GREAT SOUTHERN WONDER
Albany is located on Western Australia’s southern coast, 420 kilometres from Perth. It is the state’s oldest colonial settlement, founded in 1826 and proclaimed as a city in 1998.
The urban districts are concentrated in a hilly area, with magnificent views over Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound.
The city centre lies between Mount Melville and Mount Clarence, and its main thoroughfare, York Street, runs down to the port area at the northern edge of the Harbour.
Well-placed as a port of refuge from the stormy Southern Ocean, Albany was WA's only deepwater port until the construction of Fremantle Harbour in 1897, and continues to play a major role in the state’s maritime trade.
With a population of about 34,000, the city is an important regional service centre, supporting industries that include commercial fishing, timber and agriculture.
Tourism is also a major contributor to the local economy, based on seasonal whale watching, breathtaking coastal scenery and the Great Southern wineries.
THE LITTORAL SEASCAPE
The complex coastline around Albany encloses three main bodies of water – King George Sound, Oyster Harbour and Princess Royal Harbour – each with its own unique hydrography and character.
King George Sound covers an area of 110 square kilometres,
