News
News
16 January 2026
The Western Australian Premier's Book Awards, a vibrant celebration of the stories and voices that define the State, has launched for 2026.
Round 5
News
9 January 2026
The State Library is pleased to announce 15 successful recipients to share in $208,000 through this year’s Better Beginnings Community Grants. The annual grants program supports recipients to deliver early reading and literacy activities tailored to their communities.
News
18 November 2025
The State Library of Western Australia has celebrated the 20th anniversary of Better Beginnings by launching new look program resources and a newly published version of the iconic Baby Ways book.
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
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.
Origins of an Icon
Dates
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AFL Origin fever is in the air! To mark the game between Western Australia and Victoria on 14 February, the State Library will display a selection of treasures from the Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer collection.
Upcoming events
Getting started
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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.
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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.
A Writing and Research Workshop
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Join us for an afternoon of inspiration, and creative exploration featuring acclaimed author Amanda Curtin. This workshop invites you to uncover stories within the State Records Office and the State Library.
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.