The aquarium opened on the 13^th of April 1988 as Underwater World, Perth. It was acquired by the current owners, Coral World International and Morris Kahn, in 1991, and changed its name to AQWA - The Aquarium of Western Australia on the 1^st of January 2001. Underwater World opened with only a handful of aquariums, including the feature walk-through aquarium which has been listed as one of the largest aquariums in the world. In 1992, following unsuccessful attempts by the now defunct Atlantis Marine Park to rehabilitate three of its previously captive dolphins to the wild, a sea pen was constructed at Underwater World to provide the dolphins with a new home. While at the aquarium, two calves were born to the dolphins but did not survive. After residing at the aquarium for several years, all three dolphins died suddenly in December 1999; an investigation later found that two of the dolphins had died from poisoning, however authorities were not able to determine the source of the poison. The sea pen was later removed and a sculpture and wishing well dedicated to the dolphins was later built at nearby Hillarys Boat Harbour. The aquarium also formerly hosted seals in their own enclosure. The aquarium experienced a decline in visitor numbers between 2012 and 2018, but saw record attendance since the Covid epidemic. In January 2026, the aquarium announced a $13 million expansion and redevelopment that will include a new large aquarium, new exhibits, a 125-seat cinema, and a new multi-purpose facility to house the aquarium's conservation and rehabilitation programs. The redevelopment is expected to be completed by 2027.

This is an unbelievably rare, hugely historic, highly collectable only third and ever edition from one of Australia’s more notable public aquariums. Having opened 1n 1988, it operated for only three years under the name ‘Underwater World’, before being acquired by the current owners who immediately changed its name to ‘The Aquarium of Western Australia’. Consequently, having only existed for three years after opening, this 3^rd and last edition of a guide book published under its original name is an absolute ‘must have’ for any collector of zoo guides, rare and historical zoo items and zoo memorabilia in general. Rarely, if ever seen and published in 1990, this is definitely a ‘Collectors’ item and bearing in mind it is 36 years old and geographic origin it is, amazingly still in ‘like new’/basically still ‘new’ condition which merely adds to its huge historic, iconic charm and high collectability. Beautifully produced and lavishly illustrated, its 28 pages contain plenty of fascinating and historic information about both the animals and the aquarium itself presented under titles including ‘Welcome, Concept And Construction’, ‘Plans And Information’ which is a large, historic, half page plan of the aquarium with an equally historic accompanying legend/key and visitor information below it, ‘Birth Of The Planet’, ‘The Community Aquarium’, ‘Sharks And Rays’, ‘Pelagic Fishes, Reef Fishes and Dangerous Marine Animals’, ‘Microworld, Touch Pool and Seadragons’, ‘Fish Catching’, ‘Water Quality and Fish Care’, ‘Leeuwin Current’, ‘Fisheries Department and Marmion Marine Park’, ‘Whales And Underwater World’ and more and along with all of this, there are several wonderful and historic colour photographs (one or two of which are full page) of some of the spectacular and unusual species that were at the aquarium at its inception, all those years ago such as Australian sealion, green sea turtle grey nurse shark (full page photo), grey nurse shark with diver (two page double spread photo), grey nurse shark, eagle ray, giant moray eel, red firefish, globefish (full page photo), yellowtail kingfish, Bennett’s butterfly fish, Western blue devil (full page photo),  Western red scorpioncod, potato cod, Clarkes anemone fish, giant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, Western rock lobster, hermit crab, sea star, nudibranch, sea cucumber, translucent red sea squirt (full page photo), dendrophyllia coral and more and there also various photos of the aquarium itself. Snap it up whilst you can as, with the original collection having closed 35 years ago, this is a historic, iconic edition that is as rare as hens’ teeth and consequently never comes onto the market, so the opportunity to acquire a copy doesn’t normally occur and you are unlikely to see another one in a hurry and definitely not in what is basically ‘new’ condition as this one is in. It is without doubt, a wonderfully historic and highly collectable piece of zoo memorabilia from one of Australia’s famous aquariums and one that will most definitely be of huge interest to all collectors and historians and will definitely not disappoint. It will be a real gem in any zoo ephemera collection and will be up there as one of the purchases of the year. A historically significant, unique and exceptional acquisition.

Overseas bids are welcome. Overseas postage is £12.00 International Tracked to Western Europe and £18.00 International Tracked to all other destinations. Please note, both U.K and Overseas postage costs also includes packing, etc, with p&p refunds being given when necessary.