Events

Swan Guildford Historical Society warmly welcomes members and friends to join us at regular events held throughout the year. All events are advertised on the Website, and on Facebook.

Monthly History Talks

Monthly History Talk | 9 June 2025

Join us to hear guest speaker Janet Osborne present her talk ‘To be sufficiently civilised’ on Monday 9th June.

Drawing on little known data about Nyungar men accessing town lots in the 1840s, Janet will cover Nyungar owners of Town Lots at Perth, Guildford and York between 1841-1851.

Jane’s colonial antecedents date to Charles Hole Duffield who arrived on The Warrior in 1830. Since the early 2000’s, Jane has worked as a native title research anthropologist in the goldfields, and the south west of WA. She has conducted PhD research at UWA on early missions to Noongar people that were operating in the the Swan River Colony between 1829 and 1880, with a particular focus on three missions run consecutively by the Wesleyan Methodists; the Perth Native School (1840-1844), the Wanneroo Mission Farm (1844-1855), and the Gerald Mission at York (1850-1855).

At the conclusion of the talk, join us for a light supper and conversation. All welcome.

Annual Events

Australian Heritage Festival April – May

Each year we participate in the Australian Heritage Festival held in April / May, hosted by the National Trust. Tours and events are organised around the annual theme chosen by the National Trust. Events may include walking tours, exploring pioneering days in Guildford, or behind the scenes tours of our headquarters.

Anzac Day 25th April

Join us at the Guildford war memorial in Stirling Square for an ANZAC Day service commencing at 9am. After the ANZAC Day ceremony, come to the St. Matthews Anglican Church Hall for a cup of tea and an ANZAC biscuit.

Western Australia Day First Monday in June

Gunners Day

The annual Gunners Day event is held on the first Sunday in November. It is hosted by the Royal Australian Artillery RAA in WA.

Proceedings include a short march, laying of wreaths at the war memorial, followed by a service at St. Matthew’s Garrison Church, Stirling Square Guildford

Exhibitions

Entry is FREE, so take the time to browse and enjoy these exhibitions.

WA's Colonial Past

Three rooms within the Swan Valley Visitors Centre building are in use by the Society as an exhibition space.

One exhibition explores Western Australia’s Colonial past. It tells the story of Guildford as an inland port, convicts in the Colony, the impact of the railway, and how Guildford became a fashionable address for the rich and famous in the late 19th Century.

Items on display include costumes, paintings, and furniture belonging to the Swan Guildford Historical Society.

Walking through History: 100 Years of Wedding Dresses

A second exhibition is called Walking through history: 100 years of wedding dresses.

It features beautiful wedding dresses, exploring the choices brides made for their special day, including the fabric and style of gowns. Accessories such as boots, flowers, head dress and hats are also displayed. These items bring the past to life, while at the same time recognising how tradition impacts on the present as well as future generations of brides and grooms.