Australian Wildlife Park Albany

Albany's Historic Whaling Station

Albany's Historic Whaling Station, formerly known as Cheynes Beach Whaling Station, is a significant historical site and award-winning tourist attraction located in Frenchman Bay, Albany, Western Australia. The station was originally established in the 1950s and operated as a commercial whaling facility until 1978, playing a key role in the region's maritime industry.

History and Operations

The genesis of the Cheynes Beach Whaling Company traces back to commercial fishing operations in the 1920s, with whaling recommencing in the early 1950s. The company was formed by a syndicate of eight fishermen, led by G. R. Birss and C. Westerberg from Albany. The whaling station itself was constructed at the Frenchman Bay site in 1952, utilizing a substantial amount of repurposed equipment, including an alcohol distillation plant from Collie. The facility was designed to process whales caught in the surrounding waters, featuring large steel and concrete sheds, workshops, offices, tanks, and boilers. The flensing deck was built over a natural rock slipway, with steam winches used to haul whale carcasses ashore.

During its operational years, the station processed both humpback and sperm whales. In its initial season in 1953, it produced 508 tonnes of whale oil from humpback whales. By 1954, the output increased significantly, with 1,016 tonnes of whale oil derived from 120 whales. Following a decline in humpback whale stocks and international restrictions, the company transitioned to hunting sperm whales in 1962. The enterprise remained profitable, with substantial net profits recorded in 1969 and 1970, driven by record sperm whale catches and high global demand for whale oil, which was used in diverse applications, including by NASA and in the manufacturing of Swiss watches.

Transition to Museum

Whaling activities ceased in 1978 when the last legal whale was caught in Australian waters. The Cheynes Beach Whaling Company officially closed that year. In 1980, the site was transferred to the Jaycees Community Foundation, which, with government and private funding, transformed the former industrial complex into a museum. The museum, initially named Whaleworld, opened in May 1985 and is now known as Albany's Historic Whaling Station. The site preserves much of its original infrastructure, offering visitors a tangible connection to the area's whaling past.

Notable Features

Albany's Historic Whaling Station maintains a fleet of whale chasers, most notably the 'Cheynes' line of four steamers. While Cheynes I was deliberately sunk in 1959, Cheynes II broke free and grounded in 1992, and Cheynes III was sunk in 1982 to create a dive site. Cheynes IV, however, remains at the station, preserved as a museum ship. The adjacent Australian Wildlife Park Albany is a separate 1.3-hectare wildlife park offering close encounters with native Australian animals.