Nestled in the heart of Perth’s Heritage Precinct on Murray Street, just minutes from the city centre, the Royal Perth Hospital Museum offers a fascinating journey through Western Australia’s medical history. This hidden gem, located opposite the Old Central Fire Heritage Centre, showcases the remarkable evolution of WA’s longest-serving hospital since its 1855 opening.
What You’ll Experience
The museum serves as a time capsule of medical advancement, with rooms labelled according to their historical use. Marvel at the archive of patient records dating back to 1876, and explore collections of pharmacy items and medical equipment from the late 1800s to 1900s.
Visitors can examine a meticulously recreated historical operating room and learn about the Iron Lung Machine used by polio patient Paul Berry. The exhibits highlight WA’s contributions to global medical research and innovation across various specialities, including X-ray technology, HIV treatment, peptic ulcer research, cardiology, and burns treatment.
Notable Collections
One of the museum’s most treasured artefacts is a wooden case containing nationally significant Cold Cathode Tubes from circa 1896, imported by William John Hancock just one year after the discovery of X-rays. This equipment illustrates the hospital’s pioneering role in medical imaging development. Hancock, WA’s first radiologist, tragically lost fingers and eventually his life to radiation poisoning through his groundbreaking work.
Other highlights include:
- The Harry Stephenson Lucraft Photograph Collection (c.1940)
- Historical teaching aids spanning decades
- Original nurses’ uniforms displayed along corridors
- Custom-made medical devices
- A special exhibit on the History of Epidemics from the 1800s to COVID-19
Learn about remarkable figures like RPH-trained nurse and pilot Robin Miller, known as the “Sugarbird Lady,” and explore the evolution of nursing through an engaging collection of dolls dressed in historical nursing attire.
Visitor Information
- Location: Level 2, M Block, Murray Street, Perth WA 6000
- Opening Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 9am to 2pm
- Admission: Free
- Group Bookings: Available by appointment
- Contact: (08) 9224 3433
- Recommended For: Adults and children over 6 years (younger children might find some medical apparatus intimidating)
- Duration: Approximately one hour
While visiting, explore other highlights of the RPH Heritage Precinct, including the Kirkman House Nurses’ Quarters, the original 1855 Colonial Hospital building, and the magnificent 130-year-old Moreton Bay Fig Tree.
Getting There
The museum is easily accessible by:
- Car: Parking available at City of Perth Fire Station or Pier Street
- Train: Short walk from Perth Underground Station
- Bus: FREE RED CAT bus (stop 26 at Royal Perth Hospital)
Please note: Access to other parts of Royal Perth Hospital is prohibited without checking in at the main entries.
For more information, visit: rph.health.wa.gov.au/About-us/Museum
