Eyre Bird Observatory Museum

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A cosy natural history museum and bird observatory on the Great Australian Bight.

Visit a museum and bird observatory in one of the most isolated places in the world. Unwind, relax and take in the natural beauty and the natural history collection. The one-room museum includes skeletons of sea creatures and bird life, and items from the weather observatory and original telegraph station. The location is named after explorer Edward John Eyre, who surveyed the area in 1841. A number of the early buildings at the Eyre Bird Observatory, now covered in drifting sand, were erected for the Inter-Colonial Telegraph Line. The Eyre Telegraph Station started operations on 17 July 1877. Access to the Eyre Bird Observatory is by high clearance four-wheel drive. Contact the Observatory to book accommodation, or register as a day visitor.

Visit website

Address:

PMB 32 Cocklebiddy via Norseman
Cocklebiddy WA 6443
Australia

Tel:

(08) 9039 3450

Email:

eyre@birdlife.org.au

Opening Hours

Mon to Sun 9am - 4pm. It is essential to contact the Observatory before your visit.

Leafy sea dragon skeleton

Mythical sea dragon

The leafy seadragon (Phycodurus eques) is native to the southern and western coasts of Australia. It is related to the seahorse and pipefish. Leafy sea dragons are often washed ashore during storms.

Major Mitchell’s cockatoo skull

Quite a hairstyle

You can't tell from the skull, but this bird has one of the best ‘hairstyles’ of the bird world: a bright red and yellow crest. Major Mitchell’s cockatoos (Lophochroa leadbeateri) frequent the...

Eretmochelys imbricata

Hawksbill turtle skeleton

This critically endangered turtle was once hunted for its ‘tortoiseshell’. This specimen is a juvenile measuring approximately 15 centimetres, however, they can grow up to 1 metre and weigh around 80...

Merredin Regional Library

Old school local history collection and research in the library

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Old Police Complex

A country police station

The first Laverton police station is described by the guide as ‘tents, tin and fibro,’ with the prisoners brutally chained to logs. In 1899 the original jail was moved from the close-by settlement of...

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An intimate display from pre-settlement history to mining and modernity

You will be greeted by a giant map which shows the location of Cue in relation to Wajarri, Badimia and Yugunga Nya Country. You can also learn about the history of Thuwarri Thaa (Wilgie Mia), a...

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Remember the days of the old school yard

You can't miss this museum: look out for the vintage school bus next to the old Headmaster’s house. Inside, the museum feels like someone just upped and left the house, without packing up, and just...