The ultimate transport lover's day out
23 June 2023
Are you or someone you know a huge transport enthusiast?
Whether you have a car-crazy kid or are just a big kid at heart, these six transport-themed experiences at Whiteman Park will have you revving your engines and ready to explore!
Revolutions Transport Museum
Revolutions Transport Museum is much more than just a museum: it's the only museum of its kind in the state, with an interactive journey through the evolution of land transport technologies in Western Australia. From horse-drawn buggies to historic wooden train carriages, learn about the vehicles that paved the way for our modern transportation.
You can even take a picture behind the wheel of a vintage EJ Holden before sitting down to watch a short informational film. With items from the Whiteman Collection regularly rotating through the exhibits, you’re bound to discover something new each time you visit.
The Tractor Museum
Get ready for a wild ride at the Tractor Museum of WA with rows upon rows of vintage tractors, trucks, and farm equipment from Western Australia’s agricultural past. Keep an eye out for the collection’s oldest machine, a 1920 Fordson, and the homegrown heroes, two WA-made Chamberlain Industries tractors, the 40K and the “Tail-end Charlie”.
If this gets your pistons firing, then you won’t want to miss the monthly vintage tractor parade. Every second Sunday of the month these awesome machines chug their way through the Park from the Tractor Museum to the Village Junction Station and back, forming a colourful procession that can be viewed from any of the picnic shelters near the Village.
The Motor Museum of WA
Did you see that the Motor Museum’s iconic yellow and blue car recently got a makeover? If you haven’t seen the ‘94s new paint job, consider this your green light to go and check it out.
Operating since 1994, the Motor Museum of WA has one of the best collections of automobiles in WA with rare vehicles such as the 1974 Leyland Force 7 Coupe (one of only ten left in the world), and dozens of other recognisable cars such as a 1912 Model T Ford and a Phantom 6 Rolls Royce. The star attraction of the collection though, is the one-of-a-kind F1 Red Bull RB10 race car that Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo drove to win the Grand Prix in 2014.
Vintage Train Rides
Time to change gears: how about trying out some living transport history? The vintage trains on the Bennett Brook Railway not only offer a scenic way to view the Park, but they are also a fun experience for all ages! Think the clacking of tracks beneath you and, during the winter steam season, smoke billowing out the chimney stack ahead of you.
The collection of steam, petrol and diesel locomotives includes some interesting engines, such as a Kalgoorlie gold-hauling train built in 1939, and traverses over six kilometres of Whiteman Park using a 610mm narrow gauge track. Knowledgeable operators are always happy to discuss the railway operation, including the engines’ stats and stories too!
Heritage Tram Rides
Did you know that Perth City used to have a tram service that operated between 1899 and 1958? After being replaced by trains and bus services, these days the only place you can ride a genuine heritage electric tram in Western Australia is at Whiteman Park.
Operating between Mussel Pool and the Village, Whiteman Park’s green tram is one of the Park’s most popular attractions and one of the easiest ways to get around. Jump on board just outside the Village Café and relax as the clickety-clack of the tram takes you across the Park for a pit stop at Mussel Pool's Guerrilla Hub kiosk and Pia’s Place nature playspace before continuing your trip.
Vintage Bus Rides
If you’re looking to embark on a different sort of joyride around the Park, the Whiteman Explorer bus tour is just the ticket. Every Monday you can hop aboard for a guided tour led by one of our knowledgeable volunteers. This hour-long tour provides a new way of exploring the Park’s history and native flora and fauna, making for a great experience even if you’ve been to the Park a dozen times or more!
And if you're looking to learn more about the buses themselves, consider joining the knowledgeable members of the Bus Preservation Society of WA for their Sunday Discovery Bus Tour or the monthly Heritage Bus Display - just check the What's On for dates and times.
If any of these experiences spark your curiosity, then it’s time to buckle up and hit the road to embark on your very own transport adventure!
And the best day to visit to experience all of this? Sunday! Although you may be running on empty by the time you've explored all of these in one day. The good news is that you can enjoy different combinations of these transporting attractions every day of the week, so you can visit the Park over and over, discovering something new each time! Just be sure to check the operating hours of each attraction before visiting to avoid any disappointment.