The West Australian commemorates 190 years with exhibition at WA Museum Boola Bardip  

The West Australian has launched its immersive temporary exhibition commemorating its 190th anniversary at the WA Museum Boola Bardip. Launched over the weekend, the display will take visitors on a historical journey through the newspaper’s past.

For nearly two centuries, The West Australian has observed the State’s evolution, influence, and perspective on both global and domestic matters impacting its residents. As Australia’s second-oldest continuously published newspaper, it has authentically documented the essence of WA’s successes and challenges.

To commemorate this milestone, the exhibition will highlight The West Australian’s skilful ability to capture attention in a single moment. The front page, often with heated headlines, is about the art of storytelling.

From the early days, the West Australian newspaper used succinct, text-dominated headlines that were simple and direct, with messages like “ON SALE,” “CAUTION,” and “FIVE POUNDS REWARD.” In more recent times, the newspaper has adopted a bolder approach to headlines such as “NOVAK N’ WORRIES” for a story about a tennis star’s controversial stance on vaccination and “FAKE EWES” to address claims related to footage from live export ships being paid for.

The West Australian’s exhibition spotlights the newspaper’s enduring legacy and its transformation to the digital era, embracing video, online platforms, and multimedia storytelling for the future. With carefully selected artefacts, engaging interactive exhibits, and compelling stories, visitors will witness the newspaper’s dedication to unwavering journalism.

The West Australian 190 year exhibition will be running from Saturday 23 September 2023 to Sunday 28 January 2024 on Beaufort Link, Level 1 of the WA Museum Boola Bardip Perth Cultural Centre.

The showcase is included in general admission tickets.

Credits
Seven West Media
Chief Marketing Officer – Kate Molinari
Editorial Project Editor – Ross McRae
Digital Product Owner – Bethany Chismark
Event Manager – Leah O’Brien
Creative Spaces
Director – Rikki Clarke
Designer – Emma Walford
Exhibition Designer – Emily Drage
Creative Partner – Daniel Scarparolo