OUR TRAVELS to ALBANY via THE STIRLING RANGES WA

23^rd April 2012:-

Travelling to Albany from the north you travel alongside the Stirling Ranges. We visited 'The Lily'.......a replica Dutch Windmill.

24^th April 2012:-

What a surprise the city of Albany is. Albany has a lot of history and more recently a new waterfront marina precinct.

Albany is situated on the Princess Royal Harbour. It has a working port, The Albany Port, where they export riches such as wheat, wood chip, and sand. The coast line surrounding Albany is one of much beauty. There are excellent lookouts giving spectacular views over the city and King George Sound 3.5 klms east of Albany. One of the lookouts is Mount Clarence which is the site of the ANZAC Memorial and where a special dawn service is held every ANZAC DAY. As we were visiting on the 24^th April there was much activity in preparation for tomorrow's dawn service. Albany was the embarkation point for Australian troops in the First World War and for many their last view of the island continent. The first dawn service in Australia was celebrated on this mount in 1923. Another lookout is Princess Royal Fortress, a military fort dating back to 1893. We spent 2 hours venturing around the site and its major museum display areas.

Albany is the oldest European settlement in Western Australia, established in 1826, two years before Perth and has the oldest surviving intact cottage in the state - Patrick Taylor Cottage.

Albany's new Waterfront Marina precinct has a new Entertainment Centre opened on 11 December 2010. The building looks like the sails and a hull of a ship, some say a mini Sydney Opera House! The ANZAC Peace Park is also on the waterfront precinct.

25^th April 2012:-

The day started with a phone call to my darling sister, Isabel, to wish her a very 'Happy Birthday'.

Also it is ANZAC DAY............. A day to remember all those men and women who lost their lives in WW1 and several wars since then.

We went on a sightseeing adventure........... To Frenchman Bay, south of Albany, and on the southern side of a narrow peninsula you come into Torndirrup National park. This National Park has numerous natural attractions and the area is buffeted by some extreme force from the sea. We explored the interesting coastline, visiting The Gap, The Natural Bridge, The Blowholes, Frenchman Bay and the old Whaling Station.