Anzacs and Whale Hunters at Albany

Albany is a town with a lot of character. Alongside the old buildings there is some great modern architecture as well as beautifully maintained gardens and foreshores and some incredibly large rocks/boulders in random places throughout the town (such as next to the Woolies carpark). Houses have also been built around these huge rocks that  are scattered around the steep slopes of the town. It is a place steeped in history and was the last view of Australia for many ANZACs.  One evening we spent dusk on the summit of Mt Clarence, where the tradition of the dawn service was begun in 1930 by an army chaplain, Padre White. We also explored the Princess Royal Fortress, the oldest surviving military site in WA, where we were able to climb onto, into and around massive guns, torpedoes and other military equipment. Jackson is too young to understand the significance of many of the places and memorials we visited but Emilia was full of questions. After explaining and answering her questions in as much detail as appropriate she pondered for awhile and suggested that the countries should just share their land so no one has to fight! Such an innocent, but thoughtful, comment.

Daniel spent one morning at the National Anzac Centre whilst I took the kids to the beach as we decided it might be too much for them. He found it very interesting and emotive and we both reflected about how grateful we are.

Another day in Albany was spent at Discovery Bay, the last whaling station to run in Australia (it was closed 1978). Some of the displays were sickening and it was horrible to think these amazing creatures were killed in such a way. However the whaling station was extremely interesting as we got to climb through the CheynesIV Whaling Boat, watch a 3D movie on whales, see whale skeletons and look at the huge cookers they used to process the whale blubber into oil. 

The Light Horse Regiment Memorial

Watching the sunset from Padre Memorial on Mt Clarence, where the tradition of the Dawn Service begun.

Anzac Memorial at sunset.

Trying out some war ship guns at the Anzac Memorial Park.

The attacking magpies at Padre's Lookout - watch out Barbie they are vicious!

Checking out the Brig Amity, a replica first settlers ship in Albany.

They felt very special in their captain hats.

 

Steering the Cheynes IV, whaling ship, to sea.

The lovely on board volunteer, Bill, decked us out in sailing caps and insisted on taking a family photo.

We got to wander through all areas of the old whaling ship, the Cheynes IV

An audio story made the sound of the harpoon firing then heaps of smoke came out - Jackson thought he had actually fired it.

A Crow's Nest Lookout (on the ground). Emilia is holding Jackson up.

A whaling harpoon.

Skeleton from a Blue Whale.

Dinner on the foreshore at Middleton Beach