What's New

News

building blocks and books with Better Beginnings logo
News
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. 
woman reads Baby Days book to child
News
Better Beginnings baby packs feature a brand-new wordless book, Baby Days, by award-winning Western Australian author Renae Hayward and illustrator Rebecca Mills.
Shortlisted authors on stage
Western Australian Premier's Book Awards winners
The winners of the 2025 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards were announced on Friday 29 September at the State Library of Western Australia, sharing a prize pool of $120,000.

Stories

stills from four different documentaries
Photographs and films
The State Library has partnered with Screenwest for a third season of WA Reflections, a short documentary film series aimed at pairing emerging filmmakers with unique WA stories preserved in the State Library's collection.
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.

Exhibitions

Boys eating watermelon 1929
The Food That Shapes Us
Dates
An exhibition exploring what food tells us about who we are as Western Australians. From nostalgic eateries, iconic ads and timeworn recipes to radical social change and environmental transformation, take a seat at the table of WA’s evolving food heritage.

Upcoming events

Families attend a camp service Mt Margaret Mission with singing and the message in language ca1950
Monthly on the last Wednesday, 2 - 4pm until Wed 26 Nov 2025
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.
Digital Generation by Johannes Reinhart
Ever wondered what it takes to create an award-winning photograph? Join 2025 Ilford Orloff Awards winners Richard Goodwin and Johannes Reinhart as they share the images and subjects that continue to fascinate them.
man and his guide dog facing a busy intersection
Screening and Panel Conversation
A heartwarming story of the life and legacy of disability pioneer, Dr Arnold Cook, his guide dog Dreena and the guide dog movement.
Reading at book on a smart device
Online digital book club. Every month, join author David Allan-Petale in conversation with a new author to discuss their book.
man standing in cemetery holding a banjo
Screening and Panel Conversation
In 1975, 18-year-old Geoffoire unexpectedly became housemates with 82-year-old vaudeville legend Effie Fellows. Fifty years later, her memory inspires the performance he’s never had the courage to attempt.
Perth observatory
Screening and Panel Conversation
A history of WA's space exploration and its significant achievements along the way.

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.