Now every computer in the library has access to Ancestry.com; free of charge

The history of longboard surfing Cottesloe's boardriding birth and boom An evening with the legends March 1 at the Grove 6pm

Our latest heritage trail narrates the history of Memorial Park. The beauty and serenity of this space will calm the soul and allow the walker to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who have served to preserve the freedom we enjoy today.

Following the success of our recent exhibition relating to the rights of women in Australia, we have placed the panels and text online so that it can continue to be enjoyed. Thank you to all those who came along to view it and who took the time to pass on the approval and appreciation.

Listen to the Live 6PR Radio interview with Simon Beaumont and Sindy Dowden. Can you help Sindy locate images of the family favourite? The Oceanarium operated from 1969 - 1974 and was situated on the foreshore near No 2. Car Park. If you have images you think we might be interested in then please email history@thegrovelibrary.com. We would love to hear from you.

It is difficult to believe its been 10 years since our library welcomed its first customer. At lot has happened over that time with some great achievements along the way. Read all about how the library came into being and check out the photos on our image database.

Now that Covid-19 restrictions have lifted, why not take the family and stroll Cottesloe foreshore. We have a brand new heritage trail waiting for you to explore.So grab your spirit of adventure and download our free app today.

In the very early days at Cottesloe beach, picnics on the sand, listening to live bands and strolling along the foreshore were more popular than swimming – there were no facilities for changing into swimsuits and full dress was common even in the summer heat – Early settlers brought with them English moral standards which meant modesty was highly valued. This prevented most from ever considering donning a bathing costume and entering the water where they may embarrassingly encounter others doing the same thing!

Have you noticed the heritage signs scattered around the community? They detail the history of Mosman Park. The trail can now be conveniently downloaded to your smart device so that you can easily navigate the trail. The new digital trail includes audio from residents of the suburb and workers of the factories which once dominated the suburb.

On 24th January, 1924, a German visitor named Gerd von Dincklage-Schulenburg made good on a bet he had made over a beer a few days earlier and swam from North Mole in Fremantle to Natural Jetty in Rottnest becoming the first recorded person to complete the swim. Despite being warned of the dangers associated with the swim, mainly the cold, rips and of course sharks, Gerd was not discouraged and completed the distance in 9 hours and 45 minutes.

These informative little magazines were published in the 1950s and cover activities of local clubs and neat 1950s recipes complete with the odd dollop of dripping! The entire set has now been digitised and is currently being uploaded to the library catalogue. I am sure they will be a great research tool for the historians amongst us.

Did you know that bathing in the cool waters of Freshwater Bay was once a privilege one would have to pay for?

Did you know that Manners Hill Park was once a 6 hole golf course? Originally this land formed part of the larger Keane (Edward Keane) property and was used to pasture animals. The land was purchased by the government in 1899 prior to Keane’s death.

Born in Perth, Western Australia and educated at Hale School in Wembly Downs, Anthony Boyd Craig has led a full and adventurous life. During his early career, Anthony was employed as a Costing Clerk at H. L. Brisbane & Wunderlich Ltd, the state’s largest clay tile producer, at North Street in the City.

Who were the Ugly Men? The Ugly Men’s Voluntary Workers’ Association was a uniquely Western Australian organisation that aimed to raise money to alleviate community suffering caused by World War I.

In 1891 distinguished colonist Edward Keane purchased land that included what was then known as ‘Butler’s Hump’, now Keane’s Point. By 1894, Edward had built their family home, Cappoquin House which they named after their home town in Ireland.