Western Australian Fremantle History Museum Exhibitions
The Western Australian Fremantle History Museum maintains an active exhibition programme focused around its permanent displays. These permanent exhibitions are supplemented with temporary displays and exhibitions, generated from the Museum's own research and collections or in the form of touring exhibitions. See What's On.
Permanent Exhibitions:
Foundations of Fremantle
Ongoing exhibition
This exhibition highlights the history of Fremantle from pre-settlement times to the 1930s, detailing some of the events and people that have shaped this thriving city. The exhibition showcases early objects from the colony, including convict artefacts and costumes.
A New Australia: Post War Immigration to Western Australia
Ongoing exhibition
The devastating effects of World War II resulted in thousands of people immigrating to Australia in the post-war years. This exhibition provides an insight into the individual experiences of some of these immigrants. Some of the more poignant objects on display include a concentration camp uniform brought to Western Australia by a Polish survivor and a dress worn at a proxy wedding in Italy.
Within These Walls
Ongoing exhibition
This exhibition explores the Museum building’s fascinating history, from its beginnings in the mid 19th Century as a convict-built “lunatic” asylum, then as a women’s home, midwifery training school, and American supply base during World War II. Visit an original asylum cell and see our "resident ghost".
Tour Historic Samson House
Ellen Street, Fremantle
Open Sundays 1.15pm – 5pm
Cost: $3
The grand Samson House, built in the late 1880s was home to generations of the Samson family, including Sir Frederick Samson - the longest serving mayor of Fremantle.
Light and Sound Discovery Centre
Ongoing exhibition
Take a trip down memory lane when you visit the Fremantle History Museum. On temporary display is part of the historic restored collection of gramophones, televisions and toys from the Museum of Light and Sound Technology in WA. Covering many aspects of sound and light technology, the display is a fascinating insight into music, design and technology from yesteryear, as well as an intriguing investigation into the past. Special talks and demonstrations are run regularly.See also http://www.lightandsound.net.au (opens in new window).