Albany travel guide

History

Albany is the site of the first European settlement of Western Australia, thanks to the state’s finest natural harbour, Princess Royal Harbour within King George Sound. The sound was officially discovered by George Vancouver, captain of the Discovery, in 1791, who landed on a beach with a freshwater stream “the colour of brandy but exceedingly well tasted”. He laid claim to the land in the name of King George III and named the inner harbour after the Princess Royal as it was her birthday. He sailed away shortly afterwards to explore the far west coast of North America but his charts led Matthew Flinders to enter the harbour in search of shelter in 1801. Flinders wrote detailed notes on the Aboriginal people he met, describing their kangaroo-skin capes and fascination with his red-coated soldiers.

The French arrived two years later on Baudin’s voyage of exploration and indirectly caused the British settlement of Albany. In NSW and in England the activities of the French were watched anxiously for fear they would claim and settle parts of Australia. In the same way that Tasmania and Victoria were settled immediately after Baudin’s expedition, in 1825 the British authorities decided to order settlement of King George Sound to forestall the French who were reported to be continually present in the southern coastal waters that year. In 1826 Major Edmund Lockyer set out from Sydney in the Amity with a small party of soldiers and convicts and established a town site in Princess Royal Harbour that he named Frederickstown. When James Stirling founded a new colony at Swan River (Perth) in 1829, control of the southern settlement passed from Sydney to Perth and the name was changed to Albany. The town’s position on the main shipping route to the eastern states ensured its survival and it became a busy port. However, its importance quickly declined after Fremantle’s harbour was built in the 1890s. Whaling and the harvesting of karri, jarrah and sandalwood timber were important industries, although all were eventually exhausted and replaced by agriculture.

Skywest flies daily to Perth. Love’s Bus Service, T9841 1211, operates a handful of services around the northern city suburbs, all starting and terminating at Peels Place. The 301 heads out along Middleton Road to Middleton Beach and Emu Point Mon-Fri at 0845, 1100, 1305 and 1450, and Sat at 1030 and 1210. TransWA buses leave from the VIC for Denmark, Walpole, the timber towns and Bunbury Sat-Tue and Thu at 0800, and Mon and Thu at 0835 (the latter Mon and Thu services do not stop at Northcliffe or Pemberton).

Car hire from Albany Car Rentals, 386 Albany Highway, T9841 7077. Budget Rent-A-Car, 360 Albany Highway, T9841 7799. Avis, 557 Albany Highway, T9842 2833. Rainbow Coast Car Rental, 33 Campbell Rd, T9841 7130. Car servicing at De Jonge Mechanical Repairs, 52 Cockburn Rd, T9842 2293. Taxi, T9841 7000.

Banks

Several banks and ATMs on York St.

Medical services

Chemists: Amcal, 262 York St, T9842 2036, daily 0900-2100. Hospital: Albany Regional, Warden Av, T9892 2222. Medical centre: Southern Regional Medical Group, 32 Albany Highway (near York St roundabout), T9841 2733.

Internet

Several, including Public Library, 221 York St.

Police

210 Stirling Terr, T9841 0555.

Post

Corner of York and Grey Sts.