There is much to explore at the Museum, housed in the first custom-built court house and oldest building in the city of Perth. The Museum is free to visit and invites the public to engage with the history of the Court House building and its vast social and legal interpretation. The Court House is a significant site nationally and internationally, recognised as the birthplace of British law, religion and education in Western Australia. Built seven years after the Swan River Colony established itself, the court house served as a court, school, church and civic hub.
The Museum has three permanent galleries; Judge’s Chambers, People and the Law and Past to Present. These galleries discuss Aboriginal, British and Australian law systems, the evolution of British Law into Australian law and important developments and changes to the legal system resulting from cultural evolution and social demand. Temporary displays are also exhibited in the Museum, shining a new light on items in the Museum’s collection connecting it to a variety contemporary themes and social issues.
Permanent Galleries
Court Room
Displayed as it would have looked in 1905, when it was used as the Arbitration Court, come and try out the Judge’s chair and imagine yourself presiding over trials!
Judges Chambers
Originally the Judge’s robing room and office, this gallery tells the story of the first 50 years of the building’s history.
People and the Law
Tells the stories of early trials, the clash between Aboriginal Lore and British Law, and how the legal system has evolved to form the system we use today.
From Past to Present
The law continues to change in response to society’s demands. This gallery reflects on whether Western Australian laws have evolved to meet community expectations.
Special Exhibitions
The Unfortunate Woman v Her Well-Respected Killer: A Domestic Violence Trial in 1876
The exhibition tells the story of the trials of Kenneth Brown; a scandal that rocked the community in 19th Century Western Australia. Brown’s victim and wife Mary Ann’s right to safety was eclipsed by social conventions and the reputation of her husband. This exhibition examines the social and legal perceptions around accountability and provocation in the prosecution and defence of Brown.
The Museum has collaborated with Edify Media and a team of experts to create a short film to accompany the exhibition and unpack issues prevalent in the case which are still relevant today.
Featured in the film are: The Honourable Lindy Jenkins, retired Supreme Court Justice and Chair of the Law Reform Commission; Dr Jennie Gray, CEO of Women’s Legal Service WA; Mark O’Hare, Deputy CEO of Stopping Family Violence; Dr Caroline Ingram, Historian and Museum Curator and Emeritus Professor Peter Handford, Law School, University of Western Australia.
- Opens Tuesday, 1 April 2025.
- Entry is FREE. Donations appreciated.
- Watch the Trailer.
A Just Legacy - Behind the Scenes: The Burt Family Collection
This exhibition documents the conservation focus on historic items in the Museum Collection from three generations of the Burt Family, whose legacy has shaped the evolution of Western Australia’s legal and governance systems. Journey behind the scenes with the Museum and discover how conservation, research and digitisation can unlock stories embedded in artifacts and enable continued connection and conversation. Find out more here.
- Open from 2 April 2024.
- Entry is FREE. Donations appreciated.
Events
The Unfortunate Woman: Panel Discussion
An expert panel will expand on themes of women’s access to justice and stereotypes surrounding family and domestic violence which were explored in The Unfortunate Woman v Her Well-Respected Killer exhibition at the Old Court House Law Museum.
Panellists:
- The Hon Lindy Jenkins, retired Supreme Court Justice and Chair of the Law Reform Commission
- Dr Jennie Gray, CEO of Women’s Legal Services WA
- Gail Beck, Executive Manager Cultural Integration, RUAH
- Mark O’Hare, Deputy CEO of Stopping Family Violence
- Tuesday, 20 May 2025
- 5.30pm - 7.30pm
- Old Court House Law Museum
- $25 per person. Limited seats
Guided Tour: If only walls could talk
Visit the Old Court House Law Museum on the first Friday of every month at 12:30pm for a free 20-minute tour of the Museum.
Discover the early history of Boorloo and the Swan River Colony through stories of early trials, scandals and social events that occurred within the building itself. We will take you through into the Museum rooms and share some highlights before taking any questions.
- First Friday of every month
- 12.30pm - 12.50pm
- Free. Bookings are recommended
School Holiday Activities
Why not have a go at these fun activities from home during the school holidays!
Whodunnit?
Can you describe a suspect and create an identikit picture? Work with a partner and see whose drawing most resembles the suspect’s mug shot.
Take turns to describe your suspect, use the tip sheet provided and prompt questions to make sure you gather as much information as possible.
Please note: children will be working with mug shots of real West Australian men and women taken in the 1920s and 1930s.
Building The Old Court House
Discover the architectural details of Perth’s oldest surviving building!
Decorate and create your own Old Court House!
