What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 4pm Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm

Museum of Perth

Name: Museum of Perth
Address: Shop 4 Bon Marché Arcade, 80 Barrack Street, Perth, WA, 6000, AU
Telephone: +61861866592
Price range: $

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Museum of Perth

Formerly a cyber-museum. An exhibition space and cultural & research hub chronicling the social, cultural, political & architectural history of Perth.

The Museum of Perth chronicles the social, cultural, political and architectural history of Perth. Our exhibition space, in the Atlas Building, 8-10 The Esplanade, serves as a meeting place of ideas and stories, an event space and research and cultural hub in a growing part of our city. The Museum is an initiative of the Perth History Association Inc, a not-for-profit organisation founded in 2015; We are seeking volunteers and financial supporters to help us along the way.

02/07/2026

What a beauty! ❤️

16/06/2026

🏛 In 1906, pioneering Kimberley pastoralists Sydney and Isadore Emanuel commissioned acclaimed Perth architect Charles Lancelot Oldham to build something palatial on the corner of St George’s Terrace and Howard Street.

The result was the Emanuel Buildings — a striking Queen Anne–style structure of exquisitely detailed brickwork, and one of the first mixed-use buildings in Perth. Offices and a mezzanine sat below four floors of luxurious residential apartments: 17 self-contained suites served by a fine lift, a seventh-floor restaurant with the latest kitchen technology, and a winter garden where guests took in panoramic views of a fast-growing city. A grand jarrah staircase, built by Bunnings Brothers, ran through its heart.

Later home to Perpetual Trustees and Stott’s Business College, the building stood for over 70 years before it was demolished in 1979.

Read the full story, part of our Demolished Icons of Perth series 👇
https://www.museumofperth.com.au/emanuel-buildings

📷 Research by Shannon Lovelady

15/06/2026

🏊 When the Hotel Adelphi opened on St George’s Terrace in 1936, it had Perth’s first hotel swimming pool — intricately tiled — along with a Turkish bath, a beauty parlour, and a rooftop tea pagoda for taking in the city skyline.

Built on a grand scale from 800,000 bricks, the Adelphi was designed by noted architects Oldham, Boas & Ednie-Brown, with interiors by Margaret Pitt Morison — Western Australia’s first female architect. Walls were hand-painted to mimic an old Florentine palace; the lounges were upholstered in Australian leather, Dutch tapestry, and rich green velvet. It quickly became the place to be seen before and after a show at His Majesty’s Theatre, and a favourite of honeymooning couples.

In 1967 the Adelphi was demolished to make way for Parmelia House. Its memory survives in one small detail: the Parmelia Hilton’s signature restaurant still bears the name ‘Adelphi Grill’.

Read the full story, part of our Demolished Icons of Perth series 👇
https://www.museumofperth.com.au/hotel-adelphi

📷 Research by Shannon Lovelady

14/06/2026

🕛 At 1am on 23 May 1933, the Mayor of East Fremantle was found floating in the Swan River. His wristwatch had stopped at exactly midnight.

Joseph Francis Allen (1869–1933) lived several lives in one. He arrived from Cornwall as a boy, trained as an architect and civil engineer, and worked under C.Y. O’Connor on the development of Fremantle Harbour. He went on to design some of the most distinctive buildings of his era — East Fremantle Town Hall, the Fremantle Trades Hall, and the Strelitz Brothers’ buildings in Perth and Fremantle.

He served twice as Mayor of East Fremantle, sat briefly as a Member of Parliament, and presided over the Royal Institute of Architects until his death. The coroner found no suspicious circumstances — but the stopped watch has never stopped intriguing.

Read his full story, part of our Demolished Icons of Perth series 👇
https://www.museumofperth.com.au/joseph-francis-allen

📷 Research by Shannon Lovelady

13/04/2026

Volunteer Archivist/Librarian – Perth History Association

We’re looking for a reliable and detail-oriented volunteer to help care for and develop our Archives at the Perth History Association.

This is a hands-on role for someone interested in Perth history - organising and cataloguing material, maintaining records, and helping preserve important stories.

We’re particularly keen to hear from someone who:
• Can commit to regular weekly attendance (1-2 days, your choice of days)
• Takes ownership and enjoys working independently
• Has an interest in history, archives, and research
• Working as part of a great, dedicated team

Location: Perth CBD (no onsite parking; easily accessible by public transport)

This role may suit a retired or semi-retired person looking to contribute in a meaningful way.

Please get in touch via [email protected] if this sounds like you!

12/03/2026

We have noticed recently that the new owners of The Brisbane Hotel on Beaufort St Perth have been stripping back paint on the facade to reveal earlier finishes and tiles . Here's a reimagining of what it might have looked like back in 1898, with original brickwork and ornate original verandahs! Note: It's an AI generated image and not every detail is accurate - but have a look at the old photo for that!

A history:
The Brisbane Hotel was built in 1898, on part of Perth Town Lot N97 at the corner of Beaufort and Brisbane streets. The building was fitted into the triangular shaped corner created where Brisbane Street angled northeastward past the corner of Stone's Lake to link with Bulwer Street. Beaufort Street was the main thoroughfare to the rapidly developing residential areas of Highgate and immediate surrounds.

Mixed residential and commercial development was spreading along Beaufort Street and in December 1897, a tramline was gazetted to run the length of the street from the Barrack Street jetty to Walcott Street. The Brisbane Hotel was built for G. & A. Y. Glyde. In 1898, the publican was A. H. Woodgate. In 1905, it was William Ireland, in 1910 Marian Haines, and in 1915 P. M. O'Donahue. The upstairs guest rooms attracted travelers as there were horse stables at the rear. The hotel was originally constructed in Federation Free Classical with a Filigree style two-storey verandah.

In 1929, tiles were added to the front of the hotel, during a period when many existing hotels were undergoing modernisation and attempting to present a sleek modern look. In 1933, architects Oldham, Boas and Ednie-Brown redesigned the public bar. The ground floor public areas have been recently refurbished.

The Effie Crump Theatre has operated for a number of years on the upper floor, which originally provided bedroom accommodation. Birdwood Square is opposite the hotel and in the 1950's and 1960's it was the home ground for the Surf Hockey Club.

In the 1960's the hotel housed a prestigious restaurant and in the 1990's the second floor was converted from bedroom accomodation to house the Effie Crump theatre. The hotel and the theatre were closed for extensive renovations in 2003 and the hotel reopened under new management at the end 2004.

City of Vincent

11/03/2026

289 Beaufort Street Perth, Source Foods. Reimagined with the bricks tuck-pointed and the double storey timber and cast iron lacework verandahs rebuilt.

Throughout the 1960's many of Perth's original timber balconies were removed. A few now are being replaced - The Royal Hotel in Perth is a recent ecample.

Let us know any other buildings you'd like us to reimagine!

10/03/2026

Do you have photos of Bon Marché Arcade?

Urbis, on behalf of owners Canci Group, is inviting the public to help uncover the history of the Bon Marché Arcade on Barrack Street.

As part of plans to adaptively reuse the heritage-listed arcade, Urbis is seeking historical photographs of the interior of the building. Images of shops, walkways, signage, events or everyday activity inside the arcade are all of interest.

These photographs will help inform a Heritage Interpretation Plan that tells the story of the arcade and its place in Perth’s city life.

If you have photographs or would like to share information, please contact before 1 April 2026:
Wade Goldwyer
Heritage Consultant
[email protected]
+61 8 9346 0506

Your memories could help shape how this much-loved place is understood by future generations.

24/12/2025

Thank you so much to all of our followers, supporters, donors, volunteers and staff. We hope you all have a very merry Christmas and a wonderfully relaxing break!

Address

Shop 4 Bon Marché Arcade, 80 Barrack Street
Perth, WA
6000

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 4pm
Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+61861866592

Website

http://www.museumofperth.com.au/

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