The Western Australian Museum acknowledges and respects the Traditional Owners of their ancestral lands, waters and skies.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this digital guide may include images, sounds, and names of now deceased persons.

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Xantho Gallery

Xantho Gallery

See the conservation and restoration of the SS Xantho steam engine after it spent more than a century underwater, and learn about the remarkable story of the Broadhurst family. 

Deep Dives

Open box with inside lid inscribed with "J Whitworths & Co Engineers Manchester, and inside shows rows of metal rods of different sizes.

A Long Time Coming - Whitworth and Standardisation

The Standardisation of Machine Threads

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Old photo of family of 5 children and two adults seated, posing for portrait photo, and with one other gentleman standing behind them.

An Extraordinary Couple

Charles and Eliza Broadhurst

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Black and white painting of ship in harbour with one steam funnel, and two masks. In the foreground a longboat with approximately 12 men are rowing towards the ship.

First in Steam

SS Xantho

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Dark brown wooden beams running across the ceiling of the gallery with stains and marks on them.

From Store to Museum

Look up

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Image looking to the back of the inside of the engine with two large round holes

Lurking in the Darkness

Marine Boilers

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Photos of drawings of ships on red coloured rocks mounted on the wall of the gallery.

Set in Stone

Images of SS Xantho

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Photo of machinery comprising of many black metal components

The Trunk Engine

A Product of Mass Production

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The Western Australian Museum acknowledges and respects the Traditional Owners of their ancestral lands, waters and skies.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this digital guide may include images, sounds, and names of now deceased persons.