Art Gallery of Western Australia Perth Cultural Centre, James Street, Northbridge Tel: (08) 9492 6600 Information Line: (08) 9492 6622 Open daily 10am - 5pm Admission is free to the permanent collection. Charges apply for most visiting exhibitions. The Art Gallery of Western Australia has a wide variety of both Australian and international paintings, sculptures, prints, crafts and decorative arts. It also contains a large section dedicated to Aboriginal art, which is probably one of the finest collections in Australia. As well as the permanent collection, there are numerous exhibitions form interstate and overseas. Free guided tours of the Gallery are available. There is also a gallery shop on the premises where you can purchase books, gifts, cards and souveniers.

Perth Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA) 51 James Street, Northbridge Tel: (08) 9227 9339 Open Tuesday to Sunday - 11am - 8pm PICA is home to a variety of contemporary art and design projects and exhibitions. Admission is free.

The Photography Gallery of Western Australia 53 James Street, Northbridge Tel: (08) 9227 6620 Open Wednesday to Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday & Sunday 12noon - 5pm The Photography Gallery is dedicated to displaying photographs using different mediums, such as black and white and computer manuipulated images. Each month features a new exhibition, and most works are available for sale. Admission is free.

Craftwest Centre for Contemporary Craft 357 Murray Street, Perth Tel: (08) 9325 2799 Open Monday to Friday 10am - 5pm Saturdays 10am - 5pm The Craftwest Centre is an amazing reflection of the talented artisans Western Australia has to offer. Using mediums such as metal, wood, glass, textile and ceramics, these craftspeople create a diverse display of jewellery, clothing, cards and sculptures. Most items are for sale. Admission is free.

Artist In Residence Gallery The Lookout, Fraser Avenue, Kings Park Tel: (08) 9481 7082 Open daily 9am - 5:30pm This gallery specialises in the art and craft of Western Australia's Indigenous people. Every piece is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. You may also watch the current artist in residence at work. Creative Native 32 King Street, Perth Tel: 9322 3398 Open Monday to Thursday 9am - 5:30pm Friday 9am-9pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 11am - 5pm This gallery offers a large range of art and artifacts, Aboriginal design clothing, pottery, carved emu eggs, scarves, a large range of didgeridoos, Akubra hats, sheep skin products, bags and jewellery.

Western Australian Museum James Street Mall Tel: (08) 9427 2700 Open 7 days a week - 9:30 - 5pm Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day This is Western Australia's largest and most comprehensive museum with a large range of exhibitions on Natural Science, including Mammal, Bird, Butterfly, Dinosaur and Marine Galleries, and Social and Cultural history exhibitions, including a fantastic Aboriginal Gallery. There is a bookshop and also a cafe site. Admission is free.

Francis Burtlaw Museum - The Old Court House, Stirling Gardens Cnr Barrack Street & St Georges Terrace, Perth Tel: (08) 9325 4787 Open Monday to Friday - 10am - 2:30pm The Old Court House has been used in the past for a variety of purposes, including a church and a schoolhouse. Today it is both a museum and an education centre. Admission is Free.

The Old Mill, situated at Mill Point, which has managed to retain its charm is a quaint fairytale relic. This mill ground the colonies first flour and now houses a collection of pioneering bull-carts and period artefacts in its own pretty grounds. Stirling Gardens, on the corner of Pier Street, with its 'Ore Obelisk' sculpture, symbolises W.A.'s mineral diversity. The ornate Gothic 1860's Government House is also nearby.

The Perth Mint is Australia's precious metals mint and is open to the public. You can watch a gold pouring demonstration, mint their own medallions and see a unique display of coins, gold nuggets, beautiful jewellery and souvenirs. The old Courthouse, the colonies oldest surviving building is also in these gardens.

Visit St George's Cathedral, located in St Georges Terrace. Not only a place of worship for Anglicans, but a beautiful example of English Victorian Gothic Revival.

Fremantle Prison is on W.A.'s premier heritage list. It was the last convict prison to be built in Australia. It is situated on 6 hectares and over looks the historical and charmiung port city of Fremantle. It is the longest and tallest cellblock to be built in the Southern Hemisphere. Guided tours include magnificent works of art featured on cell walls, an escape proof cell, chapels, gallows where 44 people were hung and a selection of reconstructed cells. It is open daily 10-5, and tours depart every ½ hour. They also offer candlelight tours on Wednesday and Friday nights from 7:30, however booking for this is essential.

The W.A. Maritime Museum is also situated in Fremantle. It displays maritime history including some of the many ancient shipwrecks of the WA coastline. The Batavia wreck of 1629 is being reconstructed from timber and shows other artefacts retrieved from the sea. It is open daily 9:30am-5pm.

Scitech Discovery centre features over 160 interactive exhibits, good fun for all the family. It is located at City West, Railway Parade and is just a short train ride from the city. Also next to Scitech, is Omni theatre, which shows interesting science and nature films on a giant screen. A good idea is to get adjoining tickets for Omni and Scitech.

Museum of Childhood, Edith Cowan University - Claremont. A compreshesive collection and childhood memorabilia and hands-on displays refelecting growing up experiences in Australia. Explore the lives of children in a bygone era through displays of toys, dolls and games, home life, school life and growing up.