Royal Western Australian Historical Society has for many decades been the main association for Western Australians to collectively work for adequate understanding and protection of the cultural heritage of Perth and Western Australia.
The society was founded in 1926.[1] The Royal Charter adding the word 'Royal' to the organization name occurred in 1963.[2] With membership including local historians and writers, it preceded the Western Australian branch of the National Trust and the History Council of Western Australia by decades.
Based in Nedlands it holds many important objects and archives relative to Western Australian history.
The RWAHS is a constituent member of the Federation of Australian Historical Societies.[3]
A significant number of Western Australian historians, writers and public figures have been involved with the society.
Early Days is the official journal and is published annually. It is one of the more lasting legacies of the society – a regular run of articles with a wide range of subjects concerning West Australian history.
The organisation has developed a network of over 70 affiliated historical societies from across Western Australia.[4] Since 2010 the society has annually awarded a Merit Award to one of its affiliates. The inaugural award went to the Carnamah Historical Society for being a "dynamic, but very different society."[5] The Esperance Bay Historical Society was the 2011 recipient "for its contribution to preserving local history".[6] Other notable affiliated societies include Toodyay Historical Society, Augusta Historical Society.