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 10 April.
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

The Legend of Moondyne Joe  book cover men on horses
Dates
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

Child with bug hat
Daily on , 10:30am - 12pm until Fri 10 Apr 2026
Children can make their own animal mask using simple materials like paper plates and coloured paper. This relaxed, self-paced activity is perfect for little makers and curious readers.
Wendy Binks
A creative workshop with Wendy Binks
In this interactive workshop, Wendy shares her creative process and demonstrates how to draw animal characters using simple shapes.
Reading at book on a smart device
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.
Child drawing
Daily on , 10:30am - 12pm until Fri 17 Apr 2026
Kids can put together their own animal puppet, using simple craft materials like paper bags, paper plates and colourful cut-outs to bring a character to life.
Yearling CWA members and friends in front of new building 1955
The CWA Cookbook and Country Cooking
Join leading WA food writer Max Veenhuyzen and a panel of experts for a morning tea (and scones) as they discuss the Country Women’s Association's impact on Western Australian palettes.
man standing in cemetery holding a banjo
Boorloo Heritage Festival
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.

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.