This special family night was the final event in our Western Australian Heritage Festival, supported by Lotterywest.
We welcomed around 90 people to the Old Observatory to have our belated celebration to mark 125 years since the building’s completion. The event had originally been planned for November last year but wet weather delayed us by a few months. Thank you to all our ticket holders for your patience!
The evening included a freshly cooked meal from Mr Paella, live jazz from Tayah Crothers and Luke Geha courtesy of Vivid Music, games on the lawn for kids and a photobooth complete with props to create photographs reprising the originals taken of Observatory staff in the early twentieth century.
We also screened our new short film about the history of the Old Observatory, which was funded by Lotterywest as part of our Western Australian Heritage Festival.
The evening ended with a talk on astronomy from the Perth Observatory and the opportunity to view the moon and planets through telescopes bought here by Perth Observatory volunteers.
The role of the National Trust is to conserve and interpret the heritage places we manage on behalf of the community and government of Western Australia. Thanks to Lotterywest, it is through events like this that we can raise awareness and appreciation of our state’s precious heritage.
Thanks to everyone who came along on the evening to support us and have a great time. We hope we see you again!
Watch the short film
Watching the skies: A brief history of Perth’s Old Observatory
One of Western Australia’s most majestic heritage buildings was formerly the Government Astronomer’s residence and offices. It was central to the operations of the original Perth Observatory.
The Old Observatory, as we call it today, is located at the summit of Mt Eliza and currently serves as the central office of the National Trust of Western Australia. It is surrounded by Dumas House, Hale House, the Constitutional Centre and Parliament House.
Rarely open to the public, this short film provides a unique view inside this historic building and uncover some of its hidden stories.
