Cultural Attractions

The Cannery Arts Centre located on Norseman Road is the leading arts centre in Esperance. New exhibitions are showcased in the Centre each month and a variety of Cultural activities and classes are held within the grounds. The Cannery attracts in excess of 20,000 visitor and participants each year. The Gallery is open between 1.00pm and 5.00pm daily. For details on current exhibits & classes please call 9071 3599.

The Bijou Theatre (on Lot 57 Demster Street) is the oldest theatre in Western Australia. Built in 1896 by Edward McCarthy, the building has played its part over the years as a venue for local dances, meetings, agricultural shows, roller-skating and a cinema.  In 1972 the building was sold to the Esperance Theatre Guild. The Bijou plays host to community theatre and visiting performers and is regularly hired out for weddings and meetings.

The Esperance Historic Town Walk has been designed to inform people about the historical development of Esperance. It takes about one and a half hours to complete and features historical buildings such as the Dempster Homestead, Bijou Theatre, First Government Hospital, and the War Memorial. Please contact the staff at the Esperance Visitor Centre on 9083 1555 if you would like a copy of the Esperance Historic Walk brochure.

The Esperance Museum is run by a small group of dedicated volunteers. The main building, featuring magnificent timber beams was officially opened in 1976 and now houses a fascinating collection of photographs, unique machinery, furniture, pieces of the first American space station the “Skylab”, lots of memorabilia and a Locomotive W919. Open every day from 1.30pm to 4.30pm

The Museum Park Period Village is a collection of small historic buildings set amongst tranquil parklands off Dempster Street. The Museum Park is on the site of the town’s original railway marshalling yards. The village buildings which have been relocated from various locations around Esperance, now house a range of small boutiques or specialty stores. For more details please contact the Visitor Centre in Esperance on 9083 1555.