About WA Shipwrecks Museum
The WA Shipwrecks Museum is a maritime archaeology museum in Fremantle, Western Australia, housed in the 1850s Commissariat Building. Operated by the Western Australian Museum, it is recognised for its collection of artefacts from ships wrecked along the Western Australian coast, most notably the Dutch VOC ship Batavia wrecked in 1629. It presents Western Australia's maritime history through conserved hull timbers, artefacts and exhibitions.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect to explore galleries inside a restored 19th-century limestone Commissariat Building on the Fremantle waterfront. The museum displays original timbers and artefacts from the Batavia and other historic wrecks including the Vergulde Draeck, Zuytdorp and Rapid, along with exhibitions on maritime archaeology and conservation. The setting includes vaulted rooms, courtyard areas and interpretive displays that visitors can explore at their own pace or on guided tours.
Key highlights
- 01
Original timbers and reconstructed stern section of the Batavia (1629)
- 02
Artefacts from Dutch East India Company wrecks along the WA coast
- 03
Historic 1850s Commissariat Building - one of Fremantle's oldest buildings
- 04
Xantho steam engine and exhibits on maritime archaeology and conservation
- 05
Free galleries focused on Western Australia's shipwreck history