Geraldton

Scientists from the Western Australian Museum have discovered a rare new species of gecko in the State’s Mid-West and will reveal it to the public for the first time at the WA Museum – Geraldton on Tuesday, October 22.

With the bombing of Darwin on 19 February 1942, the Second World War suddenly struck Australian shores.  On the same night, Japanese troops landed in East Timor, and for the 270 Australian soldiers of the 2/2nd Independent Company a remarkable ten-month guerrilla campaign began.

The incredible story of 270 Australian commandos who defied all odds to hold down more than 10,000 Japanese troops in East Timor during a critical point of World War II will be told at the Western Australian Museum – Geraldton from July 5.

The Western Australian Museum has received a major boost to investigate, manage and interpret the site of Australia’s greatest naval tragedy – the World War II wrecks of HMAS Sydney (II) and the HSK Kormoran – with a $483,248 grant from the Commonwealth.

The Western Australian Museum – Geraldton has partnered with the Batavia Coast Maritime Heritage Association and Geraldton Regional Library to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the Batavia shipwreck over the WA Day long weekend.

A poignant photographic exhibition focusing on the effects of climate change as seen through the eyes of Abrolhos fishers has won a prestigious award for the Western Australian Museum and its partners.

A group of Geraldton expeditioners have added a local perspective to the popular Traversing Antarctica: The Australian Experience exhibition at the Western Australian Museum – Geraldton.

• Vergulde Draeck (Gilt Dragon) shipwreck discovered 50 years ago
• Find sparks ground-breaking protective legislation, research and conservation 
• Wrecks and artefacts key to exploring shared cultural heritage

One hundred years ago the 1911 - 1914 Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE), famously led by Sir Douglas Mawson, spent many cold months exploring the enigmatic and deadly continent of Antarctica.

The Western Australian Museum – Geraldton will celebrate Seaweek with a range of activities including a special Small Fry session and fish feeding from March 3 to 9.