Argyle Homestead Museum

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Kings in Grass Castles

Stone by stone, the Argyle Homestead was moved from its original site,now under the waters of the ‘top dam’ on the Ord River, to its current home on the edge of Lake Argyle. It was the former home of ‘Patsy’ Durack, one of the first people to bring cattle overland from Queensland, to stock the first speculative leases in the Kimberley, in 1884. With shady verandahs and cool interiors, this welcoming museum, complete with tea and muffins, maps the Durack’s epic journey and the genealogy of this pioneering and talented family. Its diverse collection of original objects, saved from the homestead, along with photographs and period objects, interpret life on a remote pastoral lease in the 1890s. The story of the flooding of the original homestead is highlighted with images of Operation Noah, that brought naturalist Harry Butler to the Kimberley to rescue stranded animals.

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Address:

Lake Argyle Road
Lake Argyle WA 6743
Australia

Tel:

(08) 9167 8088

Email:

ADHMuseum@outlook.com

Opening Hours

April to September, 7 days 8am - 4pm

Michael Patrick Durack's leather satchel

A leather legacy

When the centre of government administration lies 3000 km to the south, it was important to keep your legal documents and land titles safe. This satchel was made for MP Durack by an Argyle Saddler in...

7PD - The Durack Brand

Kings In Grass Castles - the Duracks

Every station has its own cattle brand, and great effort was made by managers to brand their cattle to outwit the rogue rustlers of the area. 7PD was the brand that Patsy Durack brought to the...

Kimberley Durack’s camera and snakeskin case

Little black box

As robust as the man himself, the box camera - with its handsome cover, thought to be made by Kimberley Durack - survived the heat, tropical storms, floods and the rigours of a cattleman's life in one...

Shire of Derby, West Kimberley Library Overview

Shire of Derby / West Kimberley Library - local studies collection

Muddy Waters

Named after the Earl of Derby, the town has a rich colonial history as the first regional and administrative centre, supporting the sheep and cattle stations of the west Kimberley. Keeper of this...

Comet Gold Mine and Tourist Centre

Plenty of gold still here

Gold fever hit Marble Bar in the 1890s but the rocky hills and alluvial creeks hold much more that gold. Situated 9 kilometres from Marble Bar, adjacent to the old Comet gold mine, this gem of a...

Warlayirti Artists

Little bit long way

So says the first of many painted car-bonnet signs as you turn off the Great Northern Highway to travel the 350 kms along the Tanami track to the Warlayirti Artists Art and Culture Centre at Balgo...

Warmun Art Centre

Ochre and rust

Ochres of black, red and mustard yellow, mixed with greys and whites are the hallmarks of the very distinctive style of the Warmun community artists. One of the early engine rooms for the contemporary...