RESEARCH
The Kentian Society Museum is committed to presenting accurate and well researched information about the past. It develops our sense of identity and sense of place.
Our role is to collect, conserve and share the objects and stories of school life in the south-eastern suburbs of the Perth metropolitan area. Our work tells us about who we are and where we came from.
We urge all researchers to be aware of and question the variety of sources available, particularly those that are web-based. Always ask questions, check information and the interpretation placed on it.
The following information will assist in research relating to people, places and historical events.
Family History
To aid with your family history research, the Kentian Society Museum has collected newspaper articles, memoirs, reports and certificates relating to many of the students and staff associated with Kent Street SHS. While the Museum does not have information on everyone, by using these documents along with post office directories and rate books, much can be learned of the previous generations.
Research Requests
The Museum holds the local history collection for Kent Street SHS and can help with researching people associated with the school’s past history. With some exceptions, this collection is mainly paper based.
Please contact the museum at society@kentians.org.au or by calling 9262 0500 to make a research appointment. Alternatively, should you need to email a brief research question through, museum staff will generally respond within 5 business days.
You can also try our list below to find links to websites which may aid in your research.
Online Research Links
To search a wide range of newspapers, books, photographs and other online resources:
To search Western Australian Post Office Directories from 1893-1949:
https://slwa.wa.gov.au/collections/collections/post-office-directories
To search online indexes for Western Australian Births, Deaths and Marriages:
To search for burial records in the Perth Metropolitan area:
https://portal.mcb.wa.gov.au/name-search
To search the Government records in the State Records Office of Western Australia, use the on-line catalogue. This will assist with searching a wide range of subject areas including convicts and transportation, education and school records, residents of Perth Old Men’s Home (Sunset Hospital), maps and plans.
The Police Gazette is available on-line from the State Library of Western Australia Battye Library’s site. These documents are a valuable resource for researching police and criminals in Western Australia from 1876 to 1900.
https://slwa.wa.gov.au/collections/collections/police-gazettes
Collections WA is a free, searchable platform that brings together collections from libraries, galleries, museums, archives, historical societies, cultural organisations, community groups and other collecting organisations across Western Australia.
Whether you are a student, a researcher, or someone with a keen interest in our State’s history, Collections WA is a valuable tool for conducting research. Through Collections WA you can discover unique cultural, creative and community stories from Western Australian collections.