Day 60 – Albany

Nice to have a sleep in this morning, as we awoke to a rainy, and rather cold day. A shock to the system after all our lovely warm weather. First up we headed out the road about 10kms to visit the Mount Romance Sandalwood factory. Although we did visit its partner site in Kununurra a few weeks ago, this is the main plant and distillery where they offer free tours. Brendan’s Bolle/Pianto relations used to be sandalwood cutters almost 100 years ago.

Once the sandalwood has been distilled here (in the worlds largest plant), it is exported globally for fragrances, pharmaceutical products, aromatherapy and traditional medicines. The trees themselves have quite an unusual colored almost yellow wood and are quite small (even at maturity of 25 years old). The wood is chipped (mostly up in the top end, then trucked down here for processing (steaming in vats for 8 days to extract the oil), then refined and purified before being made into many products. One of the biggest customers are monks or religious institutions around the world (in India and Asia) that use sandalwood incense in religious practices. It is also known for its antibacterial, inflammatory and relaxant properties.  The cosmetics are especially good (no aluminium or nasties), so I stocked up on some lipsticks and shampoos, etc. The nuts from the tree are also harvested and eaten. At $100,000 per tonne of wood, it is a very expensive product, and the most expensive wood in the world.

Next we drove back into Albany, and around the other side of the bay to the Discovery Bay Historical Whaling Station. There is also a botanic walk and wildlife park here too, although we decided it was too cold and raining to be outside visiting those today. We did get a glimpse of the beautiful flowering natives around the whaling station though, like this Silver Edged Pincushion flowering bush.

The Whaling Station here was built in the 1950s, and operated until 1978 when the government closed down the whaling industry in Australia, making it illegal to hunt, kill, or hurt whales. Firstly we boarded an old whaling ship, to have a look at life aboard a whale chaser (the men would be out for 9 months of the year).  The kids enjoyed clambering over the ship, exploring the cabins, the galley kitchen, and of course the captains quarters.

We also went inside three huge restored whale oil storage tanks which have been converted to theatres. 3 movies told us of the whaling industry here, the sharks that frequented these waters, and the everyday life of a first mate and his wife  (told through an amazing holograph which the kids loved). We also viewed the immense skeletons of whales. It was an interesting centre, which the kids really enjoyed.

Next up it was back into town to have a look at the WA museum which was a small collection of very old buildings and a convict ship. Firstly we had a look at a fascinating exhibition entitled “The Lost Diggers of Vignacourt, France”. In 2012 the Channel 7 Sunday night TV program ran a program that showed an old farmer in Vignacourt, France uncovering a trunk in his attic, full of about 800 photographs of never seen before, WW1 Australian soldiers, all photographed while on leave in France. His grandfather was the photographer. It is a very moving, and beautifully curated exhibition, and many of the soldiers are still unnamed, although their battalions are evident from their uniforms. A lot of the men have been identified by family members, and then personal information is given where it is known. The actual trunk is also here on display. It will be moved to the Aust War Memorial shortly.

After looking through some of the other buildings and displays, we boarded the replica Convict brig ‘Amity’. This was a terrific tour too. We were given small audio units, and as we passed a number on the ship, we could press the corresponding number, and learn about that particular part of the ship (or person). The ship transported 21 soldiers, 23 convicts and support staff to Albany in 1826. Also on board were enough animals, food and materials to build shelters and grow food crops here when they arrived.

We climbed up and down ladders, into the belly of the ship, where the convicts slept in their bunks. We learned about the animals that were somehow fitted onto the ship too, and looked at the more spacious Captains cabin and navigation section (beautiful woodwork). The kids really enjoyed it. I must say the WA museum people really know how to make these exhibitions come alive for both adults and kids using the latest technology, and making the whole experience interactive.

After that we headed back to the caravan park to drop me off, while Brendan took the kids down the street for dinner and a movie (Pixels). I am enjoying a couple of hours to myself, to catch up on the diary, and a few emails.