The Law Society of Western Australia Old Court House Law Museum

13/08/2026

We are honoured to be shortlisted with other such impressive finalists for the 2026 Margaret Medcalf Award!

The City of Perth congratulates The Law Society of Western Australia Old Court House Law Museum on being shortlisted for the 2026 Margaret Medcalf Award, which recognises research projects that make use of the Western Australian State Archives.

Their short film, 'The Unfortunate Woman v Her Well-Respected Killer', was screened as part of the City’s 2025 Lotterywest Boorloo Heritage Festival and explores a trial held at the Old Court House in 1876.

As part of the Festival’s celebration of Perth’s unique mix of historical and cultural stories, the film brings this compelling chapter of our past to life and highlights a story that continues to hold relevance today.

Congratulations to the Old Court House Law Museum on this well-deserved recognition, and best of luck for the awards!

16/07/2026

The Museum's short film, The Unfortunate Woman, is shortlisted for the 2026 Margaret Medcalf Award!

This award celebrates research projects which reference the Western Australian State Archives. We are so honoured to be acknowledged alongside so many outstanding projects.

The Unfortunate Woman covers a domestic violence trial which took place in the Old Court House in 1876 and provides a fascinating glimpse into a tragic and compelling chain of events which still hold relevance today.

This film has invited conversations and reflections around the issue of family and domestic violence, and we are proud to see it recognised alongside the meaningful work shortlisted this year.

We could not have done this without the support of so many wonderful people and organisations; thank you to film maker Andrew Clarke from Edify Media, The Honourable Lindy Jenkins, Dr Caroline Ingram, Professor Peter Handford, Mark O'Hare and Dr Jennie Gray. Technical support from Reilly Stewart, camera and Rebecca Erin, music supervisor. Supported by the Lotterywest Boorloo Heritage Festival.

link to short film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmPUS4k36gY

link to the 2026 Margaret Medcalf Award Shortlist: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/shortlist-the-2026-margaret-medcalf-award

10/07/2026

This NAIDOC Week, we celebrate the enduring strength, knowledge and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Old Court House Law Museum is proud to be collaborating with Traditional Owners with our Let the Walls Speak Project, to create an opportunity for reflection, to better understand the diversity of law on this land.

We are excited for the animation, Kwejuk Knitting, to become a permanent fixture in our Museum and the ongoing collaboration with Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association and artist Ilona McGuire. Reimagining our first gallery and incorporating Noongar law will demonstrate the depth, diversity and nuance of law systems that have shaped Western Australia.

02/07/2026

We are proud to have collaborated with PhD candidate Michelle Hilbrands from the UWA School of Humanities for the latest edition of BRIEF.

‘Cruelty and Clemency: The Role of Spectacular Capital Punishment in the Colony,’ explores a confronting and significant chapter in Western Australia's legal and colonial history. The collaboration was inspired by the Museum's capital punishment display and provided the opportunity to connect the Museum's work with contemporary research.

We are grateful to Michelle for sharing her important research and contributing to ongoing conversations about Western Australia's legal history.

For more articles visit briefonline.com.au

Artwork featured: ‘Broken Systems’ (2022) by Brett Nannup

12/06/2026

As we come to the end of the financial year, we are polishing the little gem that is Old Court House Law Museum with an exciting new project called ‘Let the Walls Speak’.

This ground-breaking project will see the Museum’s entrance gallery completely reimagined, to powerfully place Noongar Law, one of the oldest continuing legal systems in the world, alongside colonial and contemporary law. We are in the final leg of fundraising to make Let the Walls Speak a reality, and we need your help to get to the finish line!

Our fundraising goal is $110,000; we have already raised $83,000 and have just $27,000 to raise before the EOFY. Your tax-deductible gift, however small, will help us make this exciting project a reality, creating a space where truth-telling, learning, and shared understanding can flourish for generations to come.

Check out the sneak peek of the exciting new short film Kwejuk Nyitting, about Noongar food law which will feature in our new gallery.

Thanks to Lotterywest and Ngarma Aboriginal Association for the funding and development of this film.

Come on and be part of this amazing project, Let the Walls Speak, by donating here: https://lawsocietywa.asn.au/Museum/Web/Old-Court-House-Law-Museum/support-donate.aspx?hkey=ab6b174e-0a20-42c8-9457-c9baf17911f4

Creative Lead: Ilona McGuire
Cultural Lead: Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association
Cultural Advisors: Walter McGuire, Clive Smith, May McGuire
Animator: Tracey Kim
Audio: Envelope Audio

11/06/2026

Law and leisure – that’s the promise offered to legal practitioners worldwide for the 1987 Australian Legal Convention 🌅⚖️🌴

A briefcase full of legal pamphlets, highlighters, sketches and activity tokens was recently uncovered within the Old Court House Law Museum Collection, providing insight as to the events of one of Australia’s biggest legal gatherings.

Supported by the Law Society of Western Australia and the Law Council of Australia, this ‘Winds of Change’ themed convention boasted lectures by renowned legal professionals and, simultaneously, hot air balloon rides in York, fashion parades, boat cruises of the Swan River, and the “best beaches in Australia!” 🎈

This wonderful assortment of items found within an unassuming briefcase is now live and published to our eHive Collection!

04/06/2026

🌟Star-struck 🌟 Museum staff attended a fantastic conversation facilitated by City of Melville between Aimee Ryan and Narelda Jacobs OAM responding to the Reconciliation Week theme 'All In'. We listened to powerful insights from Narelda about her career, the challenges and impact of her work as a Whadjuk Noongar journalist, commentator and activist.

27/05/2026

On This Day. May 27, 1967 was the successful referendum for the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as part of the Australian population.

The 1967 referendum was the climax to many national protests and
events which campaigned for change towards equality and civil rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

With 90.77% voting ‘Yes’, the referendum achieved a historic
double majority. It resulted in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be counted in the Census and gave the Commonwealth Government, not the States, responsibility to make laws for Aboriginal peoples.

This week is reconciliation week, an important time to
reflect and participate in Australia’s continuing journey toward equality.

The Museum is working to expand information in our galleries about Traditional Law which pre-dates colonial, state and federal law to balance the understanding of law on this land.

26/05/2026

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the trials of Kenneth Brown (Father of Edith Cowan); a scandal that rocked the community in 19th Century Western Australia. Brown’s victim and wife Mary Ann's right to safety was eclipsed by social conventions and the reputation of her husband.

This domestic violence trial in 1876 provides a glimpse into the social and legal perceptions around accountability and provocation in the prosecution and defence of Brown. These trials unfolded within the very walls of the Old Court House, when it served as a functioning court of law.

On this day, 26 May 1876, the third trial of Regina v. Brown began. After two previous juries were dismissed for failing to reach a unanimous verdict, a new jury was formed from bystanders in the court and nearby streets, a practice known as “praying a tales.” The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict, and Brown was sentenced to death.

This case was the focus of our recent Special Exhibition, The Unfortunate Woman v Her Well-Respected Killer, which explored the trial and its broader social context.

Whilst this Special Exhibition has finished, The Unfortunate Woman film is still available to watch via What’s on > Past Exhibitions on our website.

The Unfortunate Woman v Her Well-Respected Killer film was produced by the Old Court House Law Museum, created by Edify Media with support from Lotterywest Boorloo Heritage Festival. The Museum collaborated with experts in law, history and social services to create the film and connect our Museum Collection with critical contemporary issues and tell unique Western Australian stories.