Other Attractions
The Beacon Museum can be found at the Beacon Central CRC. It is home to a range of local history and memorabilia. There is also a valuable collection of photographs from the district which can be viewed at the online virtual museum website.
The Beacon Central CRC, Library & Museum is open Mon ~ Fri 9 am – 3 pm at 11 Rowlands St, Beacon WA 6472
The stories of number 16 Cottrell Street and its inhabitants are rich accounts of life in Wheatbelt WA during the first half of the 20th century offering a unique and compelling vision of family and business life at that time. The building itself is a very authentic weatherboard and iron-roofed cottage, constructed in 1915 by Eugene O’Shaughnessy, the local Saddler and Harness Maker.
Eugene O’Shaughnessy completed his saddlery apprenticeship in Pingelly and came to Dowerin in 1910, taking over the local saddlery business from Mr. Gangell. At that stage, it was run from a canvas-covered shed but in 1912 the Dowerin Trading Company built two shops and the saddlery business moved into one. The front of that shop is now on the museum premises and the building it fronts houses displays about the saddlery and other businesses from Dowerin town.
In 1915 Eugene married Mae Yolande Holyoake in Pingelly and after a honeymoon in Busselton, they moved into their newly built home in October of that year. Here they raised 5 children: Sheilagh, Tom, Pat, Jim, and Carmel, and Mrs. O’Shaughnessy lived on here until her death.
There was a proposal to form a museum in town, Apex donated the money to purchase the property and local people donated a range of items to create the unique display you see today.
Bookings are by arrangement through the Dowerin Community Resource Centre on 9631 1662 or the Shire Administration Offices on 9631 1202.
Admission Fees:
- $5 per adult
- Gold Coin per child
For more information or to take a virtual tour go to this website.
The Hood-Penn Museum in Westonia is the result of a an extremely generous donation of a large historical collection from the Hood-Penn family who previously owned the Burracoppin Store. The museum features a variety of scenes showcasing early life in the shire including a pub scene, a shop/hardware store scene, a petrol station/garage scene, a kitchen scene, a bedroom scene and a blacksmith/farm workshop scene. Each scene also includes a realistic lifelike mannequin, complete with wrinkles and blemishes.
The museum also includes a vibrating mine tunnel that aims to replicate life in an early Westonian gold mine. Visitors press a button upon entering the tunnel & then experience a three minute sequence of sound effects and physical vibrations that simulate blasts going off in the vicinity of the mine. The sound effects also include a conversation between miners working in the mine.
The display area of the museum incorporates early maps of the area, 1930’s photographs of Perth and surrounds and many other displays housed in exquisitely made jarrah cabinets that were originally used by the Perth Mint.
The museum building & it’s Club Hotel façade was designed by David Guest of Eastern & Guest Design Architects. The façade aims to represent the real life Club Hotel which operated on Westonia’s main street between 1913 & 1922.
Entry is $3 for adults and $1 for anyone under the age of 18 years. The museum is open Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 4.30 pm (except on Public Holidays) via the Shire Office. The museum is also open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 12pm. (Summer Holiday weekends open by appointment only). For more information contact the Shire of Westonia.
The art gallery houses local artists work; from paintings to prints to sculptures, the art gallery is worth viewing. Whether you’re in the market for some new art, or just keen to have a look at the display, there are many beautiful pieces displayed in a rustic setting.
Open: Sundays 11.00am – 2.00pm & Special Events.
The Koorda Museum is well worth a visit. The Museum houses local artefacts and collection of historical papers of the district’s history. The building was a former hospital and contains special exhibits of hospital equipment. It was also used as a school hostel and then the police station for a time. Displays are set out as the following rooms: hospital room, map and history room, parlour, kitchen crockery display, laundry display, farm workshop with old farm machinery, and police lockup no. 4.
Open: By appointment only, call the Shire on (08) 9684 1219 to arrange a visit.
The Koorda Motor & Military Museum houses an array of private military collections and vintage cars to browse through. Features a variety of original classic and muscle cars, memorabilia, garaganalia, and models. Also military displays from the Boer War to Afghanistan.
Open: By appointment only, call Tony on 0429 080 258
A local art pop-up art gallery in Mukinbudin opens from the 1st of August – 31st of October, located in the Mukinbudin Memorial Hall on Shadbolt Street which is open weekdays 9 am-3 pm and on Weekends 10 am-2 pm. It showcases local and visiting artists in iconic spaces within our town. From watercolor, canvas, textile, clay, wood and so much more. There are so many mediums to discover in our ever-changing exhibition space over the next few months.
This time of year is a wonderful time to be in the Wheatbelt as we have lots of visitors passing through our community. An occasional pop-up gallery and window display in the old Westpac Bank. For more information visit their Facebook Page or Instagram Page.
Visitors are welcome to call in and feed the Animals at the Animal Farm in Mukinbudin. This is a self-guided tour where by the farmer allows you to come onto his property and make a $10.00 donation to feed and pat the animals at your own leisure.
The Nungarin Heritage, Machinery and Army Museum is housed in an original massive Army Vehicle Workshop building constructed in Nungarin in 1942-43 as part of Australia’s defence in WWII. The huge building was part of the No.5 Base Ordnance Depot (5BOD) which was the largest storage facility for Army Ordnance in Western Australia at that time and was built at a total cost of approx. ten million pounds. On show are:
- An impressive 10th Light Horse collection dedicated to local WW1 hero Trooper Joseph William Spillman (a veteran of the Gallipoli and Palestine campaigns, and 1 of only 15 light horse men to have been awarded the Military Medal)
- A Dingo Scout Car
- A Stuart Tank
- A Bren-Gun Carrier
- Examples of military uniforms
- Various Army vehicles and trucks
- A large collection of photographs and other Memorabilia including “Trench Art”
Entry to the museum is $10.00 for adults, $5 for children (10-17yrs) and under 10yrs enter free.
The Nungarin Heritage, Machinery and Army Museum is open to the public 7 Days a week 9:00am to 4:00pm (closed Christmas Day and Good Friday) and we welcome group bookings by appointment.
Please phone us on 9046 5040 (leave a message on our answering machine if we are working at the other end of the building) or send an email to nungarinheritage@bigpond.com. You can also visit us at our website – www.nungarinmuseum.com.au.
The Wyalkatchem CBH Museum is a fine collection of agricultural history and memorabilia related to life in the central Wheatbelt during the twentieth century, containing over 500 items on display including some very rare tractors restored to original condition.
Admission:
Adults $10 Children $5
Open Hours:
Weekdays – 9am to 4pm
Weekends: 10am to 2pm.
Group Bookings can be catered for.
Phone: 0458 540 751
Email: wyliemuseum@westnet.com.au
Website: www.wyliemuseum.com or
Not far from the Wyalkatchem CBH and Agricultural Museum on the corner of Gamble and Flint Streets is the heritage “School-House Museum”, a step-back in time to a home, built in 1926 and used until the late 1960’s.
The original building has been upgraded over the years with 240-volt power and running water, however, the fit-out goes back to a time when most chores were carried out by hand. Antique furniture, cooking, and cleaning implements either take you back to your childhood or will make you wonder “what did this do”? (depending on your age). Sir William Haseltine once the Queen’s Private Secretary resided here when his father was the headmaster in Wyalkatchem 1932/34.
The School House Museum is open by request and more information can be found here.