The 9 best galleries and museums in Perth

You’ll find Western Australia’s state art gallery (AGWA) perched nice and conveniently in the centre of the Perth Cultural Precinct. Easily accessible by public transport, and right in the middle of the city, this gallery houses a range of works from commissioned contemporary Aboriginal Art to the likes of Sidney Nolan and Lucian Freud. A trip to this central gem isn’t complete without ascending to the renovated rooftop area complete with stunning panoramic views of Perth’s city skyline and an open-air sculpture walk. The rooftop is actually the largest in the land (Perth, that is), accommodating up to 400 gallery-goers to be exact.

Ensconced in a heritage-listed 19th-century warehouse building in the historic port city of Fremantle, the two-storey Japingka Aboriginal Art Gallery proudly showcases the work of First Nations artists from WA and across the length and breadth of the country. The directors work in conjunction with communities, Elders and both the Aboriginal Art Association of Australia and the Federal Government’s Indigenous Art Code to ensure all works displayed are ethically and consciously procured. You can expect to clock eyes on works old and new from the likes of Genevieve Loy, Gabriella Possum, Sarrita King and Gloria Petyarre.

Meet the new kid on the (arts precinct) block. While the Perth Cultural Centre may ooze charm from its red brick and old-timey buildings, the WA Museum Boola Bardip was meant to stand out with its edgy modern architecture that interconnects and wraps around its older neighbours. Opening in 2020, Boola Bardip means “many stories” in the language of the Nyoongar people native to the area. The museum houses eight galleries, each with its own distinct area to explore. While many of these are reserved for showcasing Western Australia’s rich history, incredible flora and fauna and Aboriginal Culture, the museum also plays host to a whole heap of travelling exhibitions like antiques from the Netherlands or relics from Ancient Egypt. 

Ever reminisced about Space Invaders on the Atari 2600, Crash Bandicoot on PS1, or wanted to throw it right back with a round of Pong? Make a beeline for Australia’s only interactive video game console museum, where you can go behind the scenes and read up on the history of the consoles before hitting the controllers. The Nostalgia Box has a showcase of around 100 consoles, hailing all the way from the 1970s through to the 2000s. And they're not just for show – in the interactive games arena, you can actually try your hand on the controllers and see if muscle memory is enough to get you over the line on your old-school favourites.

Dive deep into the riches of WA’s maritime history from the state’s dedicated sea museum, located on the sparkly waterfront of the Indian Ocean in Fremantle. You can trek through time with a free highlights tour, hosted daily at 10.30am and 2.30pm, where you’ll learn about the museum’s most historic and significant objects, including the America’s Cup-winning yacht, Australia II and Jon Sanders’ Parry Endeavour. The museum sits atop the water’s edge and represents Fremantle’s significance as a port town. If gazing out across endless blue waters isn’t enough to kick off your nautical expedition, (pretend to) submerge yourself by entering the skeleton of a former Australian Navy submarine.

Despite its last detainees only moving out in the 1990s, Fremantle Prison has a wealth of history dating back to its creation in 1855. It was erected by convicts who arrived at Fremantle Harbour by boat in 1850 as they chipped away at limestone blocks. If building their own confinement wasn’t trialling enough, convicts were actually encouraged to dig tunnels far below the prison to access a freshwater source. Nowadays you can (and should) opt to chuck on a pair of overalls and descend down the ladder system to the tunnels and explore them in tiny little replica boats. It is one of the largest convict prisons in the world that you can visit, after all. May as well make the most of it and explore every nook and cranny…

Raised up on a tree-shrouded hill looking out to the harbour, the beautiful limestone arches and towers of the historic Fremantle Arts Centre (FAC) are a gorgeous spot to have a picnic, see a play, explore art and history exhibitions, and attend film screenings and comedy nights. But you might find a fair few of the staff have a spooky story to tell. FAC was built as an asylum by convicts in the 1860s, and there’s many a terrible tale soaked into the old stones. Home to several studios for artist residences, it's a place where there’s always something exciting happening. When summer rolls around, the south lawn jumps to the beat of brilliant gigs.

The beautiful red brick heritage home of the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) houses a hotbed of multi-disciplinary goodness. Once the Perth Central School, these days the beloved Cultural Centre institution celebrates visual art, music, dance, live performance and so much more. By bringing together a wide variety of creative minds, the idea is that they bounce off one another and inspire even more excellence behind the scenes. Both a production hub and a place to present, experimentation is key. That means PICA is one of the best spots in Perth to catch boundary-pushing theatre, live performances, intriguing debates and exhilarating exhibitions. A home to some of the city’s finest minds, from emerging artists to veterans of the scene, it’s all about imagining an exciting future. And where better to debrief over a glass of something and some nibbles than at PICA Bar and Café?

With a world of STEM waiting to be questioned, prodded at and tested, Scitech awaits both locals and tourists (young and old!), alike. The science centre-cross-learning hub is putting itself at the forefront of the future of science, exploring everything from astronomy to biomechanics. You can rest assured that immersive experiences come by the dozen as soon as you step through the door of the giant dome-shaped building, so roll your sleeves up and prepare to get stuck into the workshops a la jour. Australia’s largest planetarium will take you on a stellar trip of our solar system, while there are demonstrations to be seen and stories to be heard at the Chevron Science Theatre.