WA history

As the first Western Australian State archivist and first female State archivist in Australia, Mollie Frances Lukis (1911-2009) played an important role in the development of the State Archives. With great vision and knowledge she built up the collection and agitated for change.

Scrabble boards, cookbooks, war medals, fishing lures, trinkets and tools. Why are these items so important to the people that hold onto them? Short podcast series about the stories behind peoples family treasures and keepsakes.

Suzanne's keepsake is a picture of her great-great-grandmother, Alice Franklin, the Lady Mayoress of Perth and an unusedrailway ticket to the opening of Parliament House in 1927.

Sophie's keepsake is her husband's grandma's handwritten cookbook. Joan Patricia Vowles lovingly added to this cookbook over forty years.

Petronila's keepsake is a traditional Tokelauan hand-carved mother of pearl fishing lure (Pa Hi Atu) made by Papa Fofo Poasa, her father-in-law.

Cheryl's keepsake is a gold kangaroo brooch, her first gift to her mother, whom she found when she was 28.

Anne's grandfather was one of the first returned wounded soldiers to Mt Hawthorn. The community rallied to build him a home, doubling as a memorial.

Amber's keepsake is a much loved and very used Scrabble game board from the 1970s on which her family marked their annual Rottnest holidays.

Photographs from the Kimberley, taken by Charles Edward Flinders from 1920 -1936.

Ameer "Dusty" Dost Mohamet (1904 -1987) oral history. Father was an Indian prince and camel proprietor who met his mother, Annie in Coolgardie. Both of his parents were murdered and his siblings sent to orphanages.

Agnes Hyland (1878-1939) was a professional horse trainer and circus performer that travelled the world in the early 1900s. She performed at the coronation of King George V, was a part of the Barnum and Bailey Circus and became the star act in Hyland's Circus.

A film exploring the rich knowledge held by the Whadjuk women of the Nyungar nation about the trees of southwestern Australia who understand their specific qualities, uses and value to the Nyungar people.