Refurbished in July 2010, the refitted museum overlooks picturesque Princess Royal Harbour, on the site of first European settlement in Western Australia.
The Museum of the Great Southern provides exhibitions, public programs, educational programs and information on the unique natural and social history of the region.
The Museum shares the stories of the Menang Noongar people and the influence of Mokare, a young Noongar warrior, as well as the stories of the early settlers and convicts, and also explores the region's unique natural landscape, flora and fauna.
For more information call (08) 9841 4844.
Facilities
Walk up the gangplank and step back in time aboard the Brig Amity to find out what life was like aboard a convict ship in 1826.
As you explore the ship, listen to the story of the Brig’s perilous 6 week journey from Sydney to King George Sound to establish the first European settlement on the west coast of Australia.
Discover the sights and sounds below deck that were encountered by those aboard as they headed for unknown lands, sharing space with the ship’s crew, 23 convicts, 21 soldiers and enough domestic animals, food crops and building materials to start the small, remote outpost.
The informative and helpful volunteer guides will assist you to navigate your visit and will be happy to answer any questions you may have. They can also tell you other interesting things to do in Albany.
And when the Brig is not being a convict ship it often transforms into a Pirate ship with many a small and not so small swashbuckler climbing the gangplank in hopes of raising the Jolly Roger and finding treasure stowed below decks.
Throughout the year the Discovery Centre hosts a range of interactive, engaging and hands-on programs that are always changing, and always fun!
Completed in 1850, the original building served as a store and office for the nearby convict-hiring depot. In 1872 when the depot closed, more rooms were added. From 1873 to 1953 it was the centre of the town’s social events, when it became home to the local government administrator, known as the Government Resident and later the Resident Magistrate (thus becoming known as ‘The Residency’). Both positions bought with them social eminence; hosting balls, weddings, tennis and tea parties.
Between 1953 and 1970 the building had various uses. After renovations, the building re-opened in 1975 as The Albany Residency Museum, the first branch of the WA Museum outside the metropolitan area.
In 1985 the site became known as the Western Australian Museum – Albany.
In 2010, The Residency building underwent further upgrading. It now houses an array of stunning galleries with stories from Minang Noongar Boodja (Country), a place rich in culture, Aboriginal and Wadjella (non-Aboriginal) histories and information about amazing regional biodiversity.
The Torbay School building – an old one room, one teacher school – stands as a tribute to Western Australia's pioneer teachers. The building fosters an appreciation and understanding of the history of rural education, and the conditions experienced in early settlement days.
This old school building is also used for school holiday activities, special events and Museum programs. Events are posted in the "what's on" calendar in the website.
The Eclipse Building is the main focus of the Western Australian Museum - Albany, where long-term collections, such as the Lighthouse Exhibition, Fishing Collection and the exhibitions about the local area's history are displayed.
The showpiece of the Eclipse Building is the Eclipse Island Optic, consisting of three glass lenses, each three metres high. The optic rotates silently on its bed of mercury and lights up the building.
The marine discovery centre is located at the Eclipse building, which is all about hands-on interactive learning. During school holidays, a variety of activities are conducted in this space for kids to learn about the world of aquatic zoology.
All temporary and traveling exhibitions are also held in this space.
The Western Australian Museum – Albany also features three gardens built to inspire an appreciation of the local flora and fauna: the Bush Tucker, Frog and Lizard Gardens.
Each garden has a number of related activities and focuses, such as the intergenerational project. Also, the Bush Tucker Garden contains stories of local bush tucker and is built to reflect the six seasons of the Minang (the local Aboriginal nation).
Pricing Information
More Information
ANZAC Day - 1pm – 4pm
Christmas Day - Closed
Boxing Day - Closed
New Year's Day - Closed
Good Friday - Closed