Skip to main content

Museum exhibitions

Visitors to Subiaco Museum will enjoy the permanent and changing exhibitions mounted in the museum’s galleries, featuring the City’s art and heritage collections. 

Interactive galleries

See the newly set up interactive spaces ready for little hands to learn. Our front gallery has transformed into a school room with slate for writing on and desks to sit at. And Bert Congdon's Post Office has opened up, fitted out with typewriters to type and send your own letters.

Permanent exhibitions

Step back in time and imagine domestic life in Subiaco during the first half of the 20th century, view objects that relate to European settlement in Subiaco, and recognise the Indigenous people who are the traditional owners of the land on which the City is built.

50 Objects, 50 Years

This exhibition explored the many ways objects can be viewed, interpreted, and used in storytelling. The selected 50 objects included intriguing pairs that highlight the contrasts within our collection — from the largest Park Street façade to the smallest 10mm button, from the most delicate feather fan to our durable 21 flat irons.

50 Objects, 50 Years also reflected on the people who have shaped the museum over the past five decades. Key donors such as Adelaide Chugg and Edith Daglish, who were instrumental in opening the museum in 1975, are represented alongside the many women of Subiaco who generously contributed personal and domestic collections that continue to enrich the museum today.

Visit CollectionsWA to view the objects online.

With more than 15,000 items, including over 3,000 objects and 3D pieces, the museum holds a wealth of Subiaco stories.

Download the 50 Objects, 50 Years exhibition catalogue.

Curator's Choice

Past Curators, Acting-Curators and Assistant Curators have all shared their favourite items from the museum's collection.

'Six#97' by Christopher Young

Oonagh was curator of Subiaco Museum from 2008 to 2013. Her favourite item from the 50 Object, 50 years exhibition is a photographic print from photographer Christopher Young. One of series of 11 works commissioned by Subiaco Museum funded by a LotteryWest grant, these photographs were to capture residents 'personal museums' while exploring contemporary collecting. An exhibition was subsequently held at the museum, exploring the residential heritage of Subiaco.

Wembley Ware Collection

Erica was curator of Subiaco Museum from 2013 to 2017, she is now the Head of History at WA Museum. Erica fondly remembers the Wembley Ware collection at the Subiaco Museum, especially the story of how it came about. In the years following WWII, the European ceramics import market was crippled, leaving Australia hungry for decorative and functional goods. A Subiaco manufacturer, H. L. Brisbane and Wunderlich Ltd., seized the opportunity and their Wembley Ware line filled that gap with eccentric, lustrous, and Australiana themed ceramics that soon became iconic.

The Argonauts by Alex Choate and Jim Phillips

Rosemary was curator of Subiaco Museum from 2017 to early 2021. She fondly recalls viewing a collection of early twentieth century hand-made journals, the Argonauts - a collection of boys-own adventures, created by two boys from Subiaco Primary School. These original stories were handwritten and illustrated. Click here to listen to the oral history of Alex Choate, one of the authors of these stories.

Hohner Accordian

Kylie was acting-curator at Subiaco Museum during 2021. Her favourite item from the collection is the Hohner Accordian. With mother of pearl keys this item was made in Germany between 1903 and 1930. Kylie's father is a musician and attended the museum during her tenure and even played a tune on this accordian.

Black Mourning Outfit

Jessica is the current curator of Subiaco Museum and has been since her commencement in March of 2021. Jessica's favourite item from the collection is a black-two piece mourning outfit worn by Abrilda McKenny. She recalls it was one of the first major donations received after becoming curator and struck her attention due to the age, incredible condition and the story connected with the dress. It is a beautifully preserved and passed down from mother to daughter to granddaughter to great granddaughter. It is a rare donation to receive a textile piece in such good condition.

Children's leather boot

Anna is the current Assistant Curator of Subiaco Museum, commencing in August 2024. Her favourite item from the collection is a leather children's boot found in the garden of 195 Townshend Road, Subiaco. It shows wear, holes and dirt build up and talks to childhood and the days gone by.