I'm a History Buff: Explore Armadale's incredible museums and local history

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So Perth
26 October 2017

 

I’m a History Buff

The Armadale Perth Hills region is home to several unique museums displaying unique artefacts, vintage machinery and local history.

The Armadale Perth Hills region is home to several unique museums displaying unique artefacts, vintage machinery and local history.

Step back in time as you immerse yourself in yesteryear.

In the heart of Armadale you’ll find History House Museum, the museum collects and displays items that relate to the history of the City of Armadale, you’ll also find exciting exhibitions that are updated regularly.

Attached to the Perth Hills Armadale Visitor Centre is the Bert Tyler Vintage Machinery Museum, marvel at this rare collection of twentieth century engines and learn about the history of communications in the replica Post Office.

Venture further into the historic town of Jarrahdale to visit the Parolos Garage and Machinery Museum to check out 20th century cars and the Hugh Manning Tractor Museum to see over 60 tractors throughout the ages, many restored to full working order.

There are many churches located within the Armadale region, the oldest dating back to 1871. Learn about the regions early settlers as you visit each site and admire architecture through the ages.

The first church built in the region was St Mary’s in the Valley. It was constructed by Thomas Buckingham Junior, who made over 10,000 bricks with local clay. The church was sadly demolished in 1963 to make way for a modern larger church. You can still visit the site as well as the adjoining cemetery.

In 1903 the first church in Armadale was built, in 1988 the Armadale Congregational Church was dismantled to make way for a shopping centre, the local community was able to save all the pieces and the church was rebuilt brick by brick, it now stands today in the Minnawarra Historic Precinct.

Many of the regions parks have been established to commemorate passages throughout time.

Pack a picnic and head to one of our favourite historic picnic spots.

Kelmscott’s Migrant Park was created in 2004 to honour the site of Reserve 2121 on the corner of Bernard Street and Brookton Highway, one of many post-war migrant camps and the first home of many of the district’s residents.

The place is associated with the many displaced people who began new lives in the Armadale-Kelmscott area under the UN Refugee Resettlement Scheme established after WWII.

Many of the camps residents worked on the Metropolitan Water Supply pipe link upgrade between the Canning Dam and Perth, a memorial is now located at the park as a tribute to the lives of those who lived there.

Visiting Armadale Perth Hills Region? Make sure you use hashtag #VisitArmadale on Instagram and you could in win great prizes, including an overnight stay at Heritage Country Hotel, restaurant vouchers and much more.

The historic town of Jarrahdale has a rich history and many historical places of interest.

Start your day in Jarrahdale at the Old Post Office Museum, built in 1896 the Old Post Office is a local treasure providing information on the regions history as well as a large collection of historical records and photos.

Visit the centenary log, commemorating 100 years of logging in Jarrahdale, and the Indicator Pole, whose structure demonstrates the height and width of jarrah trees originally found in the forest.

For the more adventurous, follow in his footsteps and head to Roley Pool Reserve to find his infamous hideout.

Dine at Ye Olde Narrogin Inne

The origins of the Narrogin Inne date back to 1856 when it was built as a wayside inn for travellers making the journey from Perth to Albany or Bunbury.

The Inne holds one of the oldest liquor licenses in Western Australia.

Back then only men were allowed to drink indoors while women and children rested outside on a grassy slope called “Teetotallers Hall”.

Over the years the Inne has changed hands many times and was even the location of the murder of proprietor William Foster in 1874.

These days the Inne serves up tasty affordable pub grub in a laid-back casual environment.