What's New

News

Authors Gerard McCann and Louise Wolhuter
Gerard McCann and Louise Wolhuter
News
Authors Gerard McCann and Louise Wolhuter discuss their experiences winning the 2025 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards and what it meant to them.
OPAC Self Serve
The scholarship supports the development of professional staff working in the WA public library network and aims to enhance library services through research and learning experiences. Applications open are now open and close on 27 March 2026.
Premiers Book Awards
News
The Western Australian Premier's Book Awards, a vibrant celebration of the stories and voices that define the State, has launched for 2026.

Stories

Pioneer Womens Memorial Kings Park 31 December 1968
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.
three women in their work uniforms
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.
portrait of Barbara Darling
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

Upcoming events

Huts family Western Australia 1954
Getting started
Every 3 months on the last Wednesday, 11am - 1pm until Wed 25 Nov 2026
Do you want to find out about your family history and don’t know where to start? Let us help you at one of our free and friendly talks at the State Library and we’ll show you.

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.