Herbarium Western Australia

The Herbarium opened in March 1970, bringing together the State’s botanical collections under one roof for the first time. At its peak, the facility housed more than 700,000 specimens. So many, that multiple demountable buildings had to be added over time to accommodate the growing collection.

Eventually, expanding through temporary structures was no longer practical and it became clear that a bigger, purpose-built facility was needed.

In 2004, the State Government allocated $250,000 toward a new herbarium in the same general area. The collection was relocated six years later and the original site was formally decommissioned. Since then and despite now being heritage listed, the former Herbarium building has remained vacant and largely forgotten.