Carnamah is a town and farming community 300 kilometres north of Perth in the Mid West region of Western Australia. The Carnamah Historical Society was founded in 1983 to collect, record, preserve and promote local history.

We established and operate the Carnamah Museum, restored and care for the state heritage-listed Macpherson Homestead and actively share local history online.

Check out our Virtual Museum: to be known and distinguished as Carnamah

Located in the heart of the Nanson Hamlet the Chapman Valley Museum is a treasure even visiting anthropologists cannot resist.

The Museum is home to an impressive display of old farm machinery, vehicles, local history and photos brought to you by the Chapman Valley Historical Society. The Chapman Valley Historical Society is a community group dedicated to preserving and promoting our local history, which includes local pioneers, railway and mining. Treat yourself to a visit at the Chapman Valley Museum, you’ll be surprised by what you’ll discover.

The museum is also now home to a wonderful tribute to the 42 Fallen Soldiers from the Upper Chapman region in WW1.

Open Wednesday’s 9am until 3pm and Sundays 1pm until 4pm (Closes during the hotter months end of November and re-opens again 1st April).

Step outside and visit the newly constructed machinery shed housing old farming machinery and vintage cars. It is also worth checking out the old stables, butcher building and two stone wells.

Chiverton House is believed to have been built by convicts which is particularly significant as it would make it one of the last buildings built by convicts in Western Australia.

Located in Northampton, five hours drive north of Perth and just north of Geraldton, Chiverton House Museum is one of three significant historical sites in the small mining town. Whilst in the area be sure to visit the Church of St Mary in Ara Coeli and the ruins of Gwalla Church.

Please contact the Geraldton Visitor Centre for opening and closing time as the vary

In Greenough, among the gloriously restored historical buildings and the patchwork of crops and rolling hills, you’ll find a sense of timelessness and a feeling of romance reminiscent of the past. It’s little wonder, considering the Central Greenough Historical Settlement (formerly known as the Greenough Hamlet), is considered among the country’s best-preserved 19th century towns.
In the heart of this historic village lies a collection of 11 buildings, including the former jail, courthouse, police station, churches and a school. And while these buildings today operate just for tourists, you need only spend a little time here to feel transported to another time.

Close your eyes while standing in the cool confines of the jail and you can almost hear the clank of chains and the shuffle of prisoners. Or step inside the courthouse and imagine the trials once heard here and the sentences handed down.

The village was formed in 1865 to service the surrounding pioneer farmers, who struck out north from the expanding Swan River Settlement in a bid to eke out a living from the land.

Today the village is complemented by an ever-growing series of interpretative material, which opens your eyes to the area’s most colourful stories. There’s also a stylish cafe set alongside the village – just the spot to sip a coffee while overlooking the buildings.
The Central Greenough Historical Settlement is the centrepiece of an entire suite of historical buildings and areas of interest on the Greenough/Walkaway Heritage Trail.

The trail takes in some 36 historical buildings and starts from the Pioneer Museum. Located in the former home of Greenough pioneers John Maley and Elizabeth Waldeck, the museum is the oldest in the Mid West. The couple moved here in 1862 and raised 14 children in the region. Today the museum is run by passionate Greenough historian Gary Martin and provides a fascinating insight into the everyday life of Greenough’s pioneers.

The heritage trail also includes the Pioneer Cemetery – a moving tribute to the men, women and children who first settled in the area. The inscriptions on the tombstones are moving and enable visitors to imagine the lives lead by these hardy pioneers.
While on the heritage trail you’ll also cross the Old Convict Bridge, which passes over the Greenough River, and visit the historic Hampton Arms Inn, which has a restaurant, motel, bar and a rare secondhand bookshop. The inn was the first to operate in the district, opening in 1863, and has been beautifully maintained and restored. The Hampton Arms Inn is also rumoured to be haunted by a local stonemason who was killed in a fight in the bar many years ago.

The heritage trail continues by the Walkaway Railway Station Museum, giving travellers an insight into the region’s transport history, and on to the modern day Alinta Wind Farm – the second largest in Australia.

You’ll finish your journey at the scenic Ellendale Pool – a permanent water hole framed by rust-red rock walls and renowned as being an important site for the Aboriginal people who lived here, long before Europeans first arrived.

The Central Greenough Historical Settlement is located about 20km south of Geraldton. Several gorgeous bed and breakfasts operate in the area and further accommodation is available in Geraldton.

Discover the social history of Greenough in the spacious rooms of what was once Greenough's largest house. Built between 1862-80 for John Stephen Maley, his wife Elizabeth (nee Waldeck) and their 14 children, this home has now been serving as a local history museum for over 50 years. Over the last few years the museum has been transformed, making it more interactive and family friendly. Whilst here also take time to wander through Elizabeth's Garden, the Community Veggie Garden and marvel at what could be Australia's oldest leaning gum tree.

Overlooking the Indian Ocean, the Museum of Geraldton celebrates the rich heritage of the land, sea and people of the Mid West region.

Enjoy a guided tour through the stories from four major early shipwrecks located in the region, the Batavia, Gilt Dragon, Zuytdorp, and Zeewijk or learn more about the discovery of HMAS Sydney (II), the pride of the fleet. Witness the wrecks of HMAS Sydney (II) and HSK Kormoran as they currently lie, 2,500 metres deep on the ocean floor, in From Great Depths, a moving exhibit and 3D film.

Discover ancient landforms, Yamaji history and culture, and the region’s natural landscapes and marine environment. Find out how more recent European exploration and settlement has developed the Mid-West including the agriculture, fishing, mining and science industries.

The archaeological riches from four Dutch shipwrecks - Batavia, Gilt Dragon, Zuytdorp, and Zeewijk, are revealed in the Shipwrecks Gallery. Visitors can join a guided highlights tour available daily at 11.30am.

The Museum’s shop has a great range of souvenirs, gifts and educational items suited to all ages and interests.

Wander through the beautiful old railway station building to visualise how the station would have operated in the late 1800s. See where the station master lived and worked and learn about the history of this small community.

There are documents and memorabilia relating to the history of the Midland Railway Company. The museum also has records of local burials, family histories and photographs and other social history from the Walkaway area and surroundings. In the grounds there is an old locomotive called B6, the only one of its type left in the world. It is planned to put B6 in the Goods Shed (when refurbished) and other rolling stock will also be brought in for display.

The heritage listed Macpherson Homestead was one of the first buildings in the district, and following restoration is standing strong aged over 150 years.

It is located just one kilometre east of the Carnamah townsite via a marked driveway on the north side of the Bunji-Carnamahl Road.

The homestead and its grounds can be visited at anytime. If you would like to look inside please make prior arrangements by telephone with George on 08 9951 1690 or 0439 966 040.

For more on the homestead, see:

• www.carnamah.com.au/homestead
• www.carnamah.com.au/macpherson-family
• www.northmidlands.org.au/collection/alternative-archive