WA Museum free entry this summer — Frequently Asked Questions

Why are all WA Museums free this summer?

Free general admission to all Western Australian Museum locations, this summer, was announced by the State Government to help reduce cost of living pressure for individuals and families.

General admission to current paid sites will be free from 15 December 2024 - 31 March 2025.

This includes:

  • WA Museum Boola Bardip, Perth Cultural Centre, Perth / Boorloo, WA, 6000
  • WA Maritime Museum, Victoria Quay Road, Fremantle / Walyalup, WA, 6160
  • Gwoonwardu Mia, 146 Robinson St, Carnarvon WA, 6701

Other WA Museum sites are already free for general admission, these include:

  • WA Shipwrecks Museum, 47 Cliff St, Fremantle / Walyalup, WA, 6160
  • Museum of Geraldton, 2 Museum Pl, Geraldton / Jambinu, WA, 6530
  • Museum of the Goldfields, 17 Hannan St, Kalgoorlie / Karlkurla, WA, 6430
  • Museum of the Great Southern, Residency Rd, Albany / Kinjarling, WA, 6330

When does free general admission start and finish?  

Free General Admission to WA Museum Boola Bardip, WA Maritime Museum and Gwoonwardu Mia commences 9.30am, Sunday 15 December until 5pm, Monday 31 March.

Who is eligible for free general admission?

From 15 December 2024 - 31 March 2025 all existing paid WA Museum sites (WA Museum Boola Bardip, WA Maritime Museum and Gwoonwardu Mia) will have free general admission for all visitors.

Free general admission does not apply to additional paid activities and events.

Is there a limit to the number of times I can visit while general admission is free?

There is no limit to the number of times you can visit while general admission is free.

Do I need to book a ticket or use the ServiceWA app to attend?

You do not need to register using the ServiceWA app and no bookings are required for General Admission to all sites.  

Is there anything else that was paid, that I can access for free?

Entry to Empress Josephine's Garden exhibition at WA Maritime Museum will be free throughout the free general admission period (15 December 2024 - 31 March 2025).  

Due to strict capacity limits, bookings for this exhibition are required. Please visit the WA Maritime Museum website to book.  

Are there any exclusions to the offer?

General admission to all WA Museum sites is free. However, the following experiences continue to incur a fee:

  • The Great Kimberley Wilderness VR experience is a paid exhibition. The 360-degree, VR experience is showing at WA Museum Boola Bardip, Museum of Geraldton, Museum of the Goldfields and Museum of the Great Southern. Tickets can be booked online. 
  • HMAS Ovens submarine tours are a paid experience offered at the WA Maritime Museum. The HMAS Ovens submarine is currently closed, reopening early 2025.

There are also several paid activities, workshops and events at each site. For further details please check our website.

I'm a WA Museum Member, what does this mean for me?

To thank all our current WA Museum members, as of 14 December 2024, for their loyalty, we will automatically extend their membership for the equivalent time of free general admission (107 days to be precise!).  

Will this become an annual initiative?

This initiative is a special offer provided by the State Government aimed at relieving cost of living pressures for the WA community at this time.

I’m away between December and March. Can I enter for free at another time?

Unfortunately not. This initiative is only available from 15 December 2024 - 31 March 2025.

I live in regional WA and won’t be visiting a paid location between December and March. Can I enter for free another time?

Unfortunately not. This initiative is only available from 15 December 2024 - 31 March 2025.

I’m a teacher. Does Free General Admission include Education Programs?

Yes, free general admission will allow the teacher and parents, free entry to the Museum for self-guided experiences, until 31 March 2025.

As part of our regular educational program offering general admission is free for all students exploring the WA Museum independently.

However, Facilitated Education Programs are not included in this initiative. These workshops are led by the WA Museum’s experienced Learning and Engagement team and includes exclusive content, materials and resources. These sessions remain available at their usual cost.  

To explore our education programs, visit the Learn section of our website.  

How will this affect School Holiday Programs?

Existing paid school holiday programs such as our Drop & Leave programs are excluded from the free general admission initiative. The cost for these programs covers the hands-on facilitation provided by our team.

Holiday Drop-in activity zones are included in free general admission, and we’re adding even more activities to ensure there’s plenty to enjoy with the increased number of visitors expected.

Learn more about our school holidays activities.

Are there additional accessibility services during this period?

All WA Museum locations remain committed to providing accessible experiences. If you have specific accessibility needs, please visit our website for more information or contact the WA Museum directly before your visit.

Where can I get more information about the free general admission?  

If you can’t find the information you need on our website, please contact our friendly customer service team. You’ll find our contact details on our website here.