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Museum and Local History Collection

Museum and Local History Collection
Photograph of Botanist Alex George in his garden.

About Museum and Local History Collection

Our museum and local history team collect and preserve historical information and artefacts that capture and document the stories and rich history of this area. The collection is home to a large number of items including photographs, objects, maps and building plans, rates books, electoral rolls, costumes, documents and media, and audio recordings including oral histories. 

Materials from the collection are used to inspire exhibitions, storytelling and artists in special events that acknowledge and celebrate the history of the area now known as the City of Melville. 

Image: Alexander (Alex) George AM, Australian botanist in his backyard. Discover oral histories presented by Alexander George, discussing botany and environment in the City of Melville with interviewers Kaylene Poon and Zoe Williamson in our oral history collection.
A gallery room painted green with writing on one wall, mirrors on another wall and a tea trolley in the middle of the room.

View the Collection

Objects, photographs and stories from the collection are displayed from time to time across our museum, galleries, libraries, community and recreation centres, and the Civic Centre as part of curated exhibitions and special events. 
 
View the digitised collection online by searching our museum collections catalogue.
 
Explore Museum and Local History Collection
 
Explore a selection of stories and social history from City of Melville residents, organisations, events, places and businesses, including records from the Point Heathcote Reception Centre through Collections WA - a collection of cultural, creative and community stories from Western Australian.
 
View Collections WA HIGHLIGHTS

Image: TILT exhibition 2023, 'The beautiful is useful' by Lisa Liebetrau and Shannon Lyons, investigating the history of the Point Heathcote Reception Home

Black and white photograph of a man (Clem Booth) sitting on a motorcycle and woman (Rose Shorthouse) standing beside him. A house can be seen behind.

Local History Service

Our museum and local history team are available to assist you in conducting research about local or family history, through the historical information and resources available in the collections.

Some of these resources include:

  • Artefacts and photographs (small fee to supply copies of photographs for research, presentation, or personal use)
  • Oral history interviews and transcriptions
  • Newspaper articles
  • Maps and building plans
  • History publications about the City of Melville and the Melville area
  • General information about local history and ancestry organisations, as well as genealogy research contacts

To make a request or enquire about our local history collection, please contact us via email localhistory@melville.wa.gov.au or complete an enquiry form using the button below.

Enquire about our local history collection
Image: Clem Booth (the Melville postman) sitting on a motorcycle and woman (Rose Shorthouse) standing beside him, Palin Street, Palmyra, 1926 - courtesy Melville Historical Society

A red nurses cape from the 1960s laid out on a black background.

Using our Images

If you would like to display or publish images from the collection, please complete an enquiry form using the button below.

Low resolution images found in the online catalogue are available for study or research purposes only. A small fee may apply to supply copies of high resolution photographs for research, presentation or personal use. Please contact us for more information through the form below.

Enquire about using our Local History Collection Images

Image: H2009.4 from the Heathcote Collection - A red nurses' cape worn by Nurse Nalda Searle during her time working as a nurse at Point Heathcote Reception Home 

Collection in Focus

Collection in Focus

  • Photograph - Canning Road, Bicton, 1934 - see description belowPhotograph - Canning Road, Bicton, 1934 - see description below
  • Items from Point Heathcote Reception Home - see descriptions belowItems from Point Heathcote Reception Home - see descriptions below
  • Photograph - No. 12 Tram, Marmion Street Terminus, 1950 - see description belowPhotograph - No. 12 Tram, Marmion Street Terminus, 1950 - see description below
  • Stopwatches - Melville Swimming Club - see description belowStopwatches - Melville Swimming Club - see description below
  • Photograph of old Applecross Jetty and glass beer jug from Majestic Hotel  - see description belowPhotograph of old Applecross Jetty and glass beer jug from Majestic Hotel - see description below
  • Photograph - Canning Road, Bicton, 1934 - see description below
  • Items from Point Heathcote Reception Home - see descriptions below
  • Photograph - No. 12 Tram, Marmion Street Terminus, 1950 - see description below
  • Stopwatches - Melville Swimming Club - see description below
  • Photograph of old Applecross Jetty and glass beer jug from Majestic Hotel  - see description below
  • Description: Black and white photograph of the view along Canning Road/Highway, Bicton from east of the junction with Preston Point Road looking east. Two cars are driving along the road. The Applecross Wireless Station mast can be seen in the background. Land on either side of the road is undeveloped.
  • Descriptions (left to right):
    1) Tea Trolley, Heathcote Hospital, c.1940s - small metal and wood veneer trolley with two trays - top tray is removable and four wheels. 
    2) Magazine Stand - The Log Magazine, Heathcote Hospital, c.1930s - small red painted plywood newsletter box with slot and lid for money '10c'. 'HEATHCOTE / HOSPITAL / THE LOG' painted onto front. The base is made of two intersecting plywood feet. The Log was a magazine produced at Heathcote Reception Home.
    3) Clock tower mechanism, Heathcote Hospital c.1930 - the original clock mechanism used in the clock tower at Heathcote Hospital. Consists of (a) green-iron frame clock mechanism 'Pulsynetic', with brass cogs, (b) weights and (c) metal shaft used for holding weights.
    4) Light Cover - Swan Ward - light covers reading 'SWAN WARD' with black print.
  • Description: Black and white photograph of Point Walter electric tram (No12) at the Marmion Street Terminus (Corner McKimmie St). The tram has a destination sign 'Marmion' in the front window and a box with a large 'M' above the front window. There is one house visible on the right side of the road and two electrical poles. The tram tracks run down the left side of the road with overhead wires for power to the tram.
  • Description: Two stopwatches in a satin lined wooden box (c). One Heyer black stopwatch with brown string (a) and one silver stopwatch black cotton (b).
  • Descriptions (left to right):
    1) Photograph of old Applecross Jetty and Majestic Hotel - black and white photograph of the ruins of the old Applecross Jetty, showing pylons in the water. In the background are two houses close to the river and the Majestic Hotel on the top of Point Dundas.
    2) Glass beer jug with 'Hotel Majestic' engraved into the glass c. 1964

    Historical information: Perhaps one of the most loved hotels in Melville due to its tranquil location was the Majestic Hotel, which was demolished in 1989. Situated on Point Dundas (Aboriginal name Moundaup), it was originally named the Hotel Melville, and was built by A.P Matheson in 1897 to entice landowners to the Applecross foreshore. In 1912 it was described as one of the finest residential hotels in the Commonwealth, with a dining room capable of seating 100 people, in addition to drawing, reading and smoking rooms. It was renamed The Majestic by licensee Thomas Stack in 1925, and remained in his family until it closed its doors in 1981. During World War 2 it was used as a rest point for American forces. After 1981, it endured mixed fortunes, until it was finally purchased by the Bond Corporation which used it as a centre for the America’s Cup Challenge in the 1980s, before demolishing it for redevelopment. The hotel site, being perched upon an idyllic point adjacent to the river, was also used as a favourite picnic spot where people would enjoy crabbing, fishing and prawning.
Three old knitted dolls from the Heathcote collection

Find Out More

If you have any contributions to share, or would like more information about the Museum and Local History Collection and services, please get in touch with the Museums and Local History team via email at melville.museums@melville.wa.gov.au.

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