CLAREMONT MUSEUM

In 1862 the first school between Perth and Fremantle was built on Freshwater Bay. This building is now part of the core of the museum site, which opened in 1975. Established by a concerned group of local residents, the museum is run by professional museum workers, as a service of the Town of Claremont.

HOURS & CHARGES

Hours

Exhibitions and Research Facility: Monday – Friday: 12 noon – 4 pm

Museum Office: Monday – Friday: 10 am – 4 pm

Closed on Public Holidays

Charges

MUSEUM COLLECTION

The collection holds more than 9000 items, including artefacts, photographs, oral history tapes and documents. Categories include business, domestic, fashion, education, convict history and clothing.

Claremont Museum's main exhibitions are housed in a preserved nineteenth century schoolhouse. The schoolroom provides a glimpse into the colonial education system, c1862. Behind the teacher's room where we present changing exhibitions, the washhouse contains the original copper, a mangle and other traditional domestic equipment. Text panels throughout the museum provide insight into the settlement of the region and traditional practices of past eras.

A scale model displays Freshwater Bay in 1862. A display of early Claremont shops includes the barber, cobbler, draper and a 1940s corner store. Special exhibitions are changed periodically and address a variety of topics in history, science and the arts.

MEWS BOATSHED

The Mews Boatshed was constructed on the Swan River, Claremont in 1910 to build river craft and pearling luggers. Later the shed was used for general boat repairs and maintenance of a fleet of hire craft. Now relocated to the museum site, this original shed contains over 600 pieces of associated equipment and a clinker-built dinghy.

CLAREMONT SIGNAL CABIN

The Claremont Signal Cabin occupies a unique place in the history of the local community, the State's development and the nation's transport history.

The cabin played a vital role in the workings of the Perth-Fremantle line between 1906 and its close in 1989, and stands today as the only original signal cabin on this busy railway.
When the obsolete cabin closed in 1989 with electrification of the line, it was originally listed for demolition. It was saved thanks to strong local support from interested individuals, the Town of Claremont, heritage groups and others. State Government, National Heritage and local funds have enabled a restoration programme, which was completed with Westrail's cooperation in 1992.
The cabin is in its original location at the Claremont Railway Station. It is open to the public from 10:00am to 4:00pm on the first Saturday of every month.

For more information please contact the Claremont Museum, or visit the Cabin's website at: http://www.starwon.com.au/~cfrench/Claremont/Clare98.html.

VOLUNTEERS

Claremont Museum volunteers provide a variety of services to the Museum. Stimulating work is undertaken by our unpaid staff members, including collection management, conservation, education and historical research.

Please contact the Museum if you are interested in joining our volunteer team.

FRIENDS OF CLAREMONT MUSEUM

Friends of Claremont Museum arrange lectures and other social events.  Their heritage walk brochures, available at the Museum, add an extra dimension to a walk around the district. Membership of the Friends entitles you to free use of Claremont Museum research facilities as well as reciprocal arrangements with affiliated museums and galleries through AFFM (the Australian Federation of Friends of Museums). 

If you wish to join the Friends of Claremont Museum, please contact the Museum.

RESEARCH

The Museum's Public Access System is a rich source of local information, updated weekly. Material is filed by classification, a comprehensive index providing easy access for researchers and those interested in Claremont's history. Claremont Rates books from 1903-1970 and Council Minutes from 1898-1980 are available for viewing on microfilm. Claremont Museum has an extensive collection of images and many of the photographs can be reproduced for personal use.

Claremont Street Histories, produced in partnership with Curtin University's Research Institute for Cultural Heritage, are available to purchase. Each booklet explores the history of a Claremont street in detail.

EDUCATION / PUBLIC PROGRAMMES

The Museum runs popular programmes for schools and adult groups which relate to the history of the district. We offer a comprehensive range of learning experiences which link directly to various learning areas of the curriculum, suitable for all levels of primary and secondary schools.

Copies of our local history package for schools are also available to the community.
Please contact the Museum on (08) 9285 4345 for details and costs.

Town Centre Heritage Trail

Have you ever wondered how Old Theatre Lane got its name?
Do you know where Wing Hei's Laundry was?
Or where the convicts building the road from Perth to Fremantle obtained drinking water?
Use the Trail Guide and follow the bronze plaques in the footpath to find out.

EXHIBITIONS

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