Staying in a cabin overnight not only keeps us warm and dry but provides an opportunity for the kids to cook Dad breakfast for Father's Day.
Albany was selected asthe departure point for ANZAC troops due to it's important coal and port facilities. The first convoy sailed out of King George Sound bound for Gallipoli on 1st November 1914 and took 30 000 ANZAC troops, 7500 horses and supplies on a fleet 40 transport ships & 5 naval escort vehicles. Albany was the last sighting of Australia for those who fought and died at Gallipoli, in France or the Middle East. Thus Albany's place in history is recognised at many sites around the town.
On the foreshore is ANZAC Peace Park along with The Desert Mounted Corps memorial which features an Australian mounted soldier assisting a NZ soldier whose horse has been wounded. It is from this vantage point at Mt Clarence that we are supposed to have breathtaking island and ocean views however on this day, Albany is shrouded in mist and low cloud and thus poor visability.
We visit an impressive ship on the foreshore which is a full-scale relic of the Brig Amity which brought the first settlers and then convicts to Albany in 1826. We climbed aboard and went below decks not just because it was pouring rain but to follow the ship's journey from Sydney to Albany. It also filled the void in learning about these ships along the WA coast and give Angus and Claire first hand experience of the life of a sailor in 1826.
We head out of Albany and even though it would be incredible to take in the jagged peaks of the Stirling Ranges, we figure it will be unlikely to have good visibility considering the weather.
We travel ongside the Fitzgerald River NP and the pristine Fitzgerald Biosphere Reserve which are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems endorsed by the United Nations. This reserve contains an undisturbed core enclosed by the Fitzgerald NP surrounded by a buffer of uncleared bush, protected coastline and marine environment.
Interesting concept since on the other side of the road is overused and cleared pastoral land.
Another "Pink Lake" in Esperance but only at a particular time of the year (not now). We stay in a cabin due to the weather again but are hoping to use the tents at our next stop as these cabins really bite into our budget.
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