Dowerin District Museum

Get directions

A charming museum in an old house built by a saddler.

This charming museum is built upon the legacy of one family: the O’Shaughnessy’s. It is housed in the original home built in 1915, for Eugene O’Shaughnessy the local boot maker and saddler. The collection provides an insight into Dowerin and the Wheatbelt, from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Learn about the history of locals like Ethel Cook and the Dowerin Drapery, or the Couper family and their portal organ. The building continues to have no indoor plumbing, not even in the kitchen. The original shopfront for E. O’Shaughnessy, Saddler and Harness Maker was relocated to the Museum site and the attached building holds the original leather-working machinery.

Visit website

View Collection at Collections WA

Address:

16 Cottrell Street
Dowerin WA 6461
Australia

Tel:

(08) 9631 1202

Email:

dowshire@dowerin.wa.gov.au

Opening Hours

Mon - Fri

1950s football boots

Kangaroo kickers

These ‘footy’ boots were made in the 1950s and look like they have never been worn. They were designed for Australian Rules Football players and probably made by the O’Shaughnessy’s. Eugene O...

Photograph of Mr and Mrs O'Shaughnessy

Family legacy

Mae Yolanda O’Shaughnessy (nee Holyoake) and Eugene O’Shaughnessy were married in Pingelly and honeymooned in Busselton, before settling in Dowerin in 1915, in the house now occupied by the Museum...

Portable organ

Night-time singalong

This organ was transported from Victoria by members of the Couper Family. Steve Couper and his brother Bob settled in Dowerin in 1897 and encouraged his parents and sisters to relocate to Dowerin. The...

The Windmills Shed

A farmer's love of windmills

A collection not to be missed! The extremely rare Steel Wings windmill at the entrance to Wimera Farm signal that this is a special visitor experience. The windmill collection, developed by local...

Nyabing Historical Society Inc.

Come and find out about the locally famous peach and steak pie!

An important location on the railway line, Nyabing's history is captured at the Settlers Hall. Built in 1915, the hall has been used as a school, Road Board offices, community hall and church. It was...

Esperance Museum

The largest museum collection outside Perth

You will need more than one visit to take in this impressive collection. The museum is a short stroll from the foreshore, in a historic railway building. Get lost in the large collection of items...

The Quairading Vintage Club

A scale model road train, one of the districts oldest tractors, and everything in between!

The Quairading Vintage Club was originally formed in the 1980s by a group of farmers and locals from the district. In 2018 the Vintage Club became associated with the Men’s Shed. The collection...