WA Shipwrecks Museum
45 Cliff St., Fremantle, Perth, Western Australia, 6160
Learn about Western Australia’s long and unfortunate history of nautical disasters at the WA Shipwrecks Museum in Fremantle. This destructive heritage is illustrated through exhibits with reported accounts and recovered items, including coins and cannons, as well as the remains of the VOC ship Batavia, whose reconstructed stern fills an entire museum gallery.
The basics
Visitors can explore the exhibits at the WA Shipwrecks Museum at their own pace, discovering stories of Dutch explorers and merchant vessels and learning how archaeologists identify wrecks through their recovered items. Depending on your level of interest, expect to spend one or two hours at the museum. Afterward, you can continue your self-guided dive into Fremantle’s history at the Round House or head to the harbor for some food at the waterfront restaurants there.
Things to know before you go
Admission to the museum is free of charge, but donations are welcome.
A free guided tour of the museum is offered once in the morning and once in the afternoon; there’s no need to reserve your spot.
The museum provides barrier-free access to its entrance and upper level via a ramp and elevator. A wheelchair is available for loan if needed.
There are no luggage storage facilities or coatrooms at the museum, so do not bring large bags when you visit.
How to get there
The WA Shipwrecks Museum is located a short walk or bike ride from both the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour and Fremantle city center. You should be able to walk to the museum in roughly 10 minutes from most central locations. Alternatively, you can take the Transperth 532 bus route from Fremantle station; hop off at the South Terrace Fremantle Markets stop, about a 9-minute walk from the museum.
When to get there
While the WA Shipwrecks Museum is open daily throughout the year, it does close its doors for some public holidays. The museum is generally much busier on weekends, so try to visit on a weekday if possible. School groups often come to the museum in the morning just before lunch, so you may find it quieter if you wait until the mid-afternoon to come.
The WA Maritime Museum
Don’t confuse the WA Shipwrecks Museum with the WA Maritime Museum, another nautical–themed museum found by Fremantle’s waterfront. Whereas the WA Shipwrecks Museum focuses on maritime archaeology, the WA Maritime Museum showcases the state’s broader seafaring history. Inside, you can walk through a wartime submarine and look at exhibits on the exploration of Antarctica and Australia’s achievements in the sport of sailing.
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