About this place
What to expect
If you are looking for a museum with a difference whilst in Coolgardie, visit Ben Prior Park - Open Air Museum. Featuring a collection of machinery collected by the museum’s namesake, you will gain an appreciation of the life led by the early settlers of this gold-mining town. Much of the collection was owned by the pioneers of the town during the gold rush of the late 1800s. See the steam engine used in the mines, view the wagons driven by the town’s citizens and examine an array of equipment used by the town’s residents in their homes and whilst out looking to discover gold. With a nature playground for the kids and a gazebo and picnic table facilities, enjoy a break from your travels with a visit to this unique outdoor museum. Learn more about this fascinating town that carved a significant mark in Australia’s history by visiting various other museums in the area. These include Warden’s Court which houses the town’s official museum, Warden Finnerty’s House which captures the life of one of the town’s early residents and the Old Coolgardie Railway Station. Coolgardie is a six-hour drive southeast of Perth.