Museum Opening Hours:
10AM - 2PM Tuesday - Sunday
Closed Monday
As the pastoral industry developed in Carnarvon in the late 1800s the local population pressured the government of the day to develop a port for the town. By 1897 the jetty had been built and wool and livestock produced in the region began to be exported to Fremantle and essential goods for the town were imported using state shipping. In 1904 the head of the jetty was added and in 1912 the jetty head was widened because of increasing traffic, including passengers.
Carnarvon was the first port in Western Australia that loaded livestock on board ships for transport to markets.
The One Mile Jetty once boasted an animal race the length of the jetty along which the sheep and cattle were driven from holding yards where the Interpretive Centre is today. The jetty transport system and diesel locos on the tramway ceased in 1966 when state ships stopped calling. Road train transport commenced, and the jetty began to fall into disrepair until 1998 when the community banded together to save what is the longest jetty in the north of the state.
Although the jetty is currently closed, you can walk along the boardwalk through the mangroves and down to Dwyer’s Leap.
EXPERIENCES AT THE CARNARVON HERITAGE PRECINCT
Railway Station Museum - This museum houses the Kimberley Steam Train, which was brought down from Broome in the 1950’s. It was the last steam train to operate in the North West.
Shearing Hall of Fame - The Heritage Group in collaboration with The Gascoyne Pastoral and Shearing Museum Inc have opened Western Australia’s first Shearing Hall of Fame. Read about gun shearers and big sheds. Learn about the golden days of the Gascoyne shearing industry in the 1950s.
Light House Keepers Cottage - This museum is a cottage which was built around the 1900s to house the lighthouse keeper and his family and used until the 1970’s. The building has now been restored and houses memorabilia from bygone days.
One Mile Jetty Centre - The new One Mile Jetty Centre opened in April 2019. The centre is home to the HMAS Sydney II/ HSK Kormoran Display. This famous Australian battle off the Gascoyne Coast in 1941 is remembered and told in the Centre. You can also view one of the lifeboats in which 46 German survivors came ashore north of Carnarvon.
Follow the Carnarvon Heritage Group on Facebook www.facebook.com/carnarvonheritageprecinct.