Collections

We are custodians of a large moveable heritage collection that comprises a wide range of artefact types including artworks; furniture; documents and books; decorative art; photographs; and more.

The most significant artefacts in our collection are those with direct provenance to the heritage places in our portfolio. These objects provide evidence of, and offer a tangible connection to, the people associated with our heritage places and provide additional avenues for interpretation. There are many more artefacts of considerable significance in our care that illuminate broader stories of Western Australia’s heritage.

Our aim is to develop and manage the collection in a way that reinforces and reflects the themes and stories of our places; use it to the fullest of its potential to explore a wide range of historical subjects and contemporary issues; and consider how it can be future oriented while also interpreting the past. We are committed to the imaginative use of our collection and as resources permit, we will continue to develop collections-based programs, so it serves as a source of discovery and delight for the community now and in the future.

We are continually working to add to our understanding of the artefacts in our collection and to make them accessible online. Get in touch if you have information to share or want to find out more.

You can browse the Curtin Family Home collection by clicking the link below. The Curtin Family Home collection forms part of a unique record of former prime minister John Curtin’s life and reflects the modest style of the family home in Cottesloe. It underlines the austerity that had always prevailed in the Curtin household. The collection holds historic, social and cultural significance and is representative of the furnishing of a typical middle class dwelling of the 1930s-1940s period.

International Conservation Services are Official Conservators to the National Trust of Western Australia and support us in caring for our collection as an in-kind sponsor.