The collection is highly significant as it is the only such one in Western Australia that aims to tell the story of all railways across the state. Other collections focus on one aspect or a region.

The majority of the collection is from the Western Australian Government Railways. There are also items representative of the extensive timber lines and gold mines that operated in the state as well as the private lines such as the Midland Railway Company.

The collection spans the whole spectrum of railway history. From Katie which was placed in service in 1881 when the Fremantle to Guildford Railway was built through to more modern diesel locomotives. Therefore whether you are interested is the heavy freight V class steam locomotives or the tiny 20 inch gauge mine locomotive 'Freudie' there is something to interest you at the museum. Four different railway gauges are exhibited.
Special events and visiting stalls are a feature of the annual "Railfest" day, usually in October - see the museum calendar.

Various passenger carriages and freight wagons that formed an integral part of the railway scene can also be appreciated. A number of these date back to the 19th century. The 1947 "Australind" buffet car is loved by children when hired for their own private birthday party.

The exhibition building houses an extensive collection of railway artefacts and photographs telling the story of railways in Western Australia. 

Ticket Information:

Adults $9 | Concession $7 | Children (4 - 14 years) $4 | Children under 4 Free

Broomehill Historical Society was officially declared in 1997 and the following year a stone building was erected on the corner of Great Southern Highway and Journal Street – which is now our Museum . The building was officially opened on 20 April 1898 and used as the Agricultural Hall where meetings and dances were held. A room at the rear was added later for Road Board members to meet. At one stage the building housed the Mechanics’ Institute. In 1923 the building was purchased by the Presbyterian Church, the porch was added and regular services were held until the early 1940’s. The brick work was rendered after 1946. The Broomehill Shire Council purchased the building in the late 1960’s and in 1979 it was officially opened as a museum, containing many items of historical interest for Broomehill.

The museum is open by appointment, at long weekends and special events. Volunteers contact numbers are displayed on the front door. To help us maintain our collection, we ask for an entry donation and Broomehill and Holland Track souvenirs are available for sale.

In 1893 Mr R. John Holland (b 1855 – d 1936) cut a direct cart track from Broomehill to the Goldfields which was and is still known as the Holland track.

MHHS have operated the Mundaring District Museum since 1997 in the old Mundaring School building, which houses a permanent display about people, places and events of historical interest in the Shire.  MHHS is able to assist schools and other groups in the organization of community-based historical events, compiling local history information and guest speakers.

With its’ specially developed ‘interpretation machine’ and a number of informative plaques on display to explain the history and vision of the site, you will be amazed at the stories and controversy surrounding its development.

The building and its 41.5 metre chimney is a fascinating display of late 19th Century architecture, and if you have a passion for historic machines, you will be struck by the genius of a technology that has seen ninety million litres of water pumped daily uninterrupted. You can see three of the original Babcock and Wilcox boilers, the Green’s Economiser and one of the original Worthington triple expansion steam engines.

The No 1 Pump Station is the starting point for The Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail, which offers a range of walk and cycle trails around the weir.

Mundaring Weir is located a short one hour drive from Perth via Kalamunda or Midland. 

Old Northam Railway Station

Established circa 1900 the Old Northam Railway Station was once a hive of activity.

The Newcastle Gaol Museum and Police Stables are part of a complex of buildings associated with law and order.  

Only a 5-10 minute walk from the Toodyay railway station and main street. 

Buildings on-site include the 1865 Gaol, the 1891 Police Stables, the 1907 lock-up and the century old Wicklow Shearing Shed re-located from a nearby farming property.  Also on display are farming implements reflecting the agricultural history of the region.

Built in 1851 by the Benedictine Monks from Subiaco, Italy the Stables are the last remaining structure from the original Monastery. Purposed as a monastery, orphanages and now aged care facilities, this site has had many uses in it's almost 170 years. With a predicted 10 years left until falling to ruin, the Stables were restored in 2019.

Originally built in 1892 and officially opened in 1893 by the Bishop of Perth this site was variously used as a schoolhouse and chapel for the Subiaco Boys Orphanage and then the St Josephs Girls Orphanage until 1971. Then in 1989 it was rebirthed as the Catherine McAuley Centre, a family-oriented community service for children in need.

The Barracks was built to house the Enrolled Pensioner Force (also known as ‘Pensioner Guards’). The guards came to Australia on the convict ships that transported nearly 10,000 prisoners to Western Australia between 1850 – 1868.

The Barrracks were in use to house the Pensioner Foruce until 1887, between 1900 - 1904 the building was convered into offices. 

In the 1960’s the Government surmised there was no need for the Barracks and decided to demolish the buildings.The announcement created a public uproar and motivated the Royal Western Australian Historical Society to form a Barracks Defence Council. The Council worked diligently to keep the Arch however demolition proceeded and in 1966 all but the Arch was demolished.

Architect Richard Roach Jewell was appointed to design an appropriate building. He was at the time an employee of the Department of Public Works. He had arrived in Western Australia in 1851 and designed many of the important public buildings in Perth during the latter half of the nineteenth century, including the Pensioner Barracks. Some of his others designs include boys’ schools in Perth and Fremantle, Wesley Church, the oldest section of the Treasury Buildings, Perth Town Hall, Perth Goal and Government House.

Bennett Book Railway is proudly owned and operated by volunteer members of the Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association. BBR was formed on the 26th of April 1976 by a group of friends who shared an interest in the lesser known narrow gauge railways of Western Australia.

Starting from small beginnings in a members backyard, the railway have evolved to a fully fledged railway operation based in Whiteman Park. Today it encompasses relocated heritage local railway infrastructure using heritage locomotives and carriages from all over Australia and the world.

We aim to preserve Western Australian railway heritage and to provide a unique railway experience through the bushland of Whiteman Park.

This website is the culmination of over 50 years of collective effort by a legion of committed volunteers and professional researchers. The National Trust of Australia (WA) in partnership with the Friends of Battye Library Inc. have brought together this work, and with the support of Lotterywest made it accessible to the public.

The site for a burial ground was surveyed at East Perth in late 1829, and the first acknowledged burial was John Mitchell on 6 January 1830. The cemeteries within the grounds continued to be the main burial ground for the Perth area until April 1899 when burials commenced at Karrakatta Cemetery.

The East Perth Cemeteries burial ground were closed for new burials in 1899, except for those in vaults or with the approval of the Governor. Burials at East Perth continued until 1916 when this practiced was ceased with a handful of exceptions.

It is widely acknowledged that there are over 10,000 burials within the grounds of the East Perth Cemeteries. There was no burial register kept by either the Church Wardens or the caretakers of the Cemeteries. This led to researchers having to spend many hours compiling various histories and datasets on the East Perth Cemeteries and these have been produced in various formats.

Designed by Richard Roach Jewell and James Manning in the Victorian Free Gothic style, the hall was built by convicts and free men between 1868 and 1870. Its decorations contain a number of convict motifs, including windows in the shape of the broad arrow, and decorations in the shape of a hangman's rope.

The foundation stone for Perth Town Hall was laid on 24 May 1867 by Governor Hampton in a ceremony involving a lot of pomp and parade. However there were torrential downpours. The ceremony went on anyway with an official procession from Government House and a mock battle performed by the Volunteer Regiments, Enrolled Forces of Pensioners, and the WA Country Regiment.

In 1929, the Centenary of Western Australia one of the events in the city of Perth was the placing of a commemorative plaque in the north west corner of the building by the Governor Sir William Campion. 

The Roundhouse was built to hold any person convicted of a crime in the settlement and was used until 1886. After it ceased being used as a gaol it became a Police Lock-up until the late 1890s and then was used as accommodation for the Water Police, and afterwards as a storage facility for Fremantle Ports. When threatened with demolition in the 1920s it was saved and later control went to the State Government before it was deeded to the City of Fremantle.

The role of the Parish Pastoral Council is to promote the Church’s mission to live and communicate the love and values of Christ in the world around us. The Council shares in the responsibility for the ongoing life and development of our parish community to provide support for their faith and the mission of the church.It involves listening and studying the life and activity of the parish to:
Research and identify needs, ideas, hopes and feedback of parishioners
Encourage and support the continuing good work of existing groups within our parish
Develop, implement, review and improve pastoral programs
Set short-term and long-term pastoral goals for our parish community within our Archdiocesan priorities
Provide support for our Priest, working collaboratively with him and with each other.

Located a leisurely one and three quarter hour drive from Perth’s CBD makes it the perfect journey’s end to your country sojourn

Our Boutique Function Centre and Accommodation are available all year. Mary's Tearoom is open every weekend from April to October with service of Devonshire Teas, homemade cakes and light lunches from 10am-4pm, with other times available by appointment.

Situated in the heart of the city of Perth, St George's is the principal cathedral of the Anglican Province of Western Australia and the metropolitical Diocese of Perth.

Consecrated in 1888, St George's Cathedral stands as an architectural gem to the glory of God, to the pioneers who funded and constructed it and to the generations of faithful people who have maintained and preserved its fabric and traditions over the years.

St George's is one of only a few cathedrals constructed of handmade bricks.

Its gothic revival design is enhanced by a blend of local and imported materials, including local jarrah roof trusses and arches, limestone from Fremantle, bricks manufactured in three different brickyards along the Swan River, bluestone pillars from Victoria, Oregon pine ceilings, marble reredos manufactured in Italy with English alabaster inserts and a Caen stone pulpit carved in France.

Within the Cathedral are numerous icons, beautiful stained glass windows and memorials to Western Australian pioneers, community leaders and those who served in the wars of the twentieth century. The Soldiers' Chapel is a place of special interest.

The Cathedral's peal of bells, founded as a memorial to Queen Victoria, can be heard each Sunday before the 10.00am Choral Eucharist and 5.00pm Choral Evensong. These services also feature the widely acclaimed Cathedral Choir.

This historic Cathedral in the heart of the city offers traditional Anglican worship, challenging preaching, and a lively Christian community for people of all ages. We hope that you enjoy your visit to our website, and that you will worship with us whenever you are in Perth. 

Description currently unavailable

Description currently unavailable

The Cathedral is constructed of brick which has been covered with cement render and painted white. The gable roof is covered with shingles. The north and south facades are punctuated by arched windows. Buttresses have been placed at regular intervals down the length of these facades. The portico, which was removed in 1881, has been reconstructed at the western end of the building. The western gable end is punctuated by four arched windows, a pair above the portico and a single window either side of the portico. A lean-to extension is located at the eastern end of the southern facade. Entry to this section is through an arched door on the north facade. 

The church windows are of coloured glass set in wooden mullions. Those in the lean-to section are square, four paned windows. In 1843 approval for the request was granted from Rome (Vatican) and Father John Brady, Father John Joostens (Belgian priest) and Patrick O'Reilly (a Catechist) were soon to arrive in Fremantle on the ship 'Water Witch'.  Even though Father Brady was to stay in Perth for only two months he was able to claim a land grant for the church, on Victoria Avenue. This was to be the site of the first Catholic Cathedral, The Church of St John the Apostle and Evangelist (St John's Pro-Cathedral). Construction commenced on 27 December 1843. The foundation stone was laid on 16 January 1844. Brady left for Rome, in 1844, to ask for assistance and advocate the establishment of a new diocese for the Swan River Colony.

Following Bishop Brady's arrival back in Perth in January, 1846, the Church of St John the Apostle and Evangelist became a cathedral as it was now the seat of a Bishop. In 1965, the building was 'modernised' and used as a classroom for convent students and for external students studying English.  Between 1979 and 1980, work was done to restore the building and to remove additions and alterations which were unsympathetic to the original design, and the buildings was adapted for use as a museum by the Catholic Church.

St. John's is now used as a church once again.

The Palace was erected in 1897 during the Gold Rush by an American entrepreneur, John De Baun, on the site of the Freemason’s Hotel. When it opened, it was considered to be the finest hotel in the southern hemisphere. Boasting of marble stairs, electric lights, hot water, and a bathroom on every corridor, no expense had been spared for visitors.

When the Commonwealth Bank bought the place in the 1970s, it was only a hard-fought local campaign which saved the Palace from being demolished and replaced by a modern office building. Even so, after Alan Bond’s company took over the property, it was closed as a hotel and much of the interior was lost, or greatly changed, to erect a tall office block behind the façade.

The Palace Hotel was used as a bank until 2012 and today, after a significant restoration, it is commercial office space, while remaining a significant landmark on St George’s Terrace.