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...

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...

Spear thrower

Mirru

This mirru (spear thrower) is used to give leverage and length to throw spears. The spear sits tucked into the end of the mirru, near the spike. They were decorated with carving, as a way to identify...

Shackleton Progress Association

A Wheatbelt town named after an Antartic explorer.

The Shackleton Hall houses a collection which tells the history of settlement in the area. It also includes information related to Kwolyin, a ghost town, located approximately 9km to the west of...

Wuddi Aboriginal Cultural Centre

A prominent place to learn about the Noongar history of Dambarling (Lake Dumbleyung).

This is a great place to stop, enjoy Noongar artworks and other collection items, and find a keepsake at the shop. Anne and Grant Riley run cultural tours around the lake, where you can learn about...

Dead Finish Museum

Beers and bodies: a former pub and morgue now houses a museum

You can almost smell the beer flowing, and the conversation of sandalwood cutters and haulers in this museum, which is named after the old hotel in which it is housed. The hotel was affectionately...

Sandalwood Letterpress Museum

Chase the print

Extra, extra read all about it! Feel like you have stepped back in time to a bygone era. Printing enthusiast Keith Schekkerman, who once worked in the printing industry, will give you a tour...