Yilgarn History Museum

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A meeting place between the Goldfields and the Wheatbelt

A visit to the Yilgarn Museum is a journey through the history of Southern Cross, which is sometimes referred to as the gateway to the Goldfields region. The museum building is the original courthouse and Mining Registrar’s Office. In fact the main Goldfields claims which sparked the goldrush were lodged at this Mining Registrar’s Office. In a museum in the Goldfields, you would expect a rock and mineral collection, and this one certainly delivers. There is a gold mining pavilion and an agricultural pavilion which houses a rare camel wagon used during the gold rush in the 1890s. The Museum also includes some very quirky items like the Icyball refrigerator and a rare birth caul. There is also an extensive collection of old Shire documents.

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Address:

26 Antares Street
Southern Cross WA 6426
Australia

Tel:

0437 530 848 or
0412 053 830

Email:

rosesj@westnet.com.au
Stevensrobin13@yahoo.com

Opening Hours

Mon 9.30 - 11.30am & 1.30 - 3.30pm; By appointment Tuesday; Wed to Thurs 9.30 - 11.30am; Fri 12 - 4pm; By appointment Saturday 10.30am-3.30pm Sunday

Sugar scuttle and trophy

A sweet trophy

Silverware like this scuttle and shovel from 1905 was placed on the table to hold and serve sugar. They are called scuttles after the shape of coal buckets or scuttles. Coal buckets were common in...

Armchair

Gelignite chair

A great example of making-do, these armchairs were made from old gelignite boxes by David Woodberry for his wife in 1950. They were used in their main bedroom in Mt Magnet and relocated to Southern...

The “Civic” pipe

Showcase

Mr Ken Beaton donated this tobacco pipe display to the Museum in 1978. It is thought to have come from Harry Traver’s Tobacconist and Billiard Saloon, which operated in Southern Cross, as a one-stop...

Shire of York Residency Museum

The history of York in an award-winning heritage listed building

This beautiful old building in York is a treasure trove of history. The former Magistrate’s residence has been reimagined as The Residency Museum, which sensitively shares the history of York...

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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...

NEXIS (Narrogin Exhibition Space)

View local and Australian art at this nexis.

This is a wonderful art collection in a heritage listed building. NEXIS (Narrogin Exhibition Space), located in the Town Hall complex, hosts exhibitions and fund-raising events. The Shire’s art...

Koorda and Districts Museum and Historical Society

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This is a diverse collection for such a small town, lovingly maintained by a group of volunteers. The Museum is laid out like the old Koorda & Districts Centennial Hospital, and even includes the...