Swan Guildford Historical Society

Swan Guildford Historical Society is a not-for-profit dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich history of Guildford and the Swan region.

Tours

Come on a guided tour to hear stories about law and order in Guildford. The perfect day out for the family, our tour includes the Colonial Gaol, Taylor’s Cottage, the prison exercise yard and lastly the Wash House.

Attractions

Monthly Events

People

Donated art deco cigarette lighter

Donate

Swan Guildford Historical Society collects objects that are linked to key moments, people and places, showcasing the history of Guildford and the Swan Valley.

We appreciate offers to donate items that fit the following criteria:

Does the item have a link to Guildford and surrounding areas?
Does it fill a gap in the museum collection?
What is known about the history of the item?
How did the object come to be in the donor’s possession?
Is the item already represented in the collection?
Is it in a good or stable condition?
Does the Society have the resources to store the item properly?

We recommend you contact us first to discuss donating objects. Phone (08) 9379 1829 OR email sghs@swanguildfordhistoricalsociety.org.au. The Curator will then advise if the object is suitable for donation. The next step it to sign a Donor / Deed of Gift Form. The object would then become the property of the Swan Guildford Historical Society.

Our headquarters: Judy Hamersley House

About

Swan Guildford Historical Society was founded in 1962 thanks to the foresight of Judy Hamersley, granddaughter of pioneers Charles and Fanny Harper of Woodbridge.

Judy understood the importance of the area, firstly to Aboriginal people who had met in the area for generations, in the area they know as Mandoon. With the establishment of the Swan River Colony in 1829, Guildford became a market town and a transport hub, the agricultural cradle of the new settlement.

Judy’s mission was to gather artefacts for a museum and record the history of the area for current and future generations. Today Guildford is a recognised historic town, classified by the National Trust, and the Swan Valley is one of Western Australia’s most visited tourism destinations.

From these early beginnings, the Society’s museum collection has grown to be a must see attraction. We display items from our collections in the Colonial Gaol and in Taylor’s Cottage. A display of farming machinery and a blacksmith’s forge are located in the Gaol’s exercise yard.

Upcoming Events

Annual General Meeting | 20 July 2026

Dear Member,

INVITATION TO ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

We invite you to the Swan Guildford Historical Society Inc. (Society) Annual General Meeting (Meeting), which will be held on Monday, 20th July 2026 at 7:00pm, at St Matthews Parish Hall, Stirling Square, Guildford.

The meeting provides an opportunity to review and discuss our achievements over the past twelve months and to hear about matters under consideration for 2026/2027.

The Notice of Annual General Meeting and the agenda together with a Nomination Form are attached. Please note that Nomination Forms should be completed for each/any nominee and then signed by the candidate.

If you are unable to attend the Meeting, you may appoint a proxy to attend and vote on your behalf. Written notice of the proxy must be given to the Secretary before the commencement of the meeting in respect of which the proxy is appointed.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL AND VOTING ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible to vote at the AGM, members must be registered and have paid their annual membership fees by 12:00PM on 20 July 2026.

If you have not yet renewed your 2026/2027 membership, you can do so via the link below:

2026/2027 Membership Renewal

Alternatively, membership fees may be paid by EFT. Please contact the Secretary for bank details. Members paying by EFT close to the deadline are asked to bring proof of payment to the AGM.

SUPPORT SGHS WITH A DONATION

The Swan Guildford Historical Society (SGHS) is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preserving, protecting, and sharing the rich history of Guildford and the Swan Valley. Our volunteers maintain the precinct, curate the exhibitions, and deliver all guided tours. All donations help us continue this important community heritage work.

Donate here

We hope you can join us for the Meeting and look forward to seeing as many members as possible. Please send any apologies to the Secretary.

Kind regards,

Ashton Warrick | Secretary

Swan Guildford Historical Society (Inc.)
T: +61 432 921 048

E: secretary@swanguildfordhistoricalsociety.org.au

P: PO Box 33, Guildford 6935 WA