WA Museum Boola Bardip

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WA Museum Boola Bardip

Museum

WA Museum Boola Bardip is Western Australia's state museum in the Perth Cultural Centre, housing natural history, Indigenous and maritime collections and new interactive galleries. Travellers come for the heritage buildings, large specimens and family-friendly exhibits.

WA Museum Boola Bardip PerthKalgoorlieAlbany, Western AustraliaMandurahBunbury, Western AustraliaBroome, Western AustraliaGeraldtonEsperance, Western AustraliaWA Museum Boola Bardip

WA Museum Boola Bardip essentials

Address: Perth Cultural Centre, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

WA Museum Boola Bardip is the state museum of Western Australia, located in the Perth Cultural Centre in Perth. The redeveloped museum reopened on 21 November 2020 and is built around five heritage buildings, including the Old Perth Gaol and Hackett Hall, which now displays a blue whale skeleton nicknamed Otto.

The institution traces its origins to 1891 when the Geological Museum opened in the Old Gaol; over time collections expanded to include ethnology, biology, archaeology and maritime archaeology. The Western Australian Museum now operates several regional branches and continues research and conservation work from collection centres.

Visiting the new museum feels like a mix of old and new: restored 19th-century architecture surrounds contemporary galleries with immersive displays on Earth and space, WA biodiversity, and Indigenous histories and cultures. Exhibitions are broad and often family-friendly, and the site is a good starting point for exploring other cultural institutions in the precinct.

  • Blue whale skeleton ("Otto"): A large blue whale skeleton installed in Hackett Hall, brought out of long-term storage for the new museum display.
  • Old Perth Gaol: A restored 19th-century gaol included in the museum complex that provides historic architecture and context for early museum collections.
  • Indigenous galleries: Galleries that present the histories, cultures and living connections of Aboriginal peoples of Western Australia.
  • Natural history and Earth displays: Exhibits that cover WA’s geological story, new species discoveries and dinosaur and planetary themes introduced in the redevelopment.
  • Interactive and family zones: Hands-on galleries and discovery spaces designed for children and families to explore science and heritage.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit WA Museum Boola Bardip#

The museum is mainly indoors so it can be visited year-round, but seasonal weather affects comfort for walking around the city and nearby outdoor attractions. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for combining the museum with outdoor sightseeing.

Spring (best)
September - November · 10°C - 25°C (50°F - 77°F)
Mild, drier weather makes walking between cultural sites pleasant and is a comfortable time to visit the city as well as the museum.
Summer (hot and dry)
December - February · 16°C - 31°C (61°F - 88°F)
Summer brings hot, dry conditions; the museum's indoor galleries provide a good respite from midday heat, but plan outdoor activities for mornings or evenings.
Winter (wet)
May - August · 10°C - 22°C (50°F - 72°F)
Winter is the wettest season with cooler days and more rain; galleries remain fully open but expect wetter conditions for any outdoor travel between sites.

Weather & Climate near WA Museum Boola Bardip#

Climate

WA Museum Boola Bardip's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with warm summers (peaking in February) and cool winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 10°C to 31°C. Moderate rainfall (766 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 27 Good
Best Time to Visit
JanuaryDecemberFebruary
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
38°
Warmest Month
8°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Ideal 18° - 31° 24° 14 mm mostly sunny 65% 5.8 m/s 3.2 extreme 13.8h
February Ideal 19° - 31° 25° 18 mm mostly sunny 65% 5.2 m/s 2.8 extreme 13.1h
March Ideal 17° - 29° 23° 16 mm mostly sunny 65% 5.0 m/s 2.1 extreme 12.1h
April Excellent 15° - 25° 20° 37 mm some cloud 69% 4.1 m/s 1.3 high 11.2h
May Very Good 12° - 22° 17° 97 mm partly cloudy 69% 4.2 m/s 0.8 moderate 10.4h
June Good 10° - 19° 15° 154 mm partly cloudy 71% 4.2 m/s 0.5 moderate 10.0h
July Good 10° - 18° 14° 159 mm partly cloudy 73% 4.1 m/s 0.6 moderate 10.2h
August Good 10° - 18° 14° 114 mm partly cloudy 74% 4.6 m/s 0.8 moderate 10.9h
September Very Good 10° - 20° 15° 77 mm partly cloudy 74% 4.9 m/s 1.3 high 11.8h
October Excellent 12° - 22° 17° 45 mm some cloud 73% 4.6 m/s 1.9 very high 12.7h
November Ideal 14° - 25° 20° 27 mm some cloud 69% 5.0 m/s 2.5 extreme 13.6h
December Ideal 16° - 29° 22° 8 mm mostly sunny 65% 5.2 m/s 3.1 extreme 14.0h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to WA Museum Boola Bardip#

The museum is in the Perth Cultural Centre in the heart of the city of Perth. Perth Airport is the nearest major airport; the museum is in the central business district and reachable from the airport by taxi, rideshare or public transport services into the city.

From within the city the museum is a short walk from central train and bus services and from nearby pedestrian streets; taxis and rideshares can drop visitors at the Cultural Centre. For exact routes and accessibility options, check local public-transport timetables and maps.

Tips for Visiting WA Museum Boola Bardip#

  • Check opening days and any ticketing or timed-entry requirements for special exhibitions before you go.
  • Combine a visit with nearby cultural sites such as the Art Gallery of Western Australia which is in the same precinct.
  • Allow at least two to three hours to see major galleries and the Old Perth Gaol; family visits may take longer if using discovery zones.
  • The museum is largely indoors and has accessible facilities, but check access details for specific heritage buildings or temporary exhibits.