Ghost town: stories from the ruins 2023

In the 19th and 20th centuries, bustling towns sprang up across the vast Western Australian landscape. People came in their hundreds and sometimes thousands for the promise of gold, pearls or simply a secure job.

Prosperity in some towns meant community members enjoyed luxuries such as public swimming pools, hotels, and rail connections. There were hardships too, often a consequence of rapid growth of the settlements. Outbreaks of typhoid were common on the goldfields. Eventually, profits fell, technologies became obsolete, and harsh climates took their toll. Townspeople moved on, almost as quickly as they had arrived. Once-thriving settlements were left to ruin.

See photographs, plans and other documents from the state and national archival collections that bring ghost towns to life.

Discover why places such as Gwalia, Cossack and Wittenoom continue to capture the public's imagination in this free exhibition featuring stories of boom and bust.