Wanneroo Museum & Community History Centre

Wanneroo Museum & Community History Centre

The Museum reflects the diverse communities that make up Wanneroo’s history through a range of exhibits, audio visual and interactive displays that are based on the central theme of “journeys”. This is epitomised by a reconstruction of Wanneroo Road, the lifeline of people living in Wanneroo reaching out to the rest of the metropolitan and the beginning of adventure for those travelling to Yanchep and beyond for holidays.

1960 Wanneroo Road Board
1960 Wanneroo Road Board

 

The recollections of local residents interpret the regions journey from an open land of lakes and traditional Aboriginal lifestyle to an isolated community of pioneers, and its growth into a thriving centre of industry and a contemporary multicultural society.

WRAF Staff at Gloucester Lodge in Yanchep National Park
WRAF Staff at Gloucester Lodge in Yanchep National Park

The Community History Centre is an amazing resource located within the museum. It provides a wealth of sources including photographs, maps, documents, newspapers and a selection of texts relating to the history and development of Wanneroo. The public access computrer lab is installed with family history research programs such as Ancestory.com to enable people to research their family history. Volunteers are regularly on hand to assist with this process.

Market gardening was a vital economy in Wanneroo and made use of the natural resources; the abundant lakes.
Market gardening was a vital economy in Wanneroo and made use of the natural resources; the abundant lakes.

 

Electricity came late to Wanneroo with some people still using objects like the petrol powered washing machine well into the 1970s
Electricity came late to Wanneroo with some people still using objects like the petrol powered washing machine well into the 1970s

 

An original beachshack was relocated from Quinn's Rocks and reassembled in the Museumw with all its contents as used by the donors, the Watkins family.
An original beachshack was relocated from Quinn's Rocks and reassembled in the Museumw with all its contents as used by the donors, the Watkins family.

 

 

Address: 
3 Rocca Way, Wanneroo WA 6065, Australia
Tel: 
+61 08 9405 5920
+61 08 9405 5901
Hours: 
Monday - Wednesday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Thursday: 10.00am - 5.00pm
Friday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 12.00pm - 4.00pm
Website: 
http://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/3/831/1/wanneroo_museum.pm
Email: 
museum@wanneroo.wa.gov.au
Admission: 
Entry by donation for the general publicMuseum Tours - Schools: $3-5.00Museum Tours - Seniors: gold coin donation per person
Images
Facilities: 
The building meets the highest industry standards for collection storage and conservation including two large collection storage spaces, an exhibition preparation room, designated quarantine and wet conservation treatment rooms as well as a custom designed gallery space accessible to the public.

The Community History Centre is a rich resource located within the museum. It provides a wealth of material which reflects the history and development of the Wanneroo region, including books, pamphlets, photographs, maps, documents, oral histories and newspapers. There is also a collection of essential family history books and six public computers all of which provide access to a subscription family history database. Volunteers are on hand once a week to assist people with tracing their ancestors..

The centre has printing and photocopying facilities for the public and digital copies of photographs can be purchased at $10.00 per image.

The building has public toilets available, including disabled access. There is ramp entrance to the building and public access elevators.
Collection: 

The museum features nearly 300 objects and a vast array of historic photographs to interpret life in Wanneroo as it evolved. The entire collection encompassess nearly 3000 objects relating to domestic life, beach shacks and holidaying in Yanchep and along the coast, commercial and recreational fishing, trade and industry such as Market Gardening,coachbuilding, construction and other rural industries. A moderate collection of textiles is complimented by handicrafts and civic memorabilia.

The Community History collection is comprised of photographs, documents, maps, oral history's, (both transcribed and digital) as well as a wealth of books, clippings and copies of texts relating to the history of Wanneroo.

Events
  • Wanneroo family history research mornings

    08 Feb 2010 - 28 Feb 2011

    Are you interested in tracing the history of your family? Have you been bitten by the genealogy bug?