50 Objects, 50 Years: Subiaco Museum unveils anniversary exhibition
Subiaco Museum is marking its 50th anniversary with a major new exhibition showcasing some of the most intriguing objects in the City’s 15,000-item collection.
50 Objects, 50 Years brings together a diverse selection of historic pieces to tell the story of the people, moments, and everyday life that have shaped the City of Subiaco. The exhibition is now open and will remain on display until early 2026.
Some favourites, selected from the exhibtion by Museum staff, are below.
Black silk mourning dress
An elegant damask mourning dress belonging to Shenton Park resident Abrilda McKennay showcases the craftsmanship and social customs of the early 1900s. Reinforced with twelve hand-stitched pieces of whalebone and detailed with beaded lace, high collars and Leg-of-Mutton sleeves, the dress remains in exceptional condition and reflects both personal style and the rituals of mourning of the era.
Child’s leather boot
This small leather boot, unearthed during garden works at a Townshend Road home, offers an intimate glimpse into early suburban childhood. Its wooden sole, nail construction and lace eyelets – still visible despite decades underground – evoke the children who once lived and played in the neighbourhood.
Drumstick from the Subiaco Municipal Band
A single drumstick linked to the Subiaco Municipal Band represents a lively chapter in local cultural life. Beginning in 1897, the band became a fixture of Fridays along the main street and Sunday afternoons in the Municipal Gardens. Musical artefacts from this period reflect the soundtrack of a growing suburb.
Wooden wheelbarrow
Dating to around 1905, this handmade wooden wheelbarrow was used by the Pike family of Subiaco and is a rare survival of a once-common household tool. Constructed from rough timber and reinforced with metal studs, wheels and a cross-brace, it features a removable back panel and an open front closed by a metal rod. Found during the demolition of a Finlayson Street home, it offers a direct link to the practical routines of early residents.
Commemorative dinner gong
This ornate dinner gong, engraved for Mayoress Mrs J.C. Daglish, commemorates the moment Subiaco’s electric lights were officially switched on in 1903. Its decorative stand – shaped like a tree with a perched bird – reflects Edwardian design and a significant civic milestone for the suburb.
Coinciding with the Museum’s first major gallery refurbishment, this milestone exhibition makes full use of the refreshed space, inviting visitors to explore the City’s past in a contemporary way.
