The Great Beyond Explorer’s Hall of Fame and Visitor Centre

Celebrating at the crossroads of early explorers

The Great Beyond highlights the early explorers to come through the region. Begin your journey with a miniature hologram of John Forrest the explorer, and Tommy Windich (Yinel), Aboriginal guide. Be prepared for the booming voices as John Forrest talks to John Septimus Roe or Tommy Windich in his own trek team. The collection contains an intimate display of Edith Laver’s personal items. Edith was married to Dr Charles Laver, after whom the town of Laverton is named. Learn more about how the doctor got gold fever and journeyed to British Flag, close to the current townsite of Laverton. The Visitor Centre is also the perfect place to grab a quick drink or bite to eat before you ‘hit the road’ and continue making your own exploration of WA, or heading out east along the Grand Central Road.

Visit website

Address:

5 Augusta Street
Laverton WA 6440
Australia

Tel:

(08) 9031 1361

Email:

greatbeyond@laverton.wa.gov.au

Opening Hours

Mon to Fri 9am - 4:30pm; Sat, Sun & Public Holidays 9am - 1pm

Camel bell

Camel drivers

Early life on the Goldfields would not have been possible without camels. An estimated 1,500 camels were imported into Australia between 1850 and 1910. Early explorers and those chasing gold in desert...

Perfume bottle

Luxury on the goldfields

This perfume bottle belonged to Edith Laver (nee Atwell). It is on display amongst other personal items received as wedding gifts, including a silver cigarette lighter and button hooks with mother-of...

Carved kangaroo

Wooden marlu

This marlu (kangaroo) has been carved with a rasp. The burnt markings are called ‘poker work’ designs, which became common to this area in the early 1900s. The technique was adopted by Aboriginal...

Meekatharra Museum

Meeka Museum!

This intimate collection offers a stop-off to enjoy a slice of history in Meekatharra. The collection includes a local archive, well-resourced for family history research, and photographs and...

Minnivale Rail and Heritage Centre

A collection of rail carriages in a disused wheatbin

Have you ever wondered what was inside the large silver wheat bins which litter the Wheatbelt landscape? Wonder no more! Step inside a decommissioned wheatbin which houses a collection of rail...

Old Police Complex

A country police station

The first Laverton police station is described by the guide as ‘tents, tin and fibro,’ with the prisoners brutally chained to logs. In 1899 the original jail was moved from the close-by settlement of...

Warden Finnerty’s Residence

A collection in a national trust stone building

The simple grandeur of this stone house sitting atop Montana Hill, overlooking Coolgardie, is impressive. The view from the veranda is amazing, but don't forget the collection inside. The house was...