Albany Town Jetty given interim heritage listing

26/7/96

The oldest jetty still in service in Western Australia is to have its heritage values recognised by the State Government.

Heritage Minister Richard Lewis said the historic Albany Town Jetty had been placed on the State Register of Heritage Places on an interim basis, following a recommendation from the Heritage Council of WA.

Mr Lewis said that since being constructed in 1862, the jetty had played an important part in Albany's rich history.

He said the jetty, on the north shore of Princess Royal Harbour below the Old Albany Post Office, was an Albany landmark and highly prized by the local community.

Albany's first town jetty was built in about 1837 but quickly became obsolete. The new jetty, a timber and iron finger construction, was built between 1862 and 1864 and there were a number of additions up until 1900.

"This included, in 1868, the construction of three-storey Government offices at the end of Spencer Street, with a bonded store adjoining the jetty," Mr Lewis said.

"Around the same time, Albany Town Jetty was declared an official landing for custom purposes.

"Until 1897, the jetty was the gateway port to Australia for international passenger ships arriving from Europe via Cape Leeuwin.

"During this period it was also the principal landing place in WA for migrants, imports and exports and international mail."

The Minister said the jetty was also associated with the former Cheynes Beach Whaling Station as the jetty for the whale-chasers.

"While its economic importance should not be under-estimated, the jetty also played an important role in Albany's social activities," he said.

"In the early part of the century, the jetty was the focal point for social activities, with tea rooms, baths, the Princess Royal Yacht Club boatshed and a building for naval cadets."

Mr Lewis said the heritage listing of the jetty included the seabed under the jetty and adjacent to it, which contained a number of important maritime archaeological artefacts dating from 1860s.

Similar jetty sites survive at Busselton, Esperance, Fremantle, Geraldton and Port Hedland, although Albany was the oldest.

Mr Lewis said the jetty had close links with the development of port facilities in WA.

"The jetty is highly prized by the Albany community and deserves recognition for its heritage values," he said.

The jetty is still accessible to the general public, although water access was restricted to the pilot boat and tugboat berths.

Media contact: Bronwyn Hillman 222 9595, 221 1377