It was a most enjoyable drive between these two historic places with plenty to see along the way. My fascination was with the trees and bushes that grew on either side of the road. Just beautiful.
My next destination was the city of Albany.
I had not booked accommodation – after being told in Kalgoorlie that all accommodation for Esperance and along the coast was booked out, I was a bit concerned that I would not find anything, but I have learned that the Visitor Information Centre is the best place to go for details about vacancies etc, and that most centres have a booking service. So, here I was easily able to get a booking. I chose a motel, just out a bit at Emu Beach. I stayed two nights there.
The following is from a flyer from the Information Centre about Albany.
“Before European settlement, the Great Southern region was inhabited by the Mineng Aborigines of the larger Noongar group. Evidence of the Aboriginal presence in the area dates back about 25,000 years. Noongar family groups moved from place to place within their own territories according to the availability of food.
The first known European sighting of what was to become the Albany region is attributed to Peter Nuyts from the Gulden Zeepaard in 1627, George Vancouver and his party claimed New Holland (which later became known as Western Australia) as a British possession and named King George III Sound. “
There were several French expeditions later, but in November 1826, the Brig Amity arrived from Sydney to form a settlement at King George Sound.
A replica of the Amity holds pride of place near the historic site, where other buildings of note remain, including cottages and the gaol. Albany’s history of note includes the story that in 1914, Australia troops sailed from Albany via Egypt to Gallipoli, where they landed on April 25th, 1915, according to the tourist brochure.
Albany was a whaling town until 1978, when the whaling station ceased operations. These days Albany is a modern town, that celebrates is history.
The scenery in the area is just beautiful, and I was up early one morning to take some photos.
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