statement of significance was prepared by the Heritage Council of Western Australia:
“No 3 Pumping Station, a brick and corrugated iron building in a Federation industrial style, constructed to house a pumping station, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
the place is of international importance as a key component of one of the greatest engineering and infrastructure schemes of the late nineteenth century, the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, which was completed in 1903;
the place has rarity value as Australia’s greatest engineering scheme, and is the most tangible infrastructure result of the discovery of gold in Western Australia;
part of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, the place was a key element in the pattern of social, demographic and economic development and resource exploitation in the State. The whole enterprise is an indication of the importance of gold to the regional and national economy at the end of the nineteenth century;
the place has important associations with Australian technological innovation, as well as social and political imagination and ambition. The place is associated with a number of notable figures including the scheme’s designer C. Y. O’Connor and Premier Sir John Forrest, as well as Director H. W. Venn and the architects and engineers of the Public Works Department;
the place has aesthetic value as a well designed purpose built industrial structure expressive of the public importance and ambition of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme; and,
the place has the potential to communicate its history and historical context and thus improve public understanding of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme.

The Esperance Museum houses a unique collection of memorabilia dating back to the 1800s. See a range of interesting feature displays covering the region's early pioneering history, maritime exhibits and farm machinery.

Be sure to check out the world's most comprehensive display of NASA Skylab memorabilia. Skylab was America's first space station which plummeted to the earth in 1979, landing to the northeast of Esperance.

The Esperance Museum is located in the old goods shed of what was the town's original railway marshalling yards. The old building, constructed soon after the turn of the century, is a significant icon in itself, a highlight being its magnificent old beams.

View the extensive range of historical photographs, the locomotive engine, a circa 1820 piano, along with an assortment of gear and life boat from the ship `Sanko Harvest' which is the largest dive wreck off the Australian coast.

Esperance is a one and a half hour flight or an eight hour drive south of Perth.

Ticket Information:

Child (Under 16) $3.50 | Concession $6.50 | Adult $8.50 | Family (2 Adults/2 Childrean) $20

The museum is housed in Wardren's Court (circa 1898) which is also home to the Coolgardie Tourist Bureau. The large collection of antique glassware, the Waghorn Bottle & Curio collection has pieces that date back as far as 300 BC

The Hood-Penn Museum in Westonia is the result of a an extremely generous donation of a large historical collection from the Hood-Penn family who previously owned the Burracoppin Store.  The museum features a variety of scenes showcasing early life in the shire including a pub scene, a shop/hardware store scene, a petrol station/garage scene, a kitchen scene, a bedroom scene and a blacksmith/farm workshop scene.  Each scene also includes a realistic lifelike mannequin, complete with wrinkles and blemishes.

The museum also includes a vibrating mine tunnel that aims to replicate life in an early Westonian gold mine.  Visitors press a button upon entering the tunnel & then experience a three minute sequence of sound effects and physical vibrations that simulate blasts going off in the vicinity of the mine.  The sound effects also include a conversation between miners working in the mine. 

 Entry is $3 for adults and $1 for anyone under the age of 18 years.  The museum is open Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 4.30 pm (except on Public Holidays) via the Shire Office.  The museum is also open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 12pm. (Summer Holiday weekends open by appointment only.)

Butlers Garage is a significant piece of Kulin’s Heritage, particularly that’s associated with the development of the agricultural industry and thus the identity of the region.  The architecture of the building is a fine example of construction during the Depression years. During the mid 1920's WM Butler & Co of Wickepin established a machinery agency business in Kulin. In the late 1920's WH (Bill) Butler (WM's son) established in Kulin and took over the agency, developing it further with the construction of the garage on this site. The agencies functioned continuously right up until 1994. The garage has been restored and houses the Kulin Museum. The Museum is currently open on a Saturday morning from 8.30am – 12pm. If the museum is closed please contact (08) 9880 1024 to arrange a visit.

The vehicles in the Museum don't just stay on display, most of them are fully operational and are taken out on parades, ANZAC day and rallies, Their ongoing maintenance and upkeep is born by the Museum. Although the Museum has a large collection of vehicles, we endeavor to tell the whole story of our defence forces. You will also find on display everything from a portable camp stove to a dentist chair, artillery to postcards sent home from the Western Front during WWI.

During Fr Hawes tenure in Mullewa and once he had completed his Church of Our Lady of Mt Carmel, he set about planning for his own accommodation. In 1927 he commenced plans with the encouragement of his parishioners and Archbishop Clune of Perth , who wished for him to have improved living conditions.

By late 1930 the building was completed ready for use as a presbytery.

The building is a low cottage style with red Cordoba tiles, built from the same quarried stone as the church.

When entering through the large green door to the east of the building one can read the inscription in latin ‘Janus Patet Cor Magis’ which means ‘The door opens wide but my heart more so’.  As one walks through the building it has a warm cosy feel with a typically English style.

The main living room has an ingle nook fireplace and a lar and  the cement floors are covered with linoleum throughout.

The house is furnished with heavy dark timber typical of the time which was designed by Hawes and made by a Perth craftsman.

In 1986, during Hawes’s time as a student at the Arts and Crafts School, he won a prize for his plaster model of Donatello’s ‘Laughing Boy’.  This can be seen on the a shelf in the living area.  Also in the living area, situated on the large sideboard, is the silver cup which was presented to Hawes after he won a Yalgoo horse race on his horse ’Babs’.

During the 1970’s the priest house was no longer required as a presbytery and the Parish Council decided to set up the building as a Museum to Monsignor Hawes and his works.

The traveller will find many photographs, art works, books, vestments and items used by Hawes during his time in Mullewa.

The Museum of the Goldfields showcases the rich history of the Eastern Goldfields and the city’s mining heritage.

Discover the unique role the town has played in WA’s development, both as a centre of mining and its place at the edge of the Nullarbor Plain.

Explore the largest display of the State’s collection of gold bars and nuggets, step back in time to see how prospectors searched for this precious metal, and learn about the life and hardships faced by mining families during the early 1900s.

Learn more about farming in Narembeen as you wander through the centre. Browse at the brilliant visual and interpretive displays as you discover some of the history and future of grain growing in Narembeen.

Exhibits include a 1950s farm house kitchen, a ‘humpy’, a grain stack, an interactive CBH area with weighbridge and hut, displays on the future of farming and a supermarket showing end products, like breakfast cereals and bread. The centre also has an interactive agribusiness section, an export area detailing the journey of grain from farm paddock to overseas markets and displays on the future of farming.

Entry is via gold coin donation.

There is also an agricultural machinery shed with the local stories of the development of the local farming area, which is being upgraded this year.

Facilities:

2 x Toilets (suit disabled)
Other Shire facitilies nearby
Cafe', Motel, Caravan Park in town

Collection:

Local & Natural history
Local Native foods & medicine display

The Society was founded in 1970 with the aim of preserving and recording the Shire's history, including objects, photos and archival material. The main collection is housed in a purpose built facility on Morgans Street and in the original and renovated Dance Cottage. Displays are arranged by topics and recorded on the Mosaic™ database.

The Sandstone Heritage Museum accommodates various implements, appliances and bric a brac which help to portray what life was like in Sandstone from the turn of the century. As you walk around looking at the various photographs and stories on the walls one can imagine and share in the hopes and dreams of the people who once resided in this area. The Shire of Sandstone is extremely grateful to its past and present residents who have entrusted items to the custodianship of the Shire Council and thus made the Heritage Museum possible. The Sandstone Heritage Museum is located in a converted grocery store which was built in the late 1940's and operated until 1981. After this time the building was used as a multi-purpose store that served as a hardware shop, fuel-depot and agricultural supply business.

Visit an award winning tourist location. The Gravity Discovery Centre is a highly respected science education and tourism facility in Western Australia, and the only science centre with a focus on Cosmology, Astronomy and Physics. This unique facility provides exciting science experiences for families, children, students and tourists.

Whether you are 5 or 50 there are so many cool hands-on science experiments and displays for you to get involved in. Test your strength on the magnetic pole. Listen to your own drum through the sound coil. Measure your weight on different planets. Watch how your own tennis ball is sucked into the giant black hole. Are you brave enough to stand on the edge of the magnetic pendulum? You can also test gravity by dropping water balloons from the 45m Leaning Tower! Walk along our 1km solar system, the distances between the planets are exactly to scale as if you were travelling in your own space ship through space.

The Cosmology Gallery is home to works of art from various cultural backgrounds with different artists showing their understanding of culture, religion, science and astronomy. Here you will see the Timeline of Our Universe and the wonderful Penrose Tiled Floor.

In addition we are located in stunning bushland and are surrounded by beautiful plants, especially in the spring when the bush comes to life! We offer 1 and 2km bushwalks with a guided map.

Our cafe serves drinks, snacks and ice-creams and our gift shop is stocked with souvenirs. Self guided and Guided tours are available.

We welcome group bookings.

This experience will challenge your thinking about science and our Universe!

The Gingin Observatory is right next door.

Mrs Margaret Blackburn OAM JP of Perth (1920 -1990) had a keen interest in history and lace. To her own inherited family collection, she added pieces from Australia and overseas and was able to incorporate several smaller collections. Her Order of Australia Medal was awarded for service to Commercial Education.

The Blackburn Collection, offered as a bequest to the Western Australian Museum, was later purchased by the Mouritz family in Hyden. The Lace Place was officially opened on June 29, 1993 by his Excellency the Governor General of Western Australia, Sir Francis Burt.

The cabinets designed by Mrs Blackburn and Russel Mouritz are made from Western Australian Jarrah by Mr Haddad from Hadded Fine Furniture. Information folios are provided.

The original collection is complimented by antique gowns and wedding dresses from the Valerie Mouritz Collection. Additions by gift and purchase are frequently made to both collections.

The display was arranged by lace maker / curator Olwyn Scott, Valerie Mouritz and Sheenagh Collins.

Olwyn Scott

Olwyn Scott has won many local, national and international awards for lace making.  Most recently, she won a Gold award at the International Lace Biennial (held in Sansepolcro, Italy) for a 11 piece panel, depicting the emancipation of women. This took her 6 months to research.

Pieces of Interest

Batavia Lace -Fragments from the Dutch Ship "Batavia" wrecked in 1629 on the Abrolhos Islands near Geraldton.

Geraldine - The Gold Lace Bikini was bought by the Lace Group of The Embroidered Guild of WA for an exhibition to display a gold lace bikini. Her handbag is made from a bra, decorated with knotted lace by Erica Eayrs.

Opening Times
9am - 5pm daily

Entry through the Wildflower Shoppe

Cost
$5 entry - Gold Pass is available

There are over 400 items in the collection, some housed in the wheat bin and others in a purpose built building consisting of two general purpose sheds and a reception entrance display area incorporating a visitor’s centre. This area has also been designed and built in the style of a 1930s weigh bridge to keep within the theme of the museum.

Many items in the collection have been restored and are in working order. Rare tractors such as a Marshal MP 6 and an American Waterloo Boy are on display along with many other tractors, farming implements and vehicles dating back to the 1920s. There is also a collection of historical memorabilia from the area.

The house contains an old switchboard from telephone exchange and various old printing machines along with beautiful old dresses and kids clothing, kitchen utensils and furniture.

Visit the Yilgarn History Museum in Southern Cross and view the extensive collection of artefacts, records and memorabilia from both the agricultural and mining industries. Absorb the rich history of the region and admire the museums beautiful heritage building, which was the former courthouse, built in 1892.

Look under the Southern Cross and find gold. 

Located 38km north of Kalgoorlie and 633km east of Perth, Broad Arrow Cemetery was once a thriving and successful gold mining town, known originally as Kurawah.

It is said that Broad Arrow changed its name in 1893 because a prospector, having found gold in the area, marked the route to the spot with a series of Broad Arrows. The gold rush started in 1893, the railway arrived (from Kalgoolie) and the town was gazetted in 1896, and the following year the municipality of Kurawah was formed.

South of Mullewa at Butterabby, a stone monument marks the site of one of the state's earliest conflicts between Aboriginals and Europeans, resulting in the spearing to death of a shepherd and the subsequent hanging of five Aboriginals accused of the crime.

Pioneer Cemetery contains the grave of pioneer William Wenzel.

Coolgardie Cemetery was commissioned in 1894 and contains over 3,000 graves.