Cunderdin Museum Pump Station No 3

29/05/2026

The museum is closed for the long weekend.
We are open Tuesday from 10am

26/05/2026

Today we proudly celebrate a truly remarkable milestone — the 100th birthday of Betty Stokes, OAM, the Museum’s first curator and one of the driving forces behind the preservation of our shire’s rich history and heritage.
Alongside her husband James and the inaugural Museum Committee, Betty played an instrumental role in establishing and developing the Cunderdin Museum, helping create a lasting legacy for our community and future generations.
Betty undertook curatorial training with the State Museum and, as Honorary Curator for more than three decades, established a high standard of curatorship, care and professionalism that continues to influence and inspire the Museum today.
Even today, with all our technological advances and modern resources, we continue to rely on the accuracy and depth of research Betty undertook throughout her years with the Museum. Her curatorial records remain impeccable and stand as a testament to her dedication, knowledge and extraordinary attention to detail.
Through the countless hours contributed by Betty and the inaugural Committee, many important stories, artefacts and memories of Cunderdin and Meckering have been preserved and shared for all to appreciate. Their contribution to both the community and heritage preservation is something to be immensely proud of.
On behalf of the Museum Team and Committee, we extend our warmest congratulations and very best wishes to Betty on this extraordinary milestone. Thank you for your passion, commitment and enduring legacy.
Happy 100th Birthday, Betty!

Photos: Betty Stokes receiving Order of Australia Medal 1990
Cutting the cake :Cunderdin Museum 25th celebrations

23/05/2026

Due to an extended power outage today the museum is closed until Sunday 24th May.

18/05/2026

Today we celebrate International Museum Day — recognising the important role museums play in preserving stories, sharing knowledge, and connecting communities with their heritage.

At the Cunderdin Museum, every building, object and photograph helps tell the story of our district and the people who shaped it. From the iconic No. 3 Pump Station and the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, to the history of Rabbit Proof Fence No. 2, the Meckering earthquake, local farming, transport, military and community life — these collections help preserve the stories that define our region and Western Australia’s history.

Museums are more than collections; they are places of memory, learning and connection. We thank our volunteers, supporters, visitors and community members who continue to help preserve and share Cunderdin’s unique heritage for future generations.

If you haven’t visited lately, International Museum Day is the perfect reminder to explore the stories waiting right here in our own backyard.

22/04/2026

On this day, 22 April 1902, a defining moment in Western Australia’s history unfolded as water from the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme (GWSS) reached Cunderdin for the very first time
This milestone was marked by a “turning on the water” celebration, attended by Premier George Leake, whose leadership played a crucial role in shaping the scheme’s future.

Notably, Leake had sanctioned a Royal Commission into the GWSS—reflecting the doubts and scrutiny surrounding such an ambitious project. Yet, on this day, the vision began to speak for itself.
Even as construction continued along the line, the scheme was already delivering results.

Just weeks later, water reached Merredin No. 4 Pumping Station, demonstrating beyond doubt that the system worked. What was once questioned was now proven viable—an engineering feat that would sustain communities, support agriculture, and transform life across the inland.

The arrival of water at Cunderdin was more than symbolic—it was the beginning of a new era for the Wheatbelt and the Goldfields.


Image Details:
Ceremony as the water reaches the No.3 Pumping Station at Cunderdin, Goldfields Water Supply Scheme
Sourced from the collections of the State Library of Western Australia and reproduced with the permission of the Library Board of Western Australia. Image No: 000845D/ slwa_b1927002_1

01/04/2026

The museum is open Thursday 10am to 2pm
We are closed for the long weekend
We are open Tuesday from 10am to 4pm

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable long weekend

14/03/2026

March brings mixed feelings here at the Cunderdin Museum.

On one hand, it is a time of reflection as we remember the untimely death of C. Y. O’Connor on 10 March 1902. His passing came at the height of fierce public criticism and speculation surrounding the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme — doubts and myths that history has since proven deeply unfair. In time a better understanding of the project helped restore the reputation of a brilliant engineer whose vision and determination delivered one of Western Australia’s greatest engineering achievements.

Yet March also brings a moment of celebration.

On 11 March 1973, a dedicated group of local community members officially opened the Pump Station Museum to the public. Their passion and hard work ensured that O’Connor’s remarkable story — and the story of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme — would be preserved and shared with future generations.

For more than 50 years, the museum has welcomed visitors from near and far, sharing how this incredible pipeline transformed life across the Wheatbelt and Goldfields. The scheme brought not only water, but opportunity — helping shape towns like Cunderdin and many other regional communities along its path.

Each March we pause to remember the man, reflect on the myths and truths surrounding his legacy, and celebrate the community spirit that continues to keep his story alive.

26/02/2026

Do you know what this is? Located in the Cunderdin Museum Pump Station No 3, this is the only Venturi meter of its kind in Western Australia. 💦

As part of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, this, alongside other equipment, recorded the volume, rate and fluctuation in the pressure of water passing through the pumping station. The station pumped 13.6 million litres of water daily!

Add this collection to your Wheatbelt road trip today!

14/01/2026

The museum is closed this Thursday and Friday. We are open this weekend from 10am.

04/01/2026