Royal Western Australian Historical Society (Inc)
Housed in an old building that has been extended. We have a small Museum which embraces a costume collection of c 2,000 pieces, an art collection of c 200 pieces, a huge photograph collection and a library. All of these are focused on Western Australian history and are run and maintained by volunteers of various trained expertise.
Address:
49 Broadway, Nedlands, WA
Tel:
0893863841
Hours:
9.30am - 3.30pm Mon-Fri
Website:
Email:
Admission:
By Donations
Facilities:
Wheelchair access, Reference library, Lecture hall, Guided tours if requested, Brochures available, Bookshop.
Collection:
Historic costumes and all related account remain including sewing machines, irons act. Photographs. Paintings and drawings.
Subject:
- Historical Society
- Social History Museum
- Art
- Photographs
- Craft
- Illuminated Manuscripts
- Jewellery
- Painting
- Paper
- Portraits
- Textiles, Spinning and Weaving
- Archives
- Domestic Items
- Historic People
- Images
- Local Government
- Local History
- Prisons or Convicts
- Professionals and Trades
- Religion
- Rural Life
- Social History
- Weapons Arms and Armor
- Dolls
- Ephemera
Items
Costume
The Habgood Gown
Description:
Ball gown, originally one wedding gown of Blanche Eliza Brown, when she married Robert Henry Habgood in 1880. During conservation a hidden pocket in the gown was discovered containing 3 dance programmes and 2 letters from Blanche Habgood's sister, Edith Cowan, Australia's first woman parliamentarian.
Date:
1880
Costume
The Saw Wedding Gown
Creator:
John Campbell
Description:
Wedding dress of Harriet Gibbs, who married Thomas Saw in St. George's church, Perth on 12th October 1852. The gown was donated by Mrs. Marion Levnig and has been restored by Debbie McCarthy and Patricia Moncrieff of the textile restoration workshop, Freemantle.
Date:
1852
Item Id Number:
1989-153
Musical Instrument
Cottage Piano
Creator:
Zimmerman Bros. Leipzip
Description:
Described as a cottage piano, in accordance with the wishes of the late Mrs FM Cooke of West Perth, a grand-daughter of Captain JS Roe, RN, this old piano which belonged to her has been given to the WA Historical Society.
Date:
1887
Item Id Number:
51-1939
Official Replica
Plate
Description:
Replica of Dirk Haslog's Plate presented to the RWAHS by the Dutch Government. Dirk Haslog landed in Shark bay on 25 October 1616 - the first recorded European landing on Australian soil. He left an inscribed pewter plate to mark the spot.
Item Id Number:
1938-51
Furniture
Lady Stirling's sewing table
Description:
Bought in the mid 19th century by Mr Harold Boas from the Manning family, who assured him it had belonged to Lady Stirling.
Date:
1829-39