Time and Time Again: Rephotographing the Goldfields

Step back in time and see Kalgoorlie through a new lens.

This exhibition brings together historic photographs from the Western Australian Museum’s Dwyer and MacKay Collection, with contemporary images captured by Fremantle-based photographer Brett Leigh Dicks.

As part of his year-long residency at the Museum of the Goldfields through ART ON THE MOVE’s Activating Collections Program, Dicks meticulously tracked down the original sites of these century-old photos, recreating the scenes to show just how much—or how little—has changed.

Iconic locations like The Palace Hotel and Boulder Town Hall, alongside quiet streets and abandoned mining claims, offer a unique view of the evolving Goldfields landscape.

In addition to the photographs, Dicks collaborated with local residents to create a series of poems, drawing on their personal stories and memories. These poems will be displayed alongside the images, offering a deeper connection to the region’s history and community.