What's On
What's On
Climate Change
‘Climate change: our future, our choice,’ will take you on an inspiring journey through two possible future worlds - one in which we have done nothing to combat climate change and one in which we have taken positive action to save the planet.
The interactive exhibition – developed over the past year by Australian Museum scientists and experts – puts the future in your hands as you take a surprising trip through these worlds of possibilities and discover what must be done to ensure or prevent our environmental fate.
A travelling exhibition from the Australian Museum in partnership with Scitech.
- Geraldton 9:30am – 4:00pm, Sat 3 December 2011 – Sun 22 April 2012
- Image copyright of the Australian Museum
School holidays at Geraldton
UNDER THE SEA
Explore the fantastic facts and mysterious myths of creatures in the watery world under the sea. Start with a visit to Sea City- a place of activity, discovery and lots of fun for children and their families!* Sea Lore or Sea Life - can you identify the real sea monsters from the mythical?
* Incredible Creatures - what incredible creatures can you snap, lock, and rotate together with Zoob?
* Sea Garden - create your own felt board underwater garden!
* Creatures of the Deep - a game of dominos with a difference!Fantastic Fantasy – dive into the dress up box and become a mermaid or monster of the deep!Dates: 15 December 2011 to 3 April 2012
(closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day)
Times: Between 10.00am – 4.00pm
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free – no bookings required.
Catch of the Day
Colour and cut your own fantastic little fish complete with a mini fishing line. You can choose from viscious looking fishes of the dark depth or sweet little fishes in the warm shallows.
Dates: 15 December 2011 to 1 February 2012
Times: 9:30am – 4:00pm
Ages: 4+ years
Cost: $2Trails
Non readers: Look for the little yellow submarine to help you find the ocean’s object on the trail.
Readers: A trail jam packed with activities and discoveries of life under the sea.Dates: 15 December 2011 to 5 April 2012
Times: 9:30am – 4:00pm
Participants: This activity caters for readers and non-readers
Cost: All trails $2
A Window of Wonder (workshop)
Learn about some of the astonishing creatures that live in the deepest depths of the sea. Make your own porthole view of this mysterious world.
Dates: Thurs 12th January and Wed 18th January 2012
Times: 1:00pm (1 hour duration)
Ages: 6+ years
Cost: $5
Booking: Essential 9921 5080
Creatures to Keep (workshop)
Discover the different sea creatures in the Museum’s aquarium. Get creative, make your own unique little sea creatures to keep and give them personality plus!
Dates & Times: Wed 11th January 2012, 10:00am
AND Tuesday 17th January 2012, 1:00pm
duration: 1 hour
Ages: 6+ years
Cost: $5
Bookings: Essential 9921 5080
Mini Monsters and Mermaids (workshop)
Find out more about the folk stories of monsters and mermaids. Be inspired and make your own mini monster or mermaid finger puppet.
Dates: 1:00pm Wed 11th January 2012, 1:00pm
AND Thurs 19th January 2012, 10:00am
duration: 1 hour
Ages: 6+ years
Cost: $5
Bookings: Essential 9921 5080
Dive, Dive, Dive!
Create a new species of sea creature born for the deep. Amaze your family and friends as it plummets to the depths and resurfaces with astonishing speed. Discover what taxonomy is and how it can help to name your new species.
Dates: Thursday 12th January and Wednesday 18th January, 2012
Times: 10:00am
duration: 1 hour
Ages: 6+ years
Cost: $5
Bookings: Essential 9921 5080- Geraldton 9:00am – 4:30pm, Thu 15 December 2011 – Tue 3 April 2012
- Image copyright of WA Museum
The Mysterious World of Biochar Research
Dr Paul Blackwell, Department of Agriculture and Food WA
7.00pm, Thursday 22 March 2012
WA Museum TheatreBiochar, charcoal or just char has been investigated for a long time; some of the earliest research reports are from Japan in the 1600’s. It is a challenging material that can help make renewable energy, sometimes improve plant and animal growth and provide a method of locking up atmospheric carbon.
Join Dr Paul Blackwell, Department of Agriculture and Food WA as he explain what biochar is made from, how it is made, what it has been used for in agriculture, and some of the most recent activity making and testing enhanced biochars in the Mid West.
Entry by gold coin donation. Bookings essential 9921 5080
Geraldton 7:00pm - 8:00pm, Thu 22 Mar 2012
- Wheat chaff char in hand
- Photo by Dr Zakaria Solaiman
- Image copyright of Dr Zakaria Solaiman
ANZANG 2011
ANZANG is focused on the unique natural heritage of the bioregion of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and the New Guinea region.
The annual photography competition highlights this unique area by encouraging conservation and protection of the region's native flora and fauna.
- Geraldton 9:30am – 4:00pm, Thu 17 May 2012 – Sun 15 July 2012
- Cocos Crab
- Photo by Michael Seebeck
- Image copyright of Michael Seebeck
Long Term Exhibitions
Highlights Tour - Geraldton
Would you like to know a little bit more about the history of the Mid West? Our friendly Visitor Services Officers can take you and your family or friends on a 15 - 20 minute highlight tour. These tours focus on one or two of our stories and can be asked for any time throughout the day. They are suitable for all ages and can be given to groups as large as 15 people. For bookings contact the Museum on 08 9921 5080.
- Highlights Tours
- Photo by Graeme Gibbons
- Image copyright of WA Museum
HMAS Sydney (II) - Pride of the Fleet
The ship HMAS Sydney (II) was lost after a fierce sea battle with the German raider HSK Kormoran on the 19 November 1941. None of the 645 crew on board the Sydney survived and this loss had a profound effect on wartime Australia, generating enormous grief and a desire to reveal the mystery of what happened on that fateful evening.
Sixty-seven years later, on 16 March 2008, the wreck of HMAS Sydney (II) was found about 112 nautical miles off Steep Point Western Australia in 2,470 metres of water. This momentous find occurred five days after the wreck of the Kormoran was also discovered.
HMAS Sydney (II) - Pride of the Fleet is the first formal exhibition to cover all major aspects of one of Australia’s most enduring maritime mysteries.
Pride of the Fleet gives a comprehensive overview of the story of HMAS Sydney II as well as telling some of the stories of the men who were lost and the families they left behind.
The exhibition gives due recognition to the Finding Sydney Foundation, the HMAS Sydney Search team and their work in discovering the battle site and wreck sites for both ships.
- HMAS Sydney II
- Photo from WA Museum
- Image copyright of the Western Australian Museum
Mid West Gallery
A winding road of discovery inspired by the Murchison River, this exhibition offers surprises and fascinating artefacts around every bend of the snaking gallery.
The exhibition consists of two major sections: natural history and social history.
In natural history, see fossils that reveal the Mid West’s prehistoric past and discover its unique native flora and fauna.
In social history explore the rich culture of the local Yamaji people, tales of European exploration and settlers of more recent times - all of whom have battled this challenging environment.
- Mid West Gallery
- Photo from WA Museum
- Image copyright of the Western Australian Museum
Shipwrecks Gallery
Discover the fascinating maritime history of the State’s midwest, from the famous Batavia mutiny, to lesser known tales such as the inspiring saga of human ingenuity displayed by Zeewijk survivors and the unknown fate of other European shipwreck survivors stranded on Western Australian shores.
The gallery features artefacts from four local shipwrecks including clay pipes, silver coins, cannons, the original Batavia stone portico and numerous other relics.
- Batavia
- Photo from WA Museum
- Image copyright of the Western Australian Museum