Step into history: 190 years of The West Australian Newspaper

Step into a captivating odyssey through history as The West Australian newspaper commemorates its extraordinary 190-year legacy in an exclusive exhibition. 

This immersive journey tells the enduring story of The West Australian, intricately woven into the fabric of Western Australia’s history.

For nearly two centuries, The West Australian has witnessed the State’s journey, shaping, and reflecting WA’s pivotal role on the national and global stage.  As the second-oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia, it has captured the essence of WA’s triumphs and trials.

From the birth of Federation, through both world wars, to moments of tension and eras of tranquillity, The West Australian has chronicled it all.

It told of a Wheatbelt earthquake whose tremors shook Perth and the pursuit of a serial killer in Claremont. It exposed corruption within business, politics and law enforcement and documented the resounding echoes of an iron ore boom.

It recorded the euphoria of sporting triumphs such as the America’s Cup win in 1983 and West Coast’s first AFL flag in 1992.

A newspaper’s power lies in its ability to seize attention with a single moment. The front page, often with blazing headlines, is about the art of selling a story. Even in the 1830s, when text dominated the page, The West Australian's predecessors understood the impact of succinct, eye-catching headlines.

Charles Macfaull’s inaugural front page of The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal (later to become The West Australian) on January 5 1833, featured bold capital letters declaring ON SALE, CAUTION and FIVE POUNDS REWARD.

In recent times, the page has carried bold headlines such as NOVAK N’ WORRIES for a tennis star’s embattled stance on vaccination, FAKE EWES over claims that footage from live export ships had been paid for, and YOU HAD ONE JOBKEEPER for a $60 billion COVID accounting error.

Throughout history, The West Australian has harnessed the might of its front page and dynamic headlines to tell the stories that matter – whether local, national or global.

As we celebrate this monumental milestone, The West Australian’s exhibition focuses on the newspaper’s enduring legacy and its transformation for the digital age as it forges ahead with video, online and multimedia storytelling.

Through thoughtfully curated artefacts, interactive displays and captivating anecdotes, visitors will see the newspaper's commitment to unwavering journalism