Dawesville is one of those rare places where nature is part of daily life. We live between ocean and estuary with wildlife, weather, stars and seasons right on our doorstep. Yet we have never had a local place that brings all of that together. A place where families can learn, volunteers can gather, and the community can celebrate the incredible environment we call home.

The Dawesville Discovery Centre is a community vision created by Connecting Corridors. We are sharing the concept with locals to see what you think and to show Mandurah Council that Dawesville is ready for something like this.

Where it is proposed to go

The suggested location is the old South Mandurah Hall tennis courts on the Dawesville Channel. It is a natural gathering place close to the water, close to trails and close to the community. The site is already hardened which means very minimal siteworks.

The Discovery Centre would be built from customised sea containers. This keeps costs down, stands up to storms, requires very little maintenance, and allows the Centre to grow over time. Containers are modular so new sections can be added as needed. The footprint is light with almost no ground disturbance.

What the Discovery Centre would offer

The Discovery Centre is designed as a living community hub. It brings together environmental learning, citizen science, cultural storytelling and hands on experiences.

• Environmental education programs for families, schools and community groups
• Citizen science activities including wildlife sightings, roadkill mapping, habitat snapshots and seasonal phenology logs
• Workshops and talks on ecology, sustainability, restoration and local species
• Interactive displays about the estuary, Yalgorup, thrombolites, migratory birds and corridor connectivity
• A volunteer base for on ground projects and environmental monitoring
• A cultural storytelling space celebrating Dawesville’s identity, history and connection to Country
• A flexible community room for events, youth programs and local groups
• Outdoor learning areas linked to trails, bushland and the Channel

Uniquely Dawesville experiences

• Stargazing nights under Dawesville’s dark skies
• Aurora watching when the southern lights appear
• Whale watching during migration seasons
• A base for WestWhales to support local whale monitoring and education

Lab space when required

The proposal includes a compact shared use lab for water quality testing, sediment and microplastic screening, basic wildlife health checks, sample preparation during stranding events, and citizen science training. It supports WestWhales and local wildlife groups. It is not a full time lab. It is a community capability ready when needed.

A place for families

The Discovery Centre is designed to be welcoming and accessible. Kids can explore hands on displays while parents enjoy a coffee. Locals can drop in for a workshop or a talk. Volunteers can head out for a citizen science session. Visitors can learn about the estuary, the Channel and the wildlife that makes Dawesville special.

Why Dawesville needs this

Dawesville has incredible natural assets, strong community interest in nature, active volunteers and passionate families. But we have no dedicated environmental centre.

The Discovery Centre fills a long standing gap by providing a local place to learn, a base for citizen science, a southern environmental anchor for Mandurah, and a platform for environmental resilience and education. It strengthens community identity and gives Dawesville a stronger voice.

A vision already taking shape

The proposal has been shared with Mandurah Council, State Members, Peel Development Commission, environmental groups, researchers and local organisations. The feedback shows interest. The next step is community visibility.

Council decisions are shaped by community energy. When locals show they care, projects gain momentum.

What we would love from the community

Right now we are simply asking if Dawesville wants a Discovery Centre.

If the idea speaks to you your voice matters. You can share your thoughts, ask questions, express interest, suggest ideas or simply say that Dawesville needs this. Every bit of support helps build the case.

A community project starts with community voices

The Discovery Centre is a long term vision but it begins with us. The people who live here, care about this place and want to see Dawesville grow in ways that reflect who we are.