FamilyHistoryWA (FHWA) knows the challenges when researching your ancestral stories. 'Open House' week offers featured talks, & skilled support from our volunteers to assist with research tools & techniques to help connect elusive threads, to make your family story tapestry strong & rich in detail.

We invite you to our 60th Anniversary Exhibition 'Imaginality' featuring new works on porcelain and vintage hand painted pieces from our private collection. The range of styles will amaze you as we connect the past to the future of this rare art form.

See how Perth has changed over the years.
The buildings that have gone, the streetscapes, the City skyline, the Swan River, the South Perth Peninsular and the Narrows.
So much of Perth is not how it was. It has been captured and forever preserved on Picture Postcards.

The Heritage Skills Association presents displays and talks at the Old Observatory, home of the National Trust of Western Australia. Join us in what is our first WA Heritage Skills Showcase.

An exhibition which unlocks the stories embedded in the Museum's Burt Family Collection. Explore how behind the scenes conservation work enables a continued connection and conversation with cultural heritage items.

Explore the changing face of mid-20th century Perth through the lens of the street photographers who snapped passers-by. This exhibition of candid photos and vintage fashions presents a nostalgic portrait of a time when people dressed smartly to go to town, to buy everything from suits to sausages.

Join heritage architect Philip Griffiths for a guided walk in Perth’s Historic Murray Street East neighbourhood and rediscover this wonderful part of our city.

During the Heritage Festival approach the old Perth Central Fire Station with caution and remember to look up! Especially, if you have wandered into the "Igor Drop Zone" - you might get a heritage-approved fright! You have been warned!

In a special exhibition for the Australian Heritage Festival, visit RPH Museum and discover the Museum's amazing anaesthetic and surgical collection including machines hand built by pioneers at the cutting edge of pain medicine. Picture yourself on the operating table in the 1900s.

Explore the hidden stories of Perth's pioneers with our East Perth Cemeteries Tour. Discover the tales of hardship and heroism in a rare, free glimpse into the city's past. Connect with the enduring spirit of our heritage.

The National Trust of Western Australia and Peninsula Farm volunteers invite you to this beautiful location on the banks of the Derbarl Yerrigan, a fitting setting for this moving ceremony.

The Grove Library has asked local students to re-imagine their local built heritage through art. Children from local primary schools will use local heritage buildings to guide their development of unique art works which will be exhibited in the library during the Heritage Festival.

Come on a guided 90 minute walking tour in Guildford, visiting sites with physical reminders of First Nation people's use of the area, the early British settlement, the convict period, and the coming of the railway.

Come on a bus tour to visit historic sites in the Swan Valley. Archaeologist Doctor Shane Burke will tell us about sites including All Saints Church in Henley Brook, Cruse's Mill at Belhus, and Yagan Memorial Park in Upper Swan. Map references will be provided.

Experience the home life of the great Australian wartime prime minister as you join expert guides from the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library on a tour of the home built by John Curtin and his wife Elsie.

Come and enjoy a vintage bargain at the Vintage Popup scheduled to take place at Woodbridge. You may also like to visit Woodbridge and enjoy cake and coffee at Riverside at Woodbridge while you are there.

Embrace your creative side or try out a new hobby in our monthly series of crafty afternoon workshops.

Make historical characters come to life through the incorporation of moving parts and engineering techniques.

Join Belmont Museum staff for an exploration of Ascot's rich history and an opportunity to share your own memories and stories.

Come and Join Japanese artist Nami Osaki from Nami's Art Room for one of her popular Food Art Workshops!

Join us for a classical musical performance presented by 'Flamingo Strings' to celebrate our new temporary Museum exhibition 'Harmonious'.

Historia workshops explore the mysteries, wonders, and oddities of local and world history through hands-on activities.

Since earliest civilisations, gold and metal have been used to embellish articles of dress for royalty to the church. Goldwork displayed wealth, power and leadership. An exhibition of items from the Embroiderers' Guild Collection and the speaker's private collection will compliment the talk.

The Archibald At War Exhibition will illustrate the range of sitters, settings and styles with military themes submitted to the Archibald Art Prize between 1939 and 1945 through reproductions and originals from the Army Museum Collection.

Join The Lost Quays for an afternoon of music and history at historic Samson House. Explore this fascinating National Trust-managed home, with strong sea connections, then join the Quays in the garden for a concert of sea shanties and sea songs from Western Australia and beyond. Welcome on board!

In this fun workshop, you will be guided through the basic process of making your own clay ornamental flowers and roses from scratch. You will learn about the slab building method and get hands-on making six ceramic ornamental flowers. Inspired by the beautiful Samson House in Fremantle.

Relive the days when the Canning Town Hall doubled as the local picture theatre. Transport yourself to the enchanting era of yesteryear as we dust off the classics and screen timeless shorts that have captured hearts for generations.

Join us in investigating the mysteries of shipwrecks and the wonders that lie beneath the ocean's surface. Whether it’s exploring historic shipwrecks or discovering what lives down in Perth Canyon, WA Museum’s scientists are working with other experts to deepen our understanding of what lies beneath

Situated on Fremantle's historic World War Two submarine slipway, this unique tour offers the rare chance to get up close and explore the inside of a decommissioned Royal Australian Navy submarine, hosted by our expert volunteers.

Enjoy a collection of exquisite miniature paintings by local artists, inspired by the miniature paintings carried by early European settlers at the Swan River Colony.

Don't miss this major immersive exhibition that traces filmmaker James Cameron’s lifelong pursuit of and achievements in deep ocean science, technology and exploration, including his record-breaking dives in DEEPSEA CHALLENGER, the submersible vessel he co-designed, which was built in Sydney.

Join visiting co-authors Boyd Cothran and Adrian Shubert as they take a view from the deck in an age of rising empires, sweeping economic transformation, and social change.

See powerful works of art, showcasing the creative artistry from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls in Western Australia.

Enjoy the rich folklore and stories of this port city's convict history as one of Fremantle Prison's experienced Tour Guides takes you for a walk in the shoes of the convicts.

Come to the building where Lionel Samson and his family lived in the 1850s, and one of his great great grandsons will enlighten you about their life and their legacy. A business that began in 1829 continues today, and his ever increasing descendants, are part of the history of Western Australia.

In the past in Wanneroo, families often didn’t have much money to spare and with shops far away they reused and repurposed what they had, making useful items out of objects that might today be thrown away. In this spirit of 'making do,' learn to make your own produce bags from repurposed material!

Discover this 1881 hand built family home, representing the Perth Hills heritage. Early settlers, Frederick and Elizabeth Stirk, built it with timber and clay taken from their land. With its distinct architecture and household artefacts of the time. Guided tour of the cottage, Sundays 11am-1pm.

Enjoy a lovely morning tea while listening to delightful live harp music at the City of Gosnells Museum. The museum is one of Perth's hidden gems, with beautiful grounds, a 1912 homestead and a collection that brings local stories to life.

The Parkerville Tavern is a 124 year old heritage listed tavern in Perth Hills. Through the Eyes of Alice is a 3 course dinner, performance and tour of the historical building, giving you a historical and dramatic account of the settlement of Parkerville and the colourful history of the Tavern.

Gazetted in 1895, Parkerville came about because of the Eastern Railway. It had a pub, quarries, stores, a hall and school. Find out more about the history of Parkerville, and see the old buildings that still stand, on this pleasant, 2.5km walk.

In the past in Wanneroo, families often didn’t have much money to spare and with shops far away they reused and repurposed what they had, making useful items out of objects that might today be thrown away. In this spirit of 'making do,' learn to make your own produce bags from repurposed material!

Explore the rich heritage of Medina on a guided Heritage Walk.

War, politics and personal experiences influence the creative work of West Australian author Molly Skinner (1876-1955). When famous English Author D.H Lawrence visits Perth in 1922 together they publish A Boy in the Bush. Listen to songs, have generous tea and wine & enjoy the play for only $39.

CWA celebrates 100 years this year and we look at the 'Connection' that this society made over the 100 years. These connections include War Relief, education, foods and fruit for remote schools, aged care housing, regional hostels for country children, holiday camps, and practical CWA Cookbook.