Stories

Recent Stories

These stories come from the items in our collection.

Mollie Lukis at her desk
Stories
Small towns & regional cities
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.
Inside The Chin Wagon  with Recording sign lit up
Stories
Podcasts
WA history
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 Franklin
Keepsake mini podcast
Stories
Podcasts
WA history
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 Vowles
Keepsake mini podcasts
Stories
Podcasts
WA history
Sophie's keepsake is her husband's grandma's handwritten cookbook. Joan Patricia Vowles lovingly added to this cookbook over forty years.
Petronila Lemisio-Poasa
Keepsake mini podcast
Stories
Podcasts
WA history
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.
Gerry Coleman
Keepsake mini podcast
Stories
Podcasts
Gerry's keepsake is his great-granddad's utility knife, which was gifted to him for saving the life of a world-renowned Australian test pilot, Harry Hawker, in 1913.
Cheryl Burton holding tiny gold kangaroo
Keepsake mini podcast
Stories
Podcasts
WA history
Cheryl's keepsake is a gold kangaroo brooch, her first gift to her mother, whom she found when she was 28.
Anne Chapple
Keepsake mini podcast
Stories
ANZAC stories
Podcasts
WA history
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 Blake holding her familys Scrabble Board
Keepsake mini podcast
Stories
Podcasts
WA history
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.
Charles Edward Flinders and Philip Benjamin Watts ca 1890
Photographic treasures from the Kimberley
WA history
Photographs from the Kimberley, taken by Charles Edward Flinders from 1920 -1936.
Peter Coppin and the committee women who helped develop Yandeyarra School 1953
Memories from Port Hedland
Aboriginal stories
Born in 1942, Kariyarra woman, Ann Sibosado recalls family, growing up in Port Hedland and memories of her childhood. Excerpt from an oral history of Ann "Nanna Ann" Sibosado that was conducted by twelve-year-old Jeliaha Councillor.
6WF Radio official opening souvenir programme June 4th 1924 Page 3 picture if radio tower
Stories
June 2024 marks 100 years of 6WF and ABC Radio Perth. Find out more about this important moment in Western Australian history and discover the fascinating origins story illustrated with material held in the State Library’s collection.