We Western Australians love our state, and we love exploring it, which is why road trips are such a big part of our culture. You can’t go wrong driving through the winding roads of Boranup Forest in the Margaret River Region, or setting up a swag on Australia’s whitest sand in the Cape Le Grand National Park in Esperance. The sunsets off the shores of Broome are hard to beat, while the contrast of the ocean’s brilliant teal against the rust-coloured earth of Shark Bay is unlike anything else.
But tucked among these iconic landscapes is an unexpected world, one where Western Australia’s regional museums take centre stage. You never know what you’ll uncover when you step inside. From Indigenous culture and local artworks to Coca-Cola collections, every museum offers a unique window into all the things that shaped our state. No matter where your travels take you in WA, you’re never far from a story waiting to be discovered.
Aunt Jones Dolly Mix — Esperance
A street back from Esperance’s glistening foreshore lies Aunty Joan’s Dolly Mix, an Alice in Wonderland-esque museum housing nearly 1,000 porcelain dolls. Crystal chandeliers, burgundy velvet, whimsical animal portraits, and layers of theatrical charm make it one of the town’s most unexpected attractions. Created from the collection of the late Esperance local, Joan Stewart, the not-for-profit museum donates all proceeds to local charities.
Bank Gallery — Carnamah
Housed in a beautifully restored 1930s former bank and a transformed mechanic’s workshop, the Bank Gallery is a community-driven initiative that showcases regional artists, artist residencies, and creativity in the outback town of Carnamah. Alongside local artists, the space hosts national and international artists-in-residence, creating a vibrant cultural hub that celebrates regional culture.
Belleview Shell Collection — Witchcliffe
Just outside Margaret River, the Bellview Shell Collection showcases more than 30,000 shells and coral specimens gathered from across the globe. Built over four decades by passionate collectors Peter and Kath Ignoti, it’s believed to be the largest private display of its kind in Australia. Visitors can also purchase shells and shell jewellery, making it an unexpected spot to find the perfect South West souvenir.
Bilya Koort Boodja — Northam
Bilya Koort Boodja, meaning “River, Heart, Land” in Nyoongar, is a Centre for Nyoongar Culture and Environmental Knowledge in Northam. Set on the Avon River, it shares Ballardong culture through immersive exhibitions, storytelling, and the six Nyoongar seasons. Interactive displays and cultural experiences bring Country to life in a way that stays with you long after you leave, offering a genuine sense of connection, understanding, and respect.
Chapman Valley Historical Society — Nanson
Farm machinery enthusiasts will find themselves in heaven at the Chapman Valley Museum in Nanson, a lovingly curated showcase of vintage tractors, trucks, wagons, and rural life. Run by the Chapman Valley Historical Society, the museum brings local history to life through hands-on displays, photographs, and community stories, alongside a moving World War I tribute to the region’s fallen soldiers.
Coca Cola Museum — Toodyay
Soda pop culture takes centre stage at the Cola Café and Museum in Toodyay, where a quirky, vast Coca-Cola collection fills every corner of this 1950s-style space. Sip a coffee or cola while exploring decades of branding history through cans, bottles, and playful memorabilia, tracing Coke’s journey from an over-the-counter medicine to the iconic global soda it is now. Begun by Toodyay local Brian Davies in childhood, the collection has since been passed on, growing with contributions from travellers around the world.
Cunderdin Museum — Cunderdin
Set within the historic Goldfields Water Supply Scheme No. 3 Steam Pumping Station, the Cunderdin Museum showcases one of Western Australia’s largest steam pumps alongside vast displays of farm machinery, rail history, and local heritage. Run by dedicated volunteers, this WAnderland spot offers an immersive glimpse into the Wheatbelt’s engineering and rural past.
Cygnet Bay Pearls — Broome
On the tip of the pristine Dampier Peninsula, Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm offers a rare glimpse into Australia’s pearling heritage. Family-owned for four generations by the Brown family, it opened to visitors in 2009, sharing the story of how pearls are grown, harvested, and transformed into jewellery. More than a working farm, it’s a destination where guests can dine, stay, and explore the Buccaneer Archipelago and Horizontal Falls while experiencing a living piece of Broome’s pearling history.
Goldfields War Museum — Kalgoorlie Boulder
Housed inside the historic Boulder Town Hall, the Goldfields War Museum traces more than a century of military history through the stories, photographs, and personal artefacts of local servicemen and women. From the Boer War to modern conflicts, the exhibition honours those who served on the frontlines and at home, with particularly poignant displays of Goldfields soldiers lost in the First World War.
Gwalia Historical Precinct — Gwalia
Gwalia Historic Precinct is a haunting ghost town near Leonora, where the remnants of the Sons of Gwalia Mine tell the story of Western Australia’s gold rush era. Restored miners’ cottages, original buildings, and museum displays reveal life in the late 1800s, from gold extraction to the diverse communities that once called the town home. Visitors can explore mining relics, climb historic structures and finish with Devonshire tea at Hoover House overlooking the edge of the open-cut mine.
Monsignor Hawes Heritage Centre — Geraldton
The Monsignor Hawes Heritage Centre brings to life the story of a remarkable priest-architect, John Cyril Hawes, whose vision shaped some of Western Australia’s most distinctive heritage buildings. Through diaries, designs, and personal stories, visitors discover an extraordinary life of faith, creativity, and craftsmanship, set against the backdrop of the Midwest’s unique built landscape.
Museum of Photography — Meckering
Step inside The Big Camera and be immersed in a world of photographic history, where thousands of cameras, projectors, and imaging devices line the walls in an extraordinary working display. Recognised as one of the largest collections of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, it traces the evolution of photography from its earliest experiments to modern technology, celebrating the craftsmanship and old-school magic of image-making long before the digital and smartphone era.
Old Butter Factory Museum — Busselton
Step back in time at the Busselton Museum, set within the heritage-listed Old Butter Factory on the banks of the Vasse River. Run by dedicated volunteers, the museum brings local history to life through immersive displays spanning dairy, timber, maritime, and Group Settlement heritage, as well as carefully preserved artefacts of everyday life. Surrounded by tranquil river views, it’s a place to explore, reflect, and connect with the stories that shaped Busselton.
Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery and Visitor Centre — Denham
At the Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery and Visitor Centre, the rich cultural and natural heritage of this World Heritage-listed region comes to life. Home to over 30,000 years of Indigenous history and early European exploration, the centre offers immersive displays, striking photography, and artefacts that reveal the story of this remarkable landscape. Visitors can also explore interactive exhibits, a changing art gallery, and multimedia experiences that bring Shark Bay’s past and natural wonders vividly into focus.
