Albany, Port town in Western Australia, Australia
Albany is a port town at the southern tip of Western Australia, located roughly 418 kilometers southeast of Perth. The settlement runs along Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound, providing access to the Southern Ocean.
British forces founded a military garrison in December 1826, initially called Frederick Town, marking the first permanent European settlement in Western Australia. The harbor quickly grew into an important supply station for whaling ships and steamers traveling between Europe and Australia.
The town carries the name of Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, while the harbor honors King George III. Local festivals and memorials recall the early colonial days and the role as a supply stop for ships heading to Asia.
Flight connections to Perth operate several times daily, making it easy to reach from the state capital. Coastal roads pass through farming regions, and most points of interest sit close to the water or in the surrounding hills.
Between May and October, humpback and southern right whales pass close to shore, using the protected waters as a resting spot on their migration. Observers can often spot them from land, especially on calm days.
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