Collections WA

Love to see our collections featured online and in person!

Footy has long been a part of our Aussie culture, especially here in WA, where the love for the game runs deep 🏉

We’re taking a nostalgic look at some memorabilia from Greenbushes Discovery Centre and the Nannup Historical Society & Museum before watching the AFL grand final this weekend! From vintage jerseys to old match-day photos, there’s a rich history behind every kick.

Who will you be cheering on tomorrow? 🎉

Throwback to the Toodyay Wheelbarrow Race! 🛞

The first race kicked off in 1935, and this snapshot is from 1981. Should this fun tradition be re ignited? 🏃‍♂️💨

Shire of Toodyay

Two beers please! 🍻

Check out these old vouchers for a gallon of beer from The Geraldton Brewery, courtesy of Greenough Museum & Gardens collection. There is quite the story behind these vouchers:

🍻 1882: The Victoria Brewery was founded by John S. Maley and David W. Horwood, starting their brewing journey.

👥 1885: The Geraldton Brewery Company Limited took over the business.

🛑 1888: The Geraldton Brewery Company Limited closed its doors.

🔄 1890: John Maley and his son Fred brought the brewery back to life after renovating the property.

🏚️ 1901: The Geraldton Brewery, with Fred Maley as one of the partners, dissolved, and the building was later demolished.

📜 1951: Historic vouchers were discovered at Maley's Mill by a visitor while checking out her uncle Fred Rudduck's place. What a find!

Port Denison on tin! 🖌️

Painted by local tinsmith Tom Reynolds in 1890, this artwork is believed to be the first depiction of the Port Denison foreshore in the Irwin Districts Historical Society collection.

Celebrate the arrival of spring with a look at Western Australia’s vibrant wildflowers, intricately illustrated by Mary Hodgkin (c41-48) 🌺🌼🪻💮

Explore the beautiful botanical water paintings from the collection, capturing the essence of WA's unique flora in full bloom.

Find more inspiration for your springtime adventures in the City of Gosnells Museum collection.

Congratulations to Albany's Historic Whaling Station and the Broome Historical Museum for securing funds via the Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support Scheme (MMAPSS) run by the Australian National Maritime Museum and Australian Government.

The MMAPSS offers grants of up to $15,000 to museums and other not-for-profit organisations to help identify, develop, conserve, maintain or display objects of national and historical maritime significance, and also offers grants of up to $3,000 to support staff and volunteers from eligible organisations to spend time learning specific skills and making valuable connections through the Maritime Museums Administrators' Course.

Representatives from both orgs will be heading over to attend the Maritime Museums Administrator’s Course at the ANMM.

Albany's Historic Whaling Station received specific funds to conserve and digitise the highly significant logbooks from the steamship "Toern" which made the voyage from Sandafjord in Norway to the Cheynes Beach Whaling Station in Albany, WA, in 1952.

This project digitises the logbooks of the journey and subsequent day-to-day operational activities on board, making these historic maritime stories available for all.

After arriving in Albany, the logbook changed from Norwegian to English and the vessel was renamed the "Cheynes". Once digitially preserved, these unique maritime documents will be uploaded to Collections WA for interested community members, historians and researchers globally.

The project will include an interpretive display in the museum with content sourced from the logbooks, including logbook images, stories of the ship’s journey and working life, a route map, photos from our archives, the scuttling of the ship and its current use, all providing a rich marine environment. The archival preservation of the books will also be upgraded.

A beary good story 🧸✨

This Paddington Bear was borrowed from Mrs. Sheila Svendsen's Kelmscott gift shop for a 1983 Teddy Bear Picnic at the Kelmscott Library. The children loved him so much that librarian Patricia Walker bought him for $70 (accounting for inflation, that's $266 these days!)

Paddington stayed at the library for a few weeks before moving to Patricia Walker's home, where he became a cherished part of their family. Patricia's son Ashley even hid his pocket money under Paddington's bright yellow hat! 💛

We love stumbling across stories like these when browsing our contributors collections.
This special recap and record is courtesy of the City of Armadale

Explore more stories, or become a contributing organisation ⬇️
https://i.mtr.cool/lbrcwlfzgl

Geotags make history come alive! 🌍✨

At Collections WA, we have over 4,200 geotagged records that link our contributors rich heritage to real-world locations. By adding geotags, we ensure historical records are accurately mapped, making it easier for everyone to explore and understand our past 🏛️

https://i.mtr.cool/uafkcocgfb

This or That: Game Edition 🎲

Fiddlesticks vs. Knuckle Bones - did you play either of these in your childhood, or maybe with your parents/grandparents?

Share your memories!

Preserved pastimes from the collections of Betty Brown Historical Centre and Subiaco Library and Museum

Happy Term 3 to all the kids heading back to school this week (and their parents)!

Just imagine how much education has evolved since these magazines were published in the 1920s 📚✨

The Kellerberrin Historical Society boasts an amazing collection of educational and teaching resources that span the decades!

Check out their profile among over 80 other organisations on Collections WA 👇
https://i.mtr.cool/nluoqbeazb

Contributor Tip for July: Create with Canva! 🌟

Canva is a super user-friendly tool for crafting stunning marketing graphics. To make it even easier, we're offering FREE marketing templates to help you showcase your Collections WA profile far and wide! ✨🌎

Access the templates through your contributor portal.
Want a sneak peak? Check it out here 👇

https://i.mtr.cool/qgaosngyko

🌟Contributor Highlight 🌟

Country Women's Association of Western Australia

This year marks a significant milestone as CWA of WA celebrates 100 years of uniting women and fortifying our communities 💪

From its inaugural regional branch in Nungarin in July 1924, CWA has steadfastly supported communities through the Great Depression, wartime efforts, COVID-19 and more, and has championed pioneering women and rural advocacy throughout its illustrious history🏛️

The footy season is in full swing, and we've been loving every moment with our local clubs, WAFL, WAWFL, AFLW, and AFL! 🏈

Explore the collection from the Nannup Historical Society & Museum , featuring incredible photos from both their club and visiting clubs. Many of these photos include the names of the players, so you might even discover a relative from the past!
🏆✨

Wanneroo Football Club

In honour of tax time, let's flash back to how we submitted taxes in 1917! 📜💸

Do you prefer today's method, or the old-school way? 🕰️

Records from Shire of Toodyay collection.

Which dress would you say 'yes' to? 👰

1. Cream goodness from 1944 ( City of Armadale )
2. White lace frock from 1972 (Claremont Museum Town of Claremont )
3. Eighties number from 1988 ( Katanning Historical Society and Museum )
4. Silk lace combination from 1979 ( Subiaco Library and Museum )
5. Buttons and bows from 1923 ( City of Melville Libraries and Museums )

Comment the number of your favourite frock in the comments, or submit your own! ⬇️

Can you crack the mystery of this vintage tool? 🕵️‍♂️

Here's a clue: you could call it a beauty contraption, that was particularly popular among gentlemen in the past. Put your thinking cap on and take a guess! 🧐💭

🌟Contributor Highlight 🌟

The Claremont Museum’s collection on our site is a treasure trove of endless stories 📸

Explore an incredible array of photographs dating back to 1876, featuring Royal visits, Perth’s evolving landscape, family moments, and so much more.

In line with June's tip, the Claremont Museum is also sharing their stories with Trove, bringing their rich collection to a wider audience in new and unique ways 🌍✨

Town of Claremont

Check out one of our favourite features on our website - the Past and Present page! 🕰️✨

Travel back in time as we compare archival photos and drawings to live Google Maps versions - a great example is the transformation of the Old Mill in the City of South Perth!

Explore the page and let us know what you find! ⬇️
https://i.mtr.cool/lnvbbsqlah

Attention Art Lovers! 🎨

Get lost in the City of Wanneroo art collection.

Proudly displayed across the city, you can now also appreciate the artist's talent on the City Of Wanneroo's Collections WA profile ✨

What's She Doing Now by M. Elsdon (1990)
On Fortunes' Wings by R. Vermey (2000)
Roadside Flowers by J. Jordan (1982)
Taking A Moment by M. White (2002)

Which piece speaks to you the most?