01 CASE STUDY OVERVIEW
Preserving an important collection for a new generation
The WA Police Historical Society was established in 1987 by serving police officers with the support of then Police Commissioner Brian Bull. Based at the former Highgate Hill Police Station, the Society preserves the stories, photographs, documents, artefacts and personal accounts that record the development of policing in Western Australia.
Its work extends beyond maintaining a collection. The Society operates a museum, supports historical research, conducts tours and educational activities, and gives former officers, members and the wider community a way to connect with WA’s policing history.
Clue was engaged to transform the Society’s long-running website into a more accessible and sustainable historical resource. The project brought its collection, timeline, research services, membership and visitor information together within a platform the volunteer team could manage and continue expanding.
Client
WA Police Historical Society
Expertise
- Web & Experiences
Year of Completion
2026
Website
policewahistory.org.au
02 The Challenge
Turning a collection into a connected historical resource
Over many years, the Society had built a significant online collection of stories and historical material. However, the structure and technology of its original website made that information increasingly difficult to discover, organise and maintain.
The challenge was not simply to modernise the design. The new website needed to serve several distinct audiences: former police officers, researchers, educators, Society members and members of the public interested in Western Australian history.
Each group required a different pathway into the collection. Researchers needed access to detailed information and a clear way to make enquiries. Visitors needed museum, location and tour information. Members needed access to dedicated material, while general audiences needed an engaging introduction to the people and events that shaped policing across the state.
At the same time, the website had to respect the heritage and character of the Society while giving its volunteers a practical way to continue documenting history.
03 Our Approach
Organising history around discovery
We worked with the Society to understand its collection, audiences and publishing requirements. This informed a new information architecture connecting historical stories with research, education, tours, membership and visitor information.
Historical photography became a central part of the experience. Rather than treating archive imagery as decoration, the design uses it to connect visitors with the officers, communities, places and events behind the history.
A major feature is the interactive WA Police timeline. It gives visitors a visual way to move through significant periods and events, turning a large historical collection into a more engaging journey of discovery.
Dedicated pathways were also created for research requests, tours and education, museum visits and membership. Member access allows the Society to make selected stories, photographs and resources available to its paid community.
The website was rebuilt in WordPress with structured content types for stories and historical material. Combined with practical training, this gives the volunteer team control over routine publishing without requiring technical knowledge.
04 The Outcome
Making history easier to discover
The WA Police Historical Society now has a digital resource that reflects the importance and breadth of its work.
Visitors can explore WA Police history through stories, photography and the interactive timeline, while researchers, educators, members and prospective museum visitors have clearer pathways to the information and services relevant to them.
The new publishing system also changes how the Society can care for its digital collection. Volunteers can add stories, update information and progressively expand the archive as further material and personal histories emerge.
The result is more than a redesigned website. It is an active historical resource that helps the Society preserve institutional memory, support research and keep the story of policing in Western Australia accessible to future generations.
