Perth's museums and historic homes offer a fascinating glimpse into Western Australia's past - from stories of maritime adventure and innovation to life in early colonial times.
Whether you're exploring the city or venturing out to nearby towns, these museums and heritage houses bring history to life. Start with our Top 10 Museums in Perth, then use the interactive map below to find even more places to explore across the region.
1. WA Museum Boola Bardip
Boola Bardip – meaning 'many stories' in local Nyoongar language – is the aptly named arts and culture precinct of the Perth CBD. Designed by international architect consortium Hassell and OMA, the WA Museum Boola Bardip encompasses 6,000 square metres of gallery space. The museum is a rich exploration of Western Australia's stories and cultural identity. You can easily spend an entire day exploring the incredibly researched collections, our highlights include the Meteorite collection and Otto, the iconic 24-metre blue whale skeleton.
WA Museum Boola Bardip | Perth
2. WA Maritime Museum
Situated in the port city of Fremantle, the WA Maritime Museum is packed with famous stories and exhibits highlighting WA's historic, sporting and maritime heritage. Here you'll see the winning America's Cup yacht, Australia II. Take a tour of the Cold War-era submarine HMAS Ovens with stories from a former military service member, and lear all about WA’s affinity with the Indian Ocean. From leisure boats to handcrafted sailing boats and commercial pearl luggers the Museum houses unique galleries that explore WA's historic relationship with the sea. If afterwards you're left wanting more, you can take a short walk to the WA Shipwrecks Museum.
WA Maritime Museum | Fremantle
3. WA Shipwrecks Museum
Housed within Fremantle's historic Commissariat buildings, the WA Shipwrecks Museum is internationally recognised for its contributions to maritime archaeology and shipwreck conservation. The galleries house hundreds of relics from ships wrecked along WA's notoriously treacherous coastline. It's a fascinating deep dive into the first European encounters, the riches of maritime trade, and one of the deadliest mutinies known to history – the Batavia.
WA Shipwrecks Museum | Fremantle
4. Motor Museum of WA
For the history and car buff alike, the Motor Museum of WA is located in Whiteman Park and houses one of the largest collections of motor vehicles and motoring memorabilia in Australia. Here you'll see over 200 cars, trucks and motorcycles dating from the 1890s to the present day. Whether or not you're a car enthusiast, it's a guaranteed nostalgia high.
Motor Museum of WA | Swan Valley
5. Wadjemup Museum Rottnest Island
The Wadjemup Museum on Rottnest Island is a powerful gateway to the island’s layered history and culture. Developed with guidance from the Wadjemup Aboriginal Reference Group, the museum features 17 exhibits, a theatrette, and immersive audio experiences that share stories of imprisonment, natural history, and community. Housed in the historic Old Mill and Hay Store, visitors can see artefacts such as glass spearheads, a lighthouse keeper’s jacket, and the mill stone once used by imprisoned Aboriginal men and boys. It’s a deeply moving place to reflect on the island’s past and its enduring significance.
Wadjemup Museum | Rockingham
6. Wanneroo Regional Museum
The Wanneroo Regional Museum offers an engaging look at the rich history and culture of the region, from Noongar heritage and early European settlement to farming and community life. Exhibits feature artefacts, photographs, and everyday objects that reveal how the area has evolved, while interactive displays and activities make the experience family-friendly. With regular special exhibitions, workshops, and events, the museum provides a lively and educational space to explore Wanneroo's past and its enduring connection to Country.
Wanneroo Regional Museum | Sunset Coast
7. Kalamunda History Village
The Kalamunda History Village is Western Australia’s largest open-air museum, set along the historic Zig Zag Railway line once used to transport timber to Midland. Many original station buildings remain, alongside a collection of heritage structures relocated from around the Hills and restored to show early local life. Visitors can step inside the schoolhouse, blacksmith’s shop, and corner store, explore vintage vehicles and machinery, and experience a vivid glimpse of the region’s pioneering past.
Kalamunda History Village | Perth Hills
8. Bert Tyler Vintage Machinery Museum
The Bert Tyler Vintage Machinery Museum celebrates the legacy of local pioneer Bert Tyler, showcasing an impressive collection of restored vintage engines and equipment once vital to life in the Perth Hills. Highlights include Bert’s own Hornsby, Sunshine, and Lister engines, alongside tools from historic trades. Adjacent to the museum, the Armadale Outpost Telegraph Centre explores early communication technology, featuring interactive Morse code displays and stories from Armadale’s first postmistress. Together, they offer a fascinating glimpse into the region’s industrial and technological past.
Bert Tyler Vintage Machinery Museum | Perth Hills
9. York Residency Museum
A visit to the award-winning York Residency Museum gives you a fantastic insight into the region's history. The Museum is full of lively, professionally designed exhibitions covering a diverse range of themes. The building itself is an ode to history, built in the 1850s as part of the Convict Depot, later developed into the home of the Resident Magistrate, then during the early twentieth century, it evolved into a part of the Old York Hospital, later being saved from disrepair by the York Society. It opened as a Municipal Museum in 1972 and continues to be managed by the Shire of York.
York Residency Museum | Avon Valley
10. Newcastle Gaol Museum
Take a step back in time to the era of Australia's most famous bush rangers. Built in 1865 by convicts, the building was previously used as a gaol, a residence and now stands as the Newcastle Gaol Museum. It's a great way to spend an hour exploring Toodyay's colourful past through the former prison cells with permanent exhibits on Moondyne Joe, the Dorizzi brothers, law & order, growing up in Toodyay and the "Native Cell".
Newcastle Gaol Museum | Avon Valley
