News
April 2026
News
7 April 2026
Help us improve by completing our survey. We want to hear from you, no matter how you use the State Library. The survey closes at 5pm on 26 April 2026.
Promoting innovation and collaboration in the library sector by any person, library or organisation in Western Australia. Nominations for the 2026 Library Board Awards are now open until 22 May 2026.
The annual award offers $5,000 to public libraries to develop, deliver and grow innovative programs and initiatives to engage families and strengthen support for early literacy. Closes 22 May 2026.
Stories
How the Botanic Park came to be
Stories
This story is based on the oral history of forester, ecologist and one of the first Directors of Kings Park, John Stanley Beard (1916–2011), and features a collection of historical photos of Kings Park.
Stories
Photographs and films
WA history
Wimmin's Work
Wimmin's Work is a new collection of audio, audio-visual and photographic stories documenting the stories of ten Western Australian women.
by Lucy Torvaldsen
Wimmin's Work
Strap in for Barbara's reflection on her life of activism, advocacy and uplifting others. And remember - life really can get better with age, and you never have to settle down.
Exhibitions
Photography Exhibition
Dates
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See the work of some of WA's best photographers from 2025. Spanning a range of styles and subjects, this exhibition showcases the winners and finalists of the third annual awards.
It’s a Barrel of Fun!
Dates
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Get ready to go wild. Swing open the doors to a world where imagination runs riot and animals talk back in this animal-themed exhibition of picture book artwork from the State Library Collection.
Dates
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A folk hero, bushranger and infamous prison escapee, discover the legend of Moondyne Joe. This children’s exhibition reimagines his story for younger audiences through history, storytelling, and art.
Upcoming events
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Weekly on Monday, 10:30am - 12pm until Fri 3 Jul 2026
Interactive story fun for pre-schoolers and their carers. Followed by a half hour Play Time where families can explore literacy and learning through reading, talking, singing, writing and playing together.
Boorloo Heritage Festival
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Four mini documentaries tell the stories of Australia’s first guide dog; the ‘rock masses’ held at St George’s Cathedral in the 1970s; the extraordinary life of 1920s male impersonator Effie Fellows; and the fascinating history of the Perth Observatory.
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Monthly on the last Wednesday, 2 - 4pm until Wed 25 Nov 2026
Discover how to find out more about your kinship in a joint presentation from the Storylines team and the Aboriginal History WA team.
What’s happening now in artificial intelligence
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An intriguing panel discussion that brings together local experts writers, artists and thinkers who are engaging with AI in grounded, practical and critical ways, right here in Western Australia
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Every 2 months on the second Tuesday, 5:30 - 6:30pm until Tue 17 Nov 2026
The Friends of Battye Inc. present a series of talks throughout the year on Western Australian historical topics. These talks are open to members and the wider community
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Monthly on the third Wednesday, 7:30 - 8:30pm until Wed 17 Jun 2026
Online digital book club. Every month, join author David Allan-Petale in conversation with a new author to discuss their book.
Sheiks, Fakes & Cameleers
Between 1870 and 1920, around 20,000 camels and 4,000 men travelled to Australia to help explore and develop the country's arid interior. Discover the forgotten history of cameleers in Western Australia.