Shire of Wiluna Canning-Gunbarrel Discovery Centre

A stop on the edge of the desert

Wiluna is the southern gateway to the Canning Stock Route and the western gateway to the Gunbarrel Highway. The Canning-Gunbarrel Discovery Centre is housed inside the old Wiluna District Hospital and each room unpacks an historical element of the region. There is opportunity to learn about the homelands of Martu people and the survival skills they use in the harsh desert environment. Look out for the forbidden love story! Early explorers trekked through this region looking for water and opening the land for the cattle industry. The 1,850km Canning Stock Route is represented with the water holes along the route, labelled in English and Martu languages. The map also incorporates images of significant artworks of waterholes and other important places by Martu artists. The Centre is co-located with the Tjukurba Art Gallery at the back of the main building, where you can view and purchase beautiful artworks by Birriliburu artists.

Address:

28 Scotia St
Wiluna WA 6646
Australia

Opening Hours
Mon to Fri 9am - 4:00pm; Weekends by prior appointment.
A stock route with a dark past

In the early 1900s the WA Government was looking for a new inland means of moving cattle between the Kimberley region and the south of the state. Alfred Canning was hired to survey the route, and...

Star crossed lovers

This is the spear thrower owned by Warri, which was used up until he and Yatungka were brought in from the desert in the 1970s. In the 1930s Warri and Yatungka (both Martu) fell in love and eloped...

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While you're in the area

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Tjukurba Art Gallery
Attraction
Tjukurba Art Gallery
“Tjukurba” is translated from Matu to mean “Dreaming”. The gallery...
28 Scotia Street, Wiluna, WA 6646
Canning Stock Route
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Canning Stock Route
The Canning Stock Route was originally created by Albert Canning in 1908...
Canning Stock Route, Halls Creek, WA 6770
Canning-Gunbarrel Discovery Centre
Attraction
Canning-Gunbarrel Discovery Centre
Wiluna is the southern gateway to the Canning Stock Route and the western...
28 Scotia Street, Wiluna, WA 6646