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What is Albany like? Albany is a city of about 33,000 people who enjoy a superb natural environment which offers opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating, whalewatching and a host of other outdoor activities. The city has a high level of community services and infrastructure, including excellent health care, well-resourced library, a university presence, well-maintained sports grounds and a host of opportunities for healthy and rewarding lifestyles. The main industries in Albany are tourism, fishing and agriculture, although before the 1950s whaling was one of the major sources of income and employment for the population. The city offers all the services associated with a regional centre of this size. See our Albany Fast Facts for details.
A little bit of history Albany was the home of the Menang Noongar people, who made use of the coastal waters of the area over the summer months. They called the area Kinjarling which means “the place of rain”. Fish traps found at Emu Point suggest that the area held a significant population of Aboriginal people. The first European explorers to visit the area around Albany were on the Dutch ship Gulden Zeepaert (Golden Seahorse) skippered by Francois Thijssen in 1626. In 1791, English explorer George Vancouver entered and named King George Sound. On 26 September of that year Vancouver took possession of New Holland for the British Crown on the site of what is now known as Albany. The King George Sound settlement was a hastily-despatched British military outpost, intended to forestall any plans by France for settlements in Western Australia. Albany is the site of the oldest continuous European settlement in Western Australia. Founded in 1826, three years before the state capital of Perth, Albany was officially named by Governor Stirling in 1832. It is named after Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, and son of King George III. |
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