Online Exhibitions

Around 100 million years ago, in the age of the dinosaurs, the coastal areas of Western Australia were covered in a shallow sea.

Living in this ancient ocean, there were gigantic marine reptiles and large sharks that were the top predators of the age.

These massive animals are now extinct, however, in the Dampier region near Exmouth, there are many reminders of their once dominant presence.

During August 2011, the Western Australian Museum's Dr Mikael Siversson - Curator of Palaeontonlogy and world renowed expert on fossil Lamniform Sharks - led a field trip to the Giralia Range. This online exhibition documents the field trip, the discoveries, and provides some ultra-high resolution photography of the fossils and videos diaries from the field trip.

Go to the online exhibition website: http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/marine-reptiles/

This online exhibition documents our August 2011 expedition to the Nullarbor caves - a collaborative effort between the Western Australian Museum and the Flinders University.

This expedition is unique compared with those undertaken previously to the caves - this time, a film crew and a games has come along to help develop new and exciting ways to engage with this amazing location, its hidden treasures and the science required to unlock its secrets.

Go to the online exhibition website: http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/cave/

The Broadhursts, were clearly an extraordinary group. This online exhibition documents and describes the rise and fall of the family, as well as their lasting legacy in Western Australian History.

The exhibition also examines in detail the SS Xantho: the first steamer to work in WA waters.

Entwined with curator interviews, this compelling online exhibition will take you through one of the more extraordinary and fascintating stories of 19th century Western Australia.

Go to the online exhibition website: http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/broadhurst/

On 22 September 2010 Megamouth III, the WA Museum's extraordinarily rare and valuable megamouth shark, was moved from Perth into a purpose built tank at the WA Museum – Maritime in Fremantle.

Moving Megamouth was a massive logistical activity that took over one year to plan. Over 7000 litres of ethanol had to be disposed of, a fragile and priceless specimen had to moved across a city, and extensive and ongoing conservation processes had to be developed.

This online exhibition tracks how the Museum performed this task, and tracks Megamouth's conversation.

Go to the online exhibition website: http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/megamouth/

The Marine Life of the Kimberley Region project is a three-year marine biodiversity research program. The project will explore the marine biodiversity of the inshore Kimberley and associated continental shelf coral atolls.

This website publicly explores the findings and provides information about new species, diaries of the researchers, publications and more information as the research reveals more about this poorly understood region.

Go to the online exhibition website: http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/kimberley/

The loss of the HMAS Sydney (II) is Australia’s greatest naval tragedy. Its disappearance in 1941 without a trace left a legacy of uncertainty for decades. In March 2008, renewed efforts to find the Sydney came to fruition, confirming her fate and bringing closure to the mystery.

This website expertly documents the entire Sydney story, from its construction and early battles in the Mediterranean Sea, to its final battle with the HSK Kormoran, and right through to its eventual discovery and the ensuing Cole Inquiry.

This website was developed as both a memorial those who did died on that fateful November day in 1941, and to also provide an educational resource for students to learn about the Sydney tragedy.

Go to the online exhibition website: http://wamuseum.com.au/sydney/

The Dampier Archipelago lies off the north-western coast of Australia, approximately 1550 km north of Perth. Between 1998 and 2000 a partnership between the Western Australian Museum and Woodside Energy Ltd. was formed to survey and collect the marine flora and fauna of the Dampier Archipelago.

This project has lead to an enormous increase in both the number of museum specimens and in the knowledge of the marine species that occur in the Dampier Archipelago. The surveys have resulted in the recording of more than 4,500 species, many new to science. The marine life in the region is now recognised as one of the most diverse in Australia.

This website acts as a central repository to search for species, explore the flora and fauna of the region, and provide activities to learn about this unique area.

Go to the online exhibition website: http://wamuseum.com.au/dampier/

Alcoa Frog Watch is dedicated to providing information on all aspects of Western Australian frogs.

This site provides a comprehensive repository of frog distribution, frog habitats, frog information and all other aspects of information about frogs in Western Australia, including building frog friendly gardens, participating in tadpole exchange programs and acquiring frog field guides and CDs.

Go to the online exhibition website: http://frogwatch.museum.wa.gov.au/

On 27 May 1967, 90.77% of Australian voters recorded the largest ever ‘Yes’ vote in a referendum to alter the Australian constitution. This referendum finally enabled Aboriginal people to be counted in the national census and to be subject to Commonwealth laws, rather than just state laws.

The Western Australian Museum held a travelling exhibition to mark the 40th anniversary of this historic vote. This exhibition site remains as an educational resource to provide a range of resources about this monumental point of history.

This website contains interviews with people directly affected by the vote, clips of ex-Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, educational resources, and a complete timeline from the 1960s to the 21st century.

Go to the online exhibition website: http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/exhibitions/online/referendum/index.html

Cockatoo Care was introduced in September 2001 as a joint initiative of the Water Corporation and the Western Australian Museum. The objectives of the program have been to research the distribution and ecology of Carnaby's, Baudin's and Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos and threats to their survival, and to implement measures to encourage the conservation of these birds. This has been through habitat enhancement, feral bee research and community education and involvement.

The Cockatoo Care website and online exhibition is currently undergoing an extensive redevelopment to include interactive distribution maps built from bird sightings and a wealth of information about the Cockatoos of Western Australia.

Go to the online exhibition website: http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/explore/online-exhibitions/cockatoo-care