Everything you need to know before your visit to the Margaret River Historical Society at The Old Settlement Museum.
Visiting
The Historical Society is located at:
The Old Settlement
69 Bussell Highway
Margaret River WA 6285
The museum is nestled beside the river, next to The Hairy Marron Café. Access is via Higgins Street
Regular Opening Hours:
Tuesday: 10:00am – 12:30pm
Thursday: 1:30pm – 4:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Please note that hours are subject to availability of volunteers.
Yes, a small entrance fee applies.
This goes directly towards the preservation and maintenance of the museum and its collection. We are a volunteer-run organisation and every contribution helps protect Margaret River's heritage.
Access and parking is available at The Old Settlement via Higgins Street. Additional parking is available at Rotary Park on the opposite side of the river. A short, scenic walk across the footbridge brings you directly to the Old Settlement.
Opening hours on public holidays vary depending on volunteer availability. We recommend checking our Facebook page before visiting on or around a public holiday, or contacting us in advance.
Most visitors spend between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours exploring the museum and heritage buildings. If you plan to also walk the Margaret River Heritage Trail, visit Rotary Park, or grab a coffee at The Hairy Marron Café next door, allow at least half a day to make the most of it.
Yes, The Hairy Marron Café is located right next to the museum at the Old Settlement. It's a great spot for coffee and a meal before or after your visit. They also hire out mountain bikes if you'd like to explore the nearby trails.
School Groups & Tours
Absolutely but only by appointment. The Old Settlement is a wonderful destination for school excursions. Students can explore the old schoolroom, try everyday settler tasks, and discover what life was really like in early Margaret River. Our volunteer guides tailor the experience to your group's age and curriculum needs. Contact us for more information and bookings.
We welcome community groups, tourism groups, and other organisations. Please get in touch to discuss your requirements and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
Research & Our Collection
Yes, the Historical Society holds an extensive collection of local photographs, documents, and records relating to families and early settlers of the Margaret River region.
If you're researching your family's connection to the area, we encourage you to contact us.
A selection of our historical photographs is available to browse on our photo collections pages.
For access to specific records or documents not published online, please contact us directly.
We welcome donations of items relating to the history of Margaret River and the surrounding districts. If you have something you'd like to offer, please get in touch first so we can discuss whether it's a good fit for the collection and arrange a time to assess it.
Membership, Volunteering & Donations
Membership is open to anyone with an interest in the history of Margaret River and the surrounding districts. Visit our membership page for details on how to join and what membership includes.
We rely entirely on our wonderful volunteers to keep the museum running. Whether you'd like to help with guiding visitors, collections management, research, or maintenance, we'd love to hear from you. Visit our volunteering page to find out more.
Donations help us preserve and share Margaret River's unique history for future generations. You can make a contribution via our donate page. Every amount, large or small, makes a real difference to a volunteer-run organisation like ours.
Contact
We're happy to help. Get in touch and one of our volunteers will get back to you.