Explore the Anzac Legacy in Albany

It was from the small port city of Albany that more than 30,000 Australian and New Zealand troops set sail in an enormous convoy, bound for the Gallipoli battleground in World War I. For many, this was the last time they would ever set foot on home soil.

Albany is the perfect place to explore the Anzac legacy. There are plenty of ways to show your respect to those brave servicemen and women, and learn about this time in our history that has been woven into the national psyche.

National Anzac Centre

The centre of everything Anzac in the city. Opened in 2014, the award-winning, visually stunning facility can be found overlooking enormous King George Sound (the specs of the Sound – deep and wide – was one of the reasons Albany was chosen as the WWI departure point). Here you can discover significant monuments, plan your itinerary, read stories of the servicemen and women, and explore artefacts and interactive displays.
There are many events planned for April 24 and 25 and the weeks around this. Visit the National Anzac Centre for more information.

Image courtesy of FORM.

Field of Light

At Mt Clarence you can find the Field of Light: Avenue of Honour. This spectacular art installation by Bruce Munro welcomed more than 100,000 people in just four months since its unveiling in October 2018. Open from sunrise to 10 p.m. daily until April 28. Visit Field of Light: Avenue of Honour for more.

Photograph by Taryn Hays, courtesy of FORM.

Attend the dawn service

This is a moving experience you’ll never forget. Albany is believed to be the birthplace of the Anzac Day Dawn Service, with the first ever service held in 1918 by Padre White, the Anglican chaplain who also has a local monument named after him.

If you can’t make it to Albany on April 25 but you want to pay your respects, here are some of the other services throughout the South-West or check out the
RSL website to find one near you:

• Perth’s Kings Park: the State War Memorial on Fraser Avenue
• Mandurah: the war memorial on the foreshore in Halls Head
• Dunsborough: assemble in Lions Park for the March down Dunn Bay Rd to the Dunsborough foreshore for the 11:00am service
• Busselton: the war memorial on Queen and Albert Streets
• Margaret River: memorial park on Willmott Avenue.

Anzac Peace Park

A place of reflection, this beautiful park sits on the foreshore. With Memorial Wall, Pier of Remembrance, and a garden named Lone Pine Grove, it’s quite a place to wander around. The grove is said to have sprung to life here when soldiers brought back pine cones from the battlegrounds of Lone Pine.

Interested in other highlights of historic Albany? These are the 12 best things to do in the city and the Great Southern 

Padre White Lookout

Stand in the same spot as Reverend Arthur Earnest White, better known as Padre White, who watched the flotilla sail for Gallipoli in November 1914. The lookout is a walkway on Mt Clarence and is where Padre White led his congregation in what is believed to be the first-ever dawn service. Read more about him thanks to the ABC Great Southern’s, The life and myths of Padre White.

Atatürk Memorial

Visit the statue of the Commander in Chief of the Turkish forces at Gallipoli,

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, which overlooks the ocean channel also bearing his name. His heartfelt words for the families on both sides of the battle have become legend. Read more about his moving tribute with the Australian War Memorial.

Princess Royal Fortress

Although not specifically created for Anzacs or WWI, this is a fascinating former military site nonetheless. This pre-federation fort dates back to 1893 and was the first federal defence. The location was considered so important in protecting intercontinental trade routes, all the colonies contributed to its construction – highly unusual for the time. The fort now serves as a museum, with plenty of memorabilia and replicas on show.

Take a tour

Drive around to the landmarks of your choosing at your own pace, or join an organised tour. Download your precinct map here. Before you leave, take a trip down memory lane with The Albany Advertiser’s fascinating ‘then and now’ video on its Facebook page.

Embrace the Anzac spirit in Albany, Western Australia. View our portfolio to discover the beautiful properties for your next stay in the region and read about other Things to do in Albany.