Wadjemup Museum
Wadjemup Museum
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Wadjemup Museum is a gateway to history and culture. Discover exhibits that tell the island’s story.
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4.0
205 reviews
Excellent
68
Very good
98
Average
31
Poor
7
Terrible
1
Voyager36279502864
Perth, Australia26 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Couples
Interesting insight into the history of Rottnest Island as a prison for Aboriginals & others. In those days people were imprisoned for very minor offences & about 400 Aboriginals died on the Island. They had dirt floors to their cells & white prisoners had floor boards. Rottnest discovered by the Dutch who thought Quokkas were rats hence the name Rottnest which means rats nest. It was attached to Australia mainland but became separated.
Wadjemup is the Aboriginal name. Barry stayed at the Lane where we ate lunch & watched our bags.
Wadjemup is the Aboriginal name. Barry stayed at the Lane where we ate lunch & watched our bags.
Written 12 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Teacake_Taster
Chesterfield, UK1,053 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Couples
The museum tells the story about incarceration of nearly 4000 aborigines, of which over 200 died. It was a sad story, well told with raw stories from descendants, but didn’t seem to say why many of them were incarcerated, why only aborigines or how it fitted into the Australian penal system.
Written 26 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Swisshen
Perth, Australia2,323 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
If you have time visit this free museum which brings the island history alive. The Aboriginal story telling video is very poignant. You can give a free contribution. Definitely worth a visit
Written 12 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle N
Melbourne, Australia440 contributions
Jul. 2023 • Solo
I’m glad there were stories from local people here to share the impact of the island’s sad and shameful history. It’s quite confronting but important to learn about.
Written 3 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manue
Rimouski, Canada24 contributions
Jun. 2023 • Solo
An interesting place to visit while waiting for the ferry. I was not aware of the island's sad history but having a museum like this is a positive step toward reconciliation with aboriginal people (the island is not just all about the quokkas). A bit on the heavy side though.
Written 21 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D P
Wellington, New Zealand6,688 contributions
Nov. 2022 • Couples
Not a museum fan usually but this little museum’s staff were fantastic- you could tell that they really lived and breathed the island and knew it’s historic past inside out. Well worth a pop in because there’s a whole lot more to Rottnest Island other than the cute quokkas!!
Written 17 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James and Mathew
Darwin, Australia35 contributions
Nov. 2022
A great little museum, but very disappointing that a short film being shared focussed on emotional blackmail history - a woman weeping over alledged events hundreds of years ago - more importantly, no narrative of why the prison was there, the fact that Aboriginal men and boys built the place which in itself was the focus of reform prisons of the time, they learned skills. I noticed several British visitors were taken aback by the blatant display of racism towards them in the short film, people whom had nothing at all to do with any of it, subjected to hatred towards their homeland. This type of emotional behaviour is appalling and needs to be reversed fast. I enjoyed my visit, except for the heavy, downing atmosphere created by the short film, and at the end of the day, prisoners go to prison for something - where are these stories? Do we celebrate all prisons and their inmates? Just some food for thought, please provide a more balanced account of things - please.
Written 9 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christine651
Melbourne, Australia110 contributions
May 2022
Very interesting and lots of history. The short film was excellent and there were volunteers on hand to answer any question.
Written 20 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,814 contributions
Feb. 2022
This small museum will not teach you much about Rottnest that you don't know if you are a regular visitor to the island.. It does, however, give an insight into Rottnest's sorry history as a penal institution for Aboriginal people. A visit to the miseum need not take more than half an hour.
Written 18 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
burnsbeachbaby
Burns Beach, Australia661 contributions
Jun. 2021
Worth looking in this small museum, gives a perspective on the early days and the hardship on our indigenous people.
Written 8 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IntrovertLikesTravel
Hobart, Australia233 contributions
- How much time would you recommend spending at the museum?
- Is it still worth visiting, if you also go on one of the coach tours around the island? (Bayseeker Island Tour, or Discover Rottnest Tour)
- Are souvenirs sold there?
IntrovertLikesTravel
Hobart, Australia233 contributions
Which hours on a weekday and weekend is the Rottnest Island Museum open?
Rottnest_Island
Perth, Australia4 contributions
Hi Andrew the Museum is open 10am till 3pm seven days a week.
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Claim your listingWadjemup Museum: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Wadjemup Museum
- Hotels near Wadjemup Museum:
- (0.09 km) Karma Rottnest
- (0.33 km) Hotel Rottnest
- (0.35 km) Samphire Rottnest
- (0.44 km) Caroline Thomson Cabins
- (0.10 km) Rottnest Island Authority
- Restaurants near Wadjemup Museum:
- (0.06 km) Rottnest Bakery
- (0.06 km) Subway
- (0.06 km) The Lane Cafe
- (0.16 km) Frankie's on Rotto
- (0.07 km) Simmo's