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 Bassendean  Exhibits  South-West Rail & Heritage  GM 1 Restoration Appeal  Restoration Midland

Calendar of upcoming Events @ Bassendean

 October 2022
 Sun  Mon  Tue  Wed  Thur  Fri  Sat
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-Railfest 2022
(10:00AM - 4:00PM) 
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-Museum Open
(1:00PM - 4:00PM) 
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-Museum Open
(1:00PM - 5:00PM) 
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-Museum Open
(1:00PM - 4:00PM) 
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-Museum Open
(1:00PM - 5:00PM) 
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-Museum Open
(1:00PM - 4:00PM) 
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-Museum Open
(1:00PM - 5:00PM) 
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-Museum Open
(1:00PM - 4:00PM) 
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-Museum Open
(1:00PM - 5:00PM) 
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NEW VALUE - ANNUAL MUSEUM PASS

Would you like to visit the Railway Museum more often? or would your child like to?).
You can fix a very reasonable price to visit as often as you like with an Annual Platform Ticket for a family for just $60.00 for a whole year.

For more information, download this form, or enquire at the museum.

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Museum's History

In the 1960s the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) had a small but significant collection of historical items that it displayed each year at the Royal Show. This collection was given on permanent loan to Rail Heritage WA for display in a future museum. The Society ran rail tours to raise funds and in 1969 serious work commenced to develop a museum to display the collection of locomotives, rollingstock and items of railway memorabilia that had been collected over the years.

There were no structures available but the WAGR assisted by laying rail trackage and loaning items for display. The Museum was opened in November 1974 on land generously donated by CSBP and Farmers in recognition of their ties with railways in WA.

In 1979 the Exhibition Building with its comprehensive display of photographs and ephemera was opened. The building also had a small office and archives / library.

The collection continued to grow beyond the early vision e.g. the founders had not considered that one day diesels would be preserved. Further land was obtained at the rear of the property - some by donation and another area was vested by the crown from a POS allocation. However the biggest problem was the exposure of the collection to the elements.

In 1991, using funds from the commercial lease of a locomotive purchased by the Society, the first section of roof cover for locomotives and rollingstock was constructed. In the following ten years three more stages were added but less than half the collection was undercover. Further roof cover for 'as is' vehicles was built in 2003 and 2004.

In 1992 Westrail (WAGR) made a formal donation to RHWA of all items on permanent loan. This included some items at Boyanup Museum as well. With the donation was a sum of $30,000 which was to be used to provide roof cover for the special service carriages.

There are several heritage structures relocated to the museum. These structures would otherwise have been destroyed and could not be left in situ. In 2005 a new entry building was opened - formerly an apprentice classroom at Midland Workshops, the front has been altered to look like a railway station. This is an attractive and functional addition to the museum.

The museum relies entirely on the voluntary efforts of the membership of Rail Heritage WA to undertake the massive task of restoration of exhibits and running the museum.

You are welcome to assist in the preservation of the unique rail heritage of Western Australia by becoming a volunteer or a member of the society.

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MUSEUM LOCATION

136 Railway Parade, Bassendean, Western Australia
Telephone: 08 9279 7189

If arriving by train use the Ashfield Railway Station on the Midland line.

OPEN TIMES

Please check the calendar on left for current hours.
School and group visits: Wednesday mornings (in addition to above times)
To arrange group bookings please contact:

ADMISSION

Adults $12.00, Concessions $9.00 and Children $5.00 (4 - 14 years).
(Children under 4 yrs free).

Party bookings

Our buffet car or dining car makes a great venue for your child's birthday party. Read all about it and download the form here.

Of course you can hold other functions as well, email: to discuss you ideas.

Railway Museum, Bassendean

The Railway Museum at Bassendean, Perth Western Australia is Western Australia's premier museum devoted to railway history. The collection is highly significant as it is the only such one in Western Australia that aims to tell the story of all railways across the state. Other collections focus on one aspect or a region.

The majority of the collection is from the Western Australian Government Railways. There are also items representative of the extensive timber lines and gold mines that operated in the state as well as the private lines such as the Midland Railway Company.

The collection spans the whole spectrum of railway history. From Katie which was placed in service in 1881 when the Fremantle to Guildford Railway was built through to more modern diesel locomotives. Therefore whether you are interested is the heavy freight V class steam locomotives or the tiny 20 inch gauge mine locomotive 'Freudie' there is something to interest you at the museum. Four different railway gauges are exhibited.
Special events and visiting stalls are a feature of the annual "Railfest" day, usually in October - see the museum calendar.

Various passenger carriages and freight wagons that formed an integral part of the railway scene can also be appreciated. A number of these date back to the 19th century. The 1947 "Australind" buffet car is loved by children when hired for their own private birthday party.

The exhibition building houses an extensive collection of railway artefacts and photographs telling the story of railways in Western Australia.

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