Tuesday Voice: Where Europeans first set foot in Australia

Shirley's bench (detail)

Albany, Western Australia

By Vic Midyett

In August, on our way home from our 3-year sabbatical as gray nomads, Shirley and I spent a few days in Albany, at the southern end of Western Australia. I first came here in 1975, when the whaling station was in full swing.
    This charming city marks the spot where the first European settlers set foot in Western Australia, and much of their legacy remains today with around 50 colonial buildings standing proudly as museums, galleries, and restaurants. From convict prisons, whaling ships, and taverns to quaint cottages and grand National Trust residences, you can take in almost two centuries of history on a 30-minute self-guided walk, following the Amity Trail.
    The building with the greatest tale to tell is Whale World - the only museum of its kind in the world to be housed in a formerly fully-operational whaling station. The industry met its end in 1978, creating a safe port of call for migrating humpback, southern right, and blue whales. Spot them from the shore or hop aboard a whale watching cruise for a magical encounter.
    Our caravan park was right on the ocean at Emu Point. This is Shirley’s favorite bench to sit on and read a book:

    This is the main street that goes down to the bay:

    Albany's sunrise on August 14:

    Our proud 21-year-old Nissan Patrol with almost 500,000 miles on her – AND the original 6-cylinder motor:

See “Welcome to Western Australia” for more information about Albany and the State of Western Australia.

Copyright © 2014 by Vic Midyett