Albany history

Foundation and Early Years

Albany holds a special place in the continent's history as the oldest colonial settlement in Western Australia, founded even earlier than Perth. The official birth date of the city is considered to be December 26, 1826, when Major Edmund Lockyer arrived here on the brig "Amity".

Initially, the settlement was named Frederick Town in honour of the Duke of York and Albany. The city received its current name in 1832. The primary objective of the expedition was to establish a military outpost to protect British interests and prevent potential French expansion in this region.

Key Development Factors

Albany's development was largely defined by its unique geographical position. The natural harbour of King George Sound became an ideal shelter for vessels.

• Strategic Importance: The city served as a vital point on the maritime route from Europe to the eastern colonies of Australia.
• Port Infrastructure: Thanks to its deep-water harbour, Albany quickly became a key port for replenishing supplies and repairing ships.
• Political Will: The British government's decision to secure a foothold on the west coast ensured state support for the settlement during its difficult early years.

Early Culture and Economy

In the first decades, life in Albany was closely tied to the sea. The city's economy relied not so much on agriculture, which developed slowly due to soil characteristics, but on maritime industries.

• Whaling: From the mid-19th century, Albany became a centre for the whaling industry, which generated significant income and attracted traders.
• Coaling Station: With the advent of steamships, the city transformed into a crucial coaling station for mail ships plying between Great Britain and Australia.
• Interaction with Indigenous People: The city's history is also inextricably linked with the Menang Noongar people, whose knowledge of the land helped the first settlers adapt to the new conditions.

Key Historical Milestones

• 1791: Captain George Vancouver explores the coast, names King George Sound, and claims the territory for Great Britain.
• 1826: Major Edmund Lockyer arrives on the brig "Amity" and establishes the first European settlement in Western Australia.
• 1832: Governor James Stirling officially approves the city's name — Albany.
• 1841: Explorer Edward John Eyre, together with his Aboriginal companion Wylie, arrives in the city, completing the historic crossing of the Nullarbor Plain.
• 1851: Albany becomes a key coaling station for mail steamers travelling between England and Australia.
• 1889: The completion of the Great Southern Railway connects the port to Perth and opens up new trading opportunities.
• 1893: The start of the gold rush in Kalgoorlie turns Albany into an important gateway for thousands of prospectors arriving by sea.
• 1914: The first convoy of ANZAC troops departs from King George Sound for the fronts of the First World War.
• 1978: The closure of the Cheynes Beach station marks the end of commercial whaling in Australia.
• 2001: The launch of the Albany Wind Farm marks the city's transition to using renewable energy sources.
• 2014: The opening of the National Anzac Centre on the centenary of the Great War's commencement immortalises the memory of the soldiers who sailed from here to the front.

Historical Heritage in the Cityscape

Today, the history of Albany is not just a collection of dates, but a living atmosphere that permeates the streets, waterfronts, and museums. Every passing era has left a material trace available for modern travellers to explore.

• Colonial Architecture and the "Gold Rush".

  The wealth that came to the city with mail steamers and prospectors in the 1890s is forever captured in stone. A walk along Stirling Terrace and York Street transports tourists to the Victorian era: majestic facades of banks, hotels, and administrative buildings have been preserved here, creating a unique architectural ensemble that is rare for Western Australia.

• Memory of ANZAC.

  The events of 1914 have transformed into the region's main memorial complex. The National Anzac Centre on Mount Clarence allows visitors not just to learn facts, but to experience the personal stories of soldiers while overlooking the very harbour where the legendary convoy gathered. This place has become the emotional heart of the city, connecting the past with stunning panoramic views.

• From Whaling to Ecotourism.

  The closure of the whaling station in 1978 gifted the city a unique open-air museum — Albany’s Historic Whaling Station. It is the only fully preserved factory of its kind in the world accessible to tourists. Now, huge industrial structures serve as a backdrop for observing whale migration, symbolising a shift in priorities from extraction to nature conservation.

• Technology as Part of the Landscape.

  The modern stage of Albany's development is visualised in the Albany Wind Farm. The wind turbines are not hidden but are harmoniously integrated into the coastal landscape. They have become a popular tourist location thanks to a network of walking trails offering views of the ocean's power and 21st-century technology.

Architectural Portrait of the City

The urban structure of Albany is dictated by its unique landscape: the city descends from the slopes of Mount Clarence and Mount Melville towards the picturesque Princess Royal Harbour. As the oldest European settlement in Western Australia, Albany has preserved the most complete ensemble of historical buildings in the state, where every layer of stone tells of different stages of development — from an isolated military outpost to a thriving port.

Eras and Styles

The city's architecture clearly reflects the economic ups and downs of the region. The main stylistic directions can be correlated with key historical periods:

• Early Colonial Period (1830–1850s)
  Style: Vernacular, Georgian (elements).

  Early structures are characterised by simplicity, functionality, and the use of local materials (stone and clay). Buildings from this period are low-set, with thick walls and verandas for protection from the sun.

  Iconic Object: Patrick Taylor Cottage (c. 1832) — the oldest surviving residential building in Western Australia, representing a simple single-storey cottage made of slatestone.

• Victorian Flourish (1880–1900s)
  Style: Victorian Academic Classical, Italianate, Filigree.

  The era of the gold rush and the port's heyday brought money and ambition to the city. During this time, the city's ceremonial facade was formed. Buildings became monumental, richly decorated with stucco, columns, and intricate cast-iron balcony lattices.

  Iconic Object: Stirling Terrace. This precinct is considered one of the best examples of a Victorian townscape in Australia, concentrating former banks, hotels, and administrative buildings with facades facing the harbour.

  Iconic Object: Albany Town Hall (1888) — a town hall with a clock tower that became a symbol of civic pride of that era.

• Federation Era (1901–1915)
  Style: Federation (Australian version of Arts and Crafts).

  With the federation of the Australian colonies, a desire for a national style appeared in architecture. Buildings of this period are often made of red brick, feature complex tiled roofs, and include decorative timber elements.

  Iconic Object: St John's Anglican Church. Although construction began earlier, its appearance, combining various elements, is an important dominant feature of the historic centre.

• Modernity (XX–XXI Century)
  Style: Modernism, Structural Expressionism.

  Modern architecture in Albany delicately fits into the historical context or, conversely, creates bold contrasts, highlighting the city's development as a cultural hub.

  Iconic Object: Albany Entertainment Centre (2010). A building with a geometrically complex shape and extensive use of glass and metal resembles a crystal or a ship, symbolising the city's connection with the sea and the future.

Founders and Pioneers

• George Vancouver
  Navigator and Explorer (18th Century)
  Although Vancouver visited these places before the city was founded, it was he who discovered and mapped King George Sound in 1791. His research confirmed the strategic value of the harbour, which subsequently predetermined the choice of location for the first settlement in Western Australia.
• Major Edmund Lockyer
  British Military Officer, City Founder (19th Century)
  Commander of the expedition that arrived on the brig "Amity" in 1826. Lockyer officially established the military outpost (future Albany), ensuring a British presence on the continent's west coast and preventing potential French colonisation.
• Mokare
  Leader and Guide from the Menang People (19th Century)
  A key figure in the early history of the colony. Mokare acted as a mediator between the indigenous population and European settlers, assisted in exploring the area, and facilitated the peaceful coexistence of cultures during the settlement's early years.
• Alexander Collie
  Surgeon, Botanist, and Administrator (19th Century)
  The first Government Resident of Albany. Besides administrative work, he made a significant contribution to the study of the region's unique flora. The Collie River in Western Australia is named after him.
• Edward John Eyre
  Continental Explorer (19th Century)
  In 1841, Eyre, together with his Aboriginal companion Wylie, completed a historic and gruelling crossing of the Nullarbor Plain in Albany, proving the possibility of an overland route between South and Western Australia.

Cultural Figures and Contemporaries

• Tim Winton
  Writer, Living Classic of Australian Literature (XX–XXI Century)
  One of Australia's most famous writers lived and studied in Albany. The city and its rugged coastline became the setting for his famous novels, such as "Shallows" and "Breath", attracting the attention of readers from all over the world to the region.