The City of Albany is set among the peaks of Mount Melville, Mount Clarence and Mount Adelaide, 450km south-east of Perth.
Albany is also nestled between the waterways of the Princess Royal Harbour to the south, the King George Sound to the south and west, and the Kalgan River and Oyster Harbour in the north west.
Albany is surrounded by National Parks including Torndirrup National Park (home of The Gap and Natural Bridge formations), West Cape Howe (the southern most point of WA and the westernmost end of the Great Australian Bight), and Albany's newest National Park, Gull Rock National Park.
The Albany Town Hall (photo above) is located on York Street, the main street in town which gently slopes toward the Princess Royal Harbour.
This University City is home to over 30,000 and has a good shopping scene, cafe and food options galore, outdoor adventures by the dozens, all set in the peaceful and beautiful surrounding cliffs, rocks, beaches, oceans, forests and bushland.Today the City of Albany is a wonderful and much visited tourist destination and base from which to explore the south west of the state.
It is well regarded for its natural beauty and preservation of heritage as the oldest permanently settled town in Western Australia, before Perth and Fremantle. The city is alive with the arts, including the state of the art Albany Entertainment Centre. .Old Albany Post Office Tower
Albany Old Gaol & Museum
Albany is a beautiful city
Albany Historical Precinct
Many of the original colonial buildings are now museums, restaurants and galleries which add to its uniqueness. Albany is Western Australia's first European settlement (1826).
Albany Australia is a very popular destination for Western Australians during school holidays, long weekends and getaways.
It is a peaceful, safe and naturally beautiful environment with entertainment, history, delicious cuisine and a range of fabulous accommodation to suit everyone.Albany has a great deal of historical significance to Australia as this was the first official settlement of Western Australia and also the departure point from which the ANZACs left for Gallipoli.
It also has a number of historic sites including the National ANZAC Centre in Princess Royal Fortress (commonly known as The Forts), Patrick Taylor Cottage, ("the oldest dwelling in Western Australia, c1832"), a replica of the Brig Amity ship and more! Read more about Albany's History.
There is a memorial to the ANZAC Desert Mounted Corps on top of Mount Clarence. The memorial consists of a statue of an Australian mounted soldier assisting a New Zealand soldier whose horse has been wounded and a wall bearing the words "Lest We Forget".
The first commemorative dawn service was held atop Mount Clarence on Anzac Day, 25 April 1923. A dawn service has been held ever since and currently around several thousand people participate each year. [wikipedia] Learn more about the Albany Heritage Park.
Albany is truly a harbour city filled with character and charm! View the Albany History Page for photos of Albany pre 1918.
There are many beaches surrounding the City of Albany, with Middleton Beach being the most popular, and the closest to the town centre!
View the Albany WA Beaches Map for all the Albany Beaches.
Middleton Beach, Albany, Western Australia
Albany is one of the best places in WA to venture out for day trips to see whales in the Great Southern Ocean. Despite Albany's whaling past, the Humpback and the Southern Right Whales use the sheltered southern bays for mating and raising their calves. Whales are frequently spotted from the lookouts between May and October.
Albany is the southern terminus of the Bibbulmun Track walking trail which ends close to Perth. Find out more about the Bibbulmun Track as it traverses the Rainbow Coast.
You can oftentimes see whales from the Albany Wind Farm lookout which winds along the Bibbulmun Track.
You can also see 18 spectacular eco-friendly turbines which produce 80% of Albany's electricity needs.
This peaceful modern city with traditional values is surrounded by nature and beauty at its best and it is wonderful place to visit anytime of year.
More information on the south-west coast in our other Western Australian travellers guides:
The Rainbow Coast is a national biosphere area and deserves our care and respect, please try to reduce your environmental impact when visiting the coast. Your safety while visiting the region iis your responsibility, please obey the signs and be careful. THANKS FOR VISITING!
Fremantle, the Port City, is located south-west of Perth at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle's vibrant nightlife, music scene and cafe' culture make Fremantle a perfect getaway from the bustle of Perth. Beaches, history, shopping, dining out, and more. VISIT FREMANTLE
The Margaret River Region is an area of magnificent beauty on the western coast of the south west of WA. From the expansive shores of Busselton on Geographe Bay, through Dunsborough & Margaret River to Augusta, the Margaret River Region is fantastic. VISIT MARGARET RIVER
Denmark WA is one of the most beautiful places along the south coast as it has forests, beaches, rivers and waves. Everything you need for the perfect south coast holiday. Denmark Wineries are popular too! Info on Denmark Town including shopping, dining & history, VISIT DENMARK WA