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A historical photo of the Dulhi Gunyah Orphanage in East Victoria Park, circa 1911. Image is from the Western Mail, 23 December 1911, page 11.

Aboriginal family history information preserved in new index

Jan 28, 2026

Historic records detailing the experiences of Aboriginal children placed in the Dulhi Gunyah Orphanage in East Victoria Park between 1909 and 1919 have been preserved in a newly developed, searchable database.

Aboriginal History WA heads to the Midwest for family history road trip

Jul 7, 2025

Aboriginal History Western Australia (AHWA) and the State Library of Western Australia's Storylines will be hitting the road and heading to the Midwest this August to deliver free family history information sessions for First Nations peoples.

Map of Wadjemup prepared by surveyor A.J. Lewis

Online database sheds new light on Wadjemup/Rottnest Island incarcerations

Jan 31, 2025

A new online database with an interactive map is shedding new light on the historical incarceration of Aboriginal people on Wadjemup/Rottnest Island, enabling descendants to learn more about family members sent to the former prison.

Dot painting with fish. Text reads: Aboriginal History WA and Storylines are coming to the South West

Aboriginal History WA and the State Library take off on South West road trip

Jan 17, 2025

Team members from Aboriginal History Western Australia (AHWA) and the State Library of Western Australia’s Storylines will hit the road this February to hold free family history sessions in the South West

A small group of people listening to the presenter at an AHWA information session

Free Aboriginal ancestry and heritage sessions in Wheatbelt

Aug 8, 2024

First Nations people in the Wheatbelt have had the chance to learn about family history services available to them and were consulted about historic places at free ancestry sessions offered in the region this week.

Historical photo, Circa 1916 showing Aboriginal people gathering at the Carrolup Settlement for food distribution

New database establishes links to former Aboriginal settlement

May 26, 2024

We've released a searchable database of the men, women and children admitted to Carrolup Settlement between 1915 and 1922, and those who passed away and were buried at Carrolup or the nearby Katanning Cemetery up until 1949.

Wongi man Johnny Grey, also known as Pannican, is one of the many Trackers featured in the database. Considered one of the best Trackers of his time, Pannican worked for the police in the Laverton-Leonora area from 1942 to 1962.

Tracking down the history of WA’s Aboriginal Police Trackers

May 21, 2024

The names and details of more than 400 Aboriginal men who played a crucial role in tracking and wayfinding for Western Australian Police between 1931 and 1954 have been released.

Aboriginal dot painting with text: Aboriginal History WA and Storylines are coming to the Great Southern and Wheatbelt

Aboriginal History WA and Storylines take off on regional road trip

Mar 11, 2024

Team members from Aboriginal History Western Australia (AHWA) and the State Library of Western Australia's Storylines will be hitting the road this March to jointly hold free family history sessions in the Great Southern and Wheatbelt.

Left to right: Community Education Officer, Duane Kelly; AHWA client Roma Winmar and NITV journalist Kearyn Cox

National Indigenous TV help promote Aboriginal History Unit

Jan 11, 2024

Visitors to level 3 of the State Library had a surprise this week when a crew from National Indigenous TV came to film a story promoting the Aboriginal History WA

Mel Walley-Stack, Director of AHWA , Minister and Mark Chambers from AHWA looking at historical records.

New face-to-face space for Aboriginal people seeking family history

Dec 19, 2023

Aboriginal people who want to learn more about their family history now have a dedicated client space within the State Library to request ancestry information and research services.

Historical town blocks granted to Aboriginal people in Western Australia

Oct 2, 2023

A new database is now available, revealing town blocks purchased, leased and licensed by Aboriginal people throughout Western Australia between 1900 and 1960.

Remembering Mount Margaret Mission cover

Remembering Mount Margaret Mission’ sheds light on a history seldom told

Aug 4, 2022

A unique insight into the lives of Aboriginal children living at the Mount Margaret Mission, located on Wongatha land in the Goldfields-Esperance region, has been produced by the State Government’s Aboriginal History WA.

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