WA Shipwrecks Museum
About the Business
Welcome to the WA Shipwrecks Museum, located at 47 Cliff Street in Fremantle, Australia. This establishment is not just a museum, but a point of interest and tourist attraction that offers a deep dive into the fascinating history of Australia's oldest shipwrecks.
Internationally recognised for its contributions to maritime archaeology and shipwreck conservation, the WA Shipwrecks Museum takes you on a journey through its galleries, where you can learn about Western Australia's treacherous coast, the first European encounters, the riches of maritime trade, and even one of the deadliest mutinies in known history.
Housed inside Fremantle's historic Commissariat buildings, which were originally built using convict labour to store supplies for the Swan River colony, this museum is not only a treasure trove of maritime history but also a testament to Western Australia's rich heritage.
In 1979, thanks to the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976, the Western Australian Museum became the delegated authority for managing Commonwealth historic shipwrecks and relics in the state. As a result, the heritage Commissariat Buildings were converted into the WA Shipwrecks Museum, which has been open to the public ever since.
The WA Shipwrecks Museum has received rave reviews from millions of Tripadvisor travelers, placing it in the top 10% of attractions worldwide in the 2023 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice. This achievement would not have been possible without the dedicated visitor services officers, volunteers, and the support of our wonderful visitors.
For a seamless experience, we invite you to download the WA Museum member app, where you can store your member card, tickets, access exclusive content, and enjoy special offers right at your fingertips.
But the WA Shipwrecks Museum is more than just a collection of artifacts. It is a vibrant testament to our harmonious coexistence with nature, a place where history comes alive.
From Saturday 12 August 2023 to Sunday 15 October 2023, we have a special event that allows visitors who are blind or vision impaired to touch and examine selected objects from our collections. It's an opportunity to engage with history in a unique and sensory way.
During your visit, we highly recommend taking advantage of our free guided tours of the galleries, where our knowledgeable guides will provide insights into the nature and impact of interactions between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people from the time of Dutch exploration through to the 1800s.
If you're interested in exploring the historical features of Western Australia's first convict-built public building, we offer a guided tour that provides a first-hand look at its fascinating architecture and history. This tour will be available from Saturday 23 September to Sunday 8 October, between 10 am and 2 pm.
At the Western Australian Museum, we acknowledge and respect the Traditional Owners of the ancestral lands, waters, and skies. We are committed to preserving and sharing their cultural heritage.
In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we prioritize the health and safety of our visitors, volunteers, and employees. We have implemented a COVID-19 Safety Plan and follow government advice. Our cleaning regime has been intensified, and hand sanitizers are readily available throughout the museum. We kindly ask all visitors to practice physical distancing and good hygiene. If you're feeling unwell, especially if you have a fever, cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath, we kindly request that you visit on another day.
Once again, we recognize and respect the Traditional Owners of this Country and their deep connection to the lands, waters, and skies. We invite you to embark on a journey through time and immerse yourself in the captivating stories of Australia's shipwrecks at the WA Shipwrecks Museum.
Photos
Location & Phone number
47 Cliff Street, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia
Hours open
Monday:
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday:
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday:
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday:
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday:
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday:
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday:
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Reviews
"Really cool museum detailing shipwrecks and the history of navigation around Western Australia. Some really detailed displays about the Dutch explorers and VOC sailing routes, as well as a piece of the infamous Batavia."
"This is a place where everybody should go. It represents a slice of WA history and a very interesting one. Children are very well entertained by the variety of exhibits. There is no entry fee, you can choose to donate $5, there is a machine at the reception where you can paypass for exactly that amount. There is also a box where you can donate cash if you choose to. Very interesting exhibition and using story telling method of shipwrecks around West Australian coasts, from the last survivors of Austro-Hungarian barque Stefano from 1875 that resorted to cannibalism to survive, to the shipwreck that took more than 160 years until it was able to identity its name and to the engine that was more 100 years underwater, and once restored – it can still work. An entire room is dedicated to the Dutch sea captain de Vlamingh who discovered and explored the West Coast, our current WA of what was then called New Holland, as they named Australia. There are lots of exhibits, beautifully restored, and that makes you wonder how that porcelain, the pottery and glasses survived the water and the centuries, military items, and even an incomplete set of chess pieces. That was my favourite. There is also a souvenir shop well stocked with history books about the topic and other gift items. The museum has wheelchair access and lift and friendly staff ready to assist in each room. We spent very interesting few hours in the museum."
"We really enjoyed walking around this Museum, some museum can be very boring and lack interesting pieces, but not this one. The lay out of the pieces, history and details given, staff and the overall look of the building in general was amazing. We learnt so much about the different ship wrecks here in Western Australia and the history surrounding them all. 10/10 Highly recommend."
"Had an absolutely fantastic and educational visit to this museum today. A magnificent record and collection of artefacts from many shipwrecks of a bygone era. A credit to all the staff and volunteers, especially those who recovered and restored back to working condition an old ship engine! A bonus, until 30 July, is a special display of a large private collection of scale models of hundreds of naval ships and submarines. The fine detail and other aspects were truly astounding."
"Cannot speak more highly of this little space. It's modern, clean, fun, jam-packed with info, and really quite captivating for both adults and kids. They have a treasure map and a sheet of questions to be answered throughout the museum to work out a padlock code for a treasure chest, sitting at the entrance. Honestly, blown away by how wonderful this spot was. We didn't have enough time to view all areas and items thoroughly. It was warm and a little safe haven on a cold and windy ANZAC day, with 2 little kids and 3 adults. The gift shop was charming and full of quality products. The staff were helpful and welcoming. I would absolutely recommend popping in and donating what you can. There is no entry fee."
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