Kalamunda and Districts Historical Society Inc. formed in 1969 with a founding goal of establishing a local museum on a suitable site. The museum, Kalamunda History Village was opened in 1971 at the historic Kalamunda Railway Station (pictured above and National Trust listed) – part of the former Upper Darling Range Railway. There are now 14 relocated and purpose-built buildings on the one hectare site. In the same year, the Society took over restoration and management of Stirk Cottage – the first residence in the town built in 1881.The Society manages the museum under a lease agreement with the Shire of Kalamunda which employs 3 part time staff as attendants and for public programmes.
The Society promotes the collection, preservation, research, publication and interchange of historical material in the Shire of Kalamunda. It is active with displays and presentations for local events and a popular education programme that attracts over 6,000 school children a year. The main history of the district relates to the timber, quarrying, orchard and guest house industries with steam train transport. Open hours all week except for Thursday – 10-3
Membership in 2016 is 165, with approximately 30 active volunteers involved weekly in collection management, interpretation, research, maintenance of buildings and grounds, oral history interviews and public programmes. Another 25 volunteers assist monthly rosters, term school holiday programmes. Our collections and oral interviews are being recorded digitally
We have a monthly newsletter, a Heritage Walk brochure and “Picture Kalamunda” is an on-line heritage image Library