10-20 December 2006 - The Ashes are Coming to the WA Museum

 Western Australians will have the opportunity of a lifetime – to see the holy grail of cricket – the Ashes urn, on Australian soil.

Never before has the Urn been to Western Australia, but from the 10 – 20 December it will be on display as the centrepiece of the Museum's cricket exhibition – Howzat! Western Australians and cricket.

For the first time the Marylebone Cricket Club, with the support of official tour sponsor Travelex, is travelling the Ashes Urn and a unique collection of related relics to Australia to tell the story of the origin of “the Ashes”.

The Ashes exhibition will take centre stage in the Howzat! exhibition during its ten-day visit, after which it will travel to the Melbourne Museum as part of a national tour. Its visit to WA this year coincides with the third Ashes Test at the WACA ground beginning on December 14.

Howzat! has been developed by the Museum’s curatorial staff and reflects the willingness of Western Australians to play cricket anywhere, at any time and in any conditions - in back yards, at the beach, in the bush, at picnics, clubs, country pubs and schools. It is an exhibition that celebrates the history and humour of cricket in Western Australia on and off the field.

Howzat! will be a fee-paying exhibition which will remain on display through the summer school holidays until March 2007.

Tickets to see the Ashes Urn and Howzat! exhibition are on sale NOW.  Session tickets can be booked through BOCS Ticketing on 9484 1133 or book online www.bocsticketing.com.au

This is an incredible exhibition created by Western Australian Museum staff and a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the Ashes Urn on Australian soil.

For more information go to the Western Australian Museum website www.museum.wa.gov.au