Port Albany
Albany has managed to preserve a number of architectural monuments to this day. St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, built in 1848, dominates the city. It is the first Anglican house of worship to be consecrated in Western Australia. Today it is the epitome of the typical English country church.
Until 1979, whaling was allowed in the city, making Albany the main base for whalers in the area. During migration, these giant mammals come close to the coast, making whales an easy catch for local fishermen.
History
The Port of Albany is one of the oldest ports in Western Australia, established in 1826. It originally served as a military and penal base in the early colonial period. The port played a significant role in the development of the city, being the only deep-water port in the Great Southern region that could service large ocean-going ships.
In the early 20th century, with the development of the fishing and lumber industry, Albany became an important center for the export of these raw materials. The harbour was also used in both world wars and in 1914 the first Anzac troops left from here for the battleground at Gallipoli. Today, the port is a centre for the export of grain, silica sand and woodchips, as well as an emerging destination for large cruise ships.