With the weather cooling down as winter approaches Perth, it’s time to find some good indoor activities. Why not visit some of our museums? With subjects ranging from vintage video games and cricket, to trains and submarines, there’s something for everyone.
The Nostalgia Box Video Game Museum
This museum showcases over 100 gaming consoles from the 1970s through to the 2000s. It takes you behind the scenes of the gaming world, by sharing stories about how each console was created. Plus it’s interactive – you can spend hours playing the games from your childhood, or trying out games you’ve never played before. It’s open Monday to Sunday from 10:30am-5pm and is located in Northbridge.
WACA Tours and Museum
The Western Australia Cricket Association has been the home of cricket in WA since 1893. It has a maximum capacity of 23,859 people, although there have been several occasions where crowds have packed out the stadium past this. Plus, the Guinness World Record for the highest basketball shot in the world was thrown from one of the floodlights. If you’re interested in the history of cricket in WA, the WACA runs tours every weekday. There is also an onsite museum featuring exhibits and memorabilia.
Maritime Museum
Showcasing many iconic vessels from Western Australia’s past, the Maritime Museum’s exhibitions represent Fremantle’s history as a coastal city and port. Ever wondered what life is like inside a submarine? There are daily tours inside the HMAS Ovens, an Oberon class submarine, where you can learn about our wartime past. There are a number of permanent exhibits displaying historic ships, the lifestyle of maritime travellers, and the history of Western Australia’s naval defence. The museum is open daily and is located in Fremantle.
Aviation Heritage Museum
This museum showcases the history of civilian and military aviation in Western Australia, by featuring over 30 aircrafts and thousands of artefacts. It also shares the stories of people who have contributed to this history, from pilots and engineers, to people who worked on the ground. Interactive exhibits allow visitors to experience the way aircrafts work. There are guided tours run by the museum’s volunteers – one of these allows you to experience what it’s like inside a restored Lancaster bomber from World War II. This museum is run by the Royal Australian Air Force Association along with assistance from community sponsors and visitors. It’s located in Bull Creek and is open daily.
Fremantle Prison
This maximum-security prison was continually in use for almost 140 years, until it was decommissioned in 1991. In 1992, it re-opened as tourist attraction to educate the public on the history and rich folklore of the punishment system. There are several tours which focus on different aspects of the prison’s past – from the convict era to its life as a maximum-security gaol – you can even explore the underground tunnels built by prisoners. Tours are run daily.
Art Gallery of Western Australia
Founded in 1895, this gallery showcases pieces from historic and contemporary Australian and Indigenous artists, as well as international art. There are also a number of special exhibitions which come to the gallery for a limited time, creating diversity in shared ideas. This museum is located in Northbridge and is open Wednesday to Monday.
