Albany
Population 24,184
Albany is situated 406km (252 miles) south of Perth on King George Sound,
on the southern coast of Western Australia.
Climate
Albany has a mild Mediterranean climate with an average rainfall of 944mm
(37 ins), most of which falls during the winter months. The temperatures,
regulated by the ocean, vary from a summer daytime average of 25C (77F)
to a winter daytime average of 17C (63F).
Characteristics
The heart of the Rainbow Coast (Great Southern) region of Western Australia,
Albany is nestled by the tranquil waters of Princess Royal Harbour. As
Albany was the first settlement in the State, it is steeped in history
and memories. It sits amidst a relatively unspoilt area of Australia with
National Parks, forests, rugged coastline, mountains, wilderness areas
and tranquil rivers all within easy reach.
How to Get There
By Bus
Westrail, (08) 9326 2000, provides a daily service to Albany via York or
Kojonup.
By Car
From Perth, via Albany Highway, approximately 4 hours, or a longer drive
via the coast road.
Tourist Information
Albany Tourist Bureau, Old Railway Station, Proudlove Parade, (08) 9841
1088, is hopen seven days a week. Visit the website at www.albanytourist.com.au
or email them at b@albanytourist. com.au
Accommodation
A wide variety of accommodation exists in and around Albany including hotels,
motels, guest houses, chalets, caravan parks, farm stay and backpackers
or youth hostels. Information can be obtained from the Tourist Bureau.
Here is a selection with prices for a double room per night, which should
be used as a guide only. hThe telephone area code is 08.
Albany Dog Rock Motel, 303 Middleton Road, 9841 4422. 81 units, licensed
restaurant $80-105.
Ace Motor Inn, 314 Albany Highway, 9841 2911. 54 units, unlicensed restaurant
$75-85.
Frederickstown Motel, Cnr Fredericks Street & Spencer Street, 9841
1600. 36 units, unlicensed restaurant $90-100.
Amity Motor Inn, 234 Albany Highway, 9841 2200. 40 units, licensed restaurant
$70-90.
Emu Point Motel, cnr Mermaid Avenue & Medcalf Parade, 9844 1001. 14
units $70 - 80.
Esplanade Motor Hotel, Flinders Parade, Middleton Beach, 9842 1711. 48
rooms (private facilities), licensed restaurant $90-105.
Caravan Parks
Mt Melville Caravan Park, 22 Wellington Street, 9841 4616. (Dogs allowed
on bond only) - powered sites $20-23 for two, on-site vans $44-48 for two.
Albany Tourist Village, 550 Albany Highway, 9841 3752. (No dogs allowed)
- powered sites $17 for two, on-site vans $37-41 for two.
Middleton Beach Holiday & Caravan Park, 28 Flinders Parade, Middleton
Beach, 9841 3593. (No pets allowed) - powered sites $19-23 for two, chalets
$75 - 150 for two.
Panorama Holiday Cottages & Caravan Park, Lot 106 Frenchman Bay Road,
9844 4031. (Dogs allowed on leash) - powered sites $20-25 for two, on-site
vans $30-45 for two.
Eating Out
Albany has a very good selection of restaurants, offering every type of
cuisine, cafes and takeaway outlets, and the Tourist Office has a complete
list. Here are some you might like to try:
Bangkok Rose, 112 York St, 9842 2366.
Al Fornetto Ristorante & Pizzeria, 132 York St, 9842 1060.
Goshu-ya Japanese Restaurant, 1 Mermaid Avenue, Emu Point, 9844 1111 -
BYO, snacks and seafood - hopen 10am-late.
The Curry Pot, 38 Stirling Terrace, 9842 9399.
Ristorante Leonardos, 164 Stirling Terrace, 9841 1732.
Dog Rock Restaurant, Middleton Road, 9841 1400 - Licensed, Italian - hopen
Mon-Sat, 5pm drinks, 6.30pm dinner.
Amity Restaurant, 234 Albany Hwy, 9841 2200.
Kooka's Restaurant, 204 Stirling Tce, 9841 5889.
Red Rooster, 87 Lockyer Rd, 9841 2033
Kentucky Fried Chicken, Lockyer Ave, 9841 7350.
Hungry Jacks, 13 Lockyer Ave, 9842 1314.
Moby Dicks Fish & Chips, 60 South Coast Highway, 9841 6142.
Points of Interest
The town of Albany lies on a saddle between Mt Melville and Mt Clarence
overlooking Princess Royal Harbour, one of the greatest landlocked deep-water
harbours in the world. It is a pretty town with lovely water vistas at
every turn, and many vantage points for breathtaking views and holiday
snaps.
Within the main town area there are many historic buildings, including
the now refurbished Town Hall, built in 1887, the first consecrated Anglican
church in WA, and the Western Australian Museum. The Western Australian
Museum building was built in the early 1850s, then more rooms were added
and it was converted to a house for Government residents in 1873. For eighty
years, it was the centre of the town's social activities. For the following
twenty years, it had a variety of uses before becoming derelict. It was
then rebuilt and converted to its present form. It is located in Residency
Road and you can contact the museum on 9841 4844.
Adjoining the Western Australian Museum is the Brig Amity replica and the
Eclipse building. This building, opened back in 1989, houses the massive
$5 million optic from the Old Eclipse Island Lighthouse and a Touch Gallery
full of hands-on exhibits for those more tactile visitors. The Old Gaol
is nearby, and was built in 1851 as the convict hiring depot. In 1872 it
became the district gaol, and in the early 1930s, a store house. It then
stood empty for many years until 1968, when the Albany Historical Society
began its restoration. The museum has an extensive collection of social
and historical artefacts.
Patrick Taylor Cottage, in Duke Street, was built around 1832, of wattle
and daub, and is thought to be the oldest building still standing in Albany.
It now contains over 2000 items including period costumes, old clocks,
silverware and kitchenware.
A short distance along Middleton Road past the famous Dog Rock, is Old
Farm Strawberry Hill. The Old Farm has enjoyed a colourful history since
it was established in 1831 as the Government Farm for the Settlement of
Albany. The two-storey home was built in 1836 for the Government Resident
Sir Richard Spencer. Restored to its former glory by the National Trust
in 1964, it stands serene in the midst of an English garden, hidden from
the view of passers-by.
One of the most unusual buildings in Albany is the Old Post Office building,
located on historic Stirling Terrace. This building was originally used
as a customs and bond store, with the middle level being a sorting area
and post office. The spiral staircase in the tower is magnificent, and
the building now houses restaurants, a weaver and a museum.
An admirable restoration for Albany is to be found on Mount Clarence in
Princess Royal Fortress. This military establishment was conceived in 1878
and was operational until 1956. After an intensive restoration programme,
the fortress now has an important part to play in the region. Within its
boundaries are a kiosk and a restaurant with stunning views from timber
decking.
For those interested in exploration in the near vicinity, Torndirrup National
Park will provide much interest. Follow the signs to Frenchman Bay Road
and only 15 minutes' drive away is some of the most dramatic and beautiful
coastline in Australia. Torndirrup National Park is best known for the
Gap, Natural Bridge, the Blowholes and Peak Head. Panoramic views can be
obtained from the Stoney Hill Heritage Trail, and Frenchman Bay Beach is
a lovely sheltered little nook in complete contrast to the coast near the
open sea.
Also found in Torndirrup National Park is a museum with a difference. After
being part of one of the bloodiest chapters in the history of whaling,
Australia's last mainland whaling station, located in Albany, closed in
1978. This whaling station, now known as Whaleworld, is a museum of the
whaling industry and now plays a most important part in the preservation
of the magnificent creatures it once sought to slaughter.
To find out about the history of Albany it would be wise to pick up a copy
of The Amity Trail. This brochure gives you a guide to the historic places
around Albany.
There are many scenic drives you can take around Torbay which lead to places
like Anvil Beach and Cosy Corner Beach.
Flora
Jarrah, marri, sheoak and peppermints are the principal trees, with some
karris to be found. Spectacular shrubs include the scarlet banksia, the
bright red swamp bottlebrush, the golden showy dryandra, pink yellow and
cream cone flowers and the white Southern Cross. Orchids abound, while
the yellow and red Albany catspaw is seen in sandy woodlands. Hiding in
the dense swamps is the Albany pitcher plant, while on swamp margins the
curious red and white swamp daisy may be seen. July to October are the
best months for flowers, but there are blooms to be found at any time of
the year.
Fauna
Many varieties of birds inhabit the area, including land and water birds
both of noisy and colourful varieties. Small native animals such as pygmy-possums,
short-nosed bandicoots and bush rats are common, as well as kangaroos,
emus on occasion, and many more including a wide variety of reptiles. Whales
are frequently sighted from cliffs, particularly during winter, and seals
sometimes visit.
Facilities
There are good sporting facilities for most sports within the town, in
addition to which there are two gyms, a large heated swimming pool with
spa, horse riding and two golf courses. On a more cultural level there
is an excellent town theatre for movies and stage shows, and art galleries
with regular exhibitions. There are many tours available - scenic, adventure,
diving and fishing - and river cruises. As Albany is a large regional centre,
most needs are catered for. The Tourist Bureau has brochures detailing
current events.
Outlying Attractions
The Rainbow Coast area of Western Australia, of which Albany is the heart,
stretches from the hamlet of Walpole in the west to Bremer Bay in the east,
and from Albany in the south to the towns of Kojonup and Katanning in the
north.
A total of seven national parks can be found within the Rainbow Coast and
although each has its own special characteristics, they share many common
natural attractions.
Walpole/Nornalup National Park
This park covers some 18,000ha (44,460 acres) surrounding the Walpole and
Nornalup Inlets at the eastern gateway to the region. It has deep rivers,
majestic karri forest, waterfalls, wildflowers and unspoilt coastline. The
Pioneer Cottage, in Pioneer Park, Walpole, was opened in October 1987 and
was a joint venture between the Walpole Tourist Bureau and the Department
of Conservation and Land Management. The Bureau provided the funds and
the department carried out the construction. The cottage follows the basic
design of an early pioneer home, but it is not meant to be a replica. It
has been provided to commemorate the pioneers of the district who were
responsible for opening up the virgin bush areas and laying the foundations
of the district as it is today. The Walpole Tourist Information Centre
is in the Pioneer Cottage, Walpole, (08) 9840 1111.
Porongurup National Park
Nestled near Mount Barker, this park is famous for its granite rock formations
and luxuriant karri and marri trees. Footpaths lead to several peaks, and
other paths and heritage trails cross the ranges.
Stirling Ranges
About 80km (50 miles) north of Albany the rugged peaks of the Stirling
Ranges rise abruptly to more than 1000m (3281 ft) above sea level. Stark
cliff faces, magnificent views and rare plants ranging from tiny orchids
and heathland to flowering gums, are all part of the Stirling Range. Most
peaks have paths leading from the parking areas to the top, and offer magnificent
views for walkers.
Fitzgerald River National Park
In stark contract is the Fitzgerald River National Park which covers 270,000ha
(666,900 acres) surrounding the inlets of the Gairdner, Fitzgerald and
Hamersley Rivers between Bremer Bay and Hopetoun. In this small area of
WA can be found nearly 20% of the total number of plant species found in
the whole State, including 75 that are endemic to this park. The park protects
magnificent scenery and is large and untouched enough to provide a habitat
for many species of native plants and animals fast becoming rare elsewhere.
The Fitzgerald is the only national park in WA to be gazetted as a World
Biosphere Reserve. Public use is varied with a full range from wilderness
enjoyment through to coastal fishing at more accessible spots.
Wineries
The mild climate of the Rainbow Coast not only creates an ideal holiday
destination, it also lends itself to wines of good quality which are beginning
to come to the fore. The past couple of years have brought important recognition
of the quality of grapes from this district, made up mainly of many small
vineyards. Plantings in Albany, Denmark and Mount Barker all show the
splendid purity of varietal fruit that vines achieve in this cool climate
region. Now Mount Barker has attracted two large vineyard projects. While
the boutique vineyard image won't be lost, the developments will substantiate
the Rainbow Coast as a winegrowing region.
The Tourist Bureau has particulars of any winery tours and cellar door
sales that are available during your visit.
Denmark
Situated 55km (34 miles) west of Albany on the South Coast Highway, Denmark
has a population of around 2000. The Denmark River flows through this charming
little town, and the local industries are timber milling, salmon fishing
(February to April) and farming - beef cattle, dairying, sheep, pigs and
potato growing.
The Tourist Bureau is in Strickland Street, (08) 9848 2055, and they will
be able to advise on the local attractions, which include: Wilson Head
and Lions Lookout; The Aquarium and Sphinx Rock; Mount Shadford Scenic
Drive, William Bay National Park; Wilson Inlet; and Parry's Inlet and Beach.
Ocean Beach, about 8km from Denmark, is one of the finest surfing beaches
in the State. The town also has a golf course, bowling greens and tennis
courts.
Katanning
Situated 170km (106 miles) north of Albany on the Great Southern Highway,
Katanning is a bustling and progressive centre, catering for the town and
farming communities. There is excellent accommodation available, and the
Tourist Information Centre, 54 Austral Terrace, &08 9821 2634, has
details.
Attractions include the Old Mill Museum, Kobeelya homestead, Katanning
Mosque and the Old Winery. |
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