A previously unrecognised species of koala has been confirmed from fossils in the Western Australian Museum collection. It is the first new koala species identified from Western Australia.
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A previously unrecognised species of koala has been confirmed from fossils in the Western Australian Museum collection. It is the first new koala species identified from Western Australia.
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Few people have contributed to the Western Australian Museum with the depth, breadth and longevity of Diana Jones.
News
WA Museum Boola Bardip has been named one of the best of the best, recognised in the top 1% of attractions across the South Pacific, in the Trip Advisor 2026 Travellers’ Choice Awards.
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From our blog
On 13 April 1969, 23-year-old Lesley Meaney stood on the shore of Wadjemup/Rottnest Island and began swimming towards Fremantle. Approximately nine hours later, she reached the mainland, becoming the first woman to complete a solo crossing of the Rottnest Channel.
Blog
Caterina Vallesi (née Cardinali) was married in Porto San Giorgio, Italy, in 1955 — but her groom, Umberto Vallesi, was thousands of kilometres away in Western Australia!
Blog
As you move through Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor, it’s easy to be swept away by the sheer scale of it all. Sometimes, it’s easy to miss things...
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While the Terracotta Warriors prepare for their journey home to China, one lucky visitor is getting ready to follow them!
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Take a nostalgic trip back to a time when families piled into the family car and embarked on long road trips in the sweltering summer heat. From oversized roadside attractions to the moment of check-in, Reception this way: motels – a sentimental journey with Tim Ross has you covered.
Media release
On 13 April 1969, 23-year-old Lesley Meaney stood on the shore of Wadjemup/Rottnest Island and began swimming towards Fremantle. Approximately nine hours later, she reached the mainland, becoming the first woman to complete a solo crossing of the Rottnest Channel.
Blog
Legacies Karlkurla celebrates the lives, strength and lifelong achievements of ten respected Goldfields Elders in a powerful First Nations-led storytelling exhibition.
Media release
Caterina Vallesi (née Cardinali) was married in Porto San Giorgio, Italy, in 1955 — but her groom, Umberto Vallesi, was thousands of kilometres away in Western Australia!
Blog
AAMI AFL Origin returns in 2026, and the Western Australian Museum is match ready.
News
As you move through Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor, it’s easy to be swept away by the sheer scale of it all. Sometimes, it’s easy to miss things...
Blog
The 2025–26 Emerging Curators Program has officially begun.
Blog
In November 2025, the Western Australian Museum worked with the Australian Embassy and the Indonesian Heritage Agency to deliver a two-day workshop on museum management and curatorial practice at the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta.
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When we hear the word shipwreck, it tends to conjure up images of storms, navigation errors and even tragedy. But did you know some shipwrecks reach the seabed by design?
Blog
This January, the Museum of the Goldfields is turning up the heat on creativity and cool vibes with a school holiday program that’s all about imagination, colour, and good old-fashioned fun.
Media release