Albany-National Anzac Centre- “Lest we forget”

Dearest Intrepid Reader,

The views over Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound are breathtaking just on their own. Combined with the history of the Anzac legend it is a moving and humbling experience. Albany Heritage Park is a stroke of sheer brilliance in bringing history alive.

We spent the day! Only scratched the surface of the history that lives within this place.

-National Anzac Centre

- Convoy walk and Convoy Lookout

-The Desert Mounted Corps Memorial

-Avenue of Honour

-Apex Lookout

National Anzac Centre

Each of us were given a card that had the name and picture of World War 1 Anzac to follow their personal story. Andrew had, Private Thomas Gardner, and I had Sister Olive Haynes, a Gallipoli Nurse.

The use of interactive technology to immerse you into history and the story telling are spellbinding. ( also is was simple to use and intuitive to interact with)

The following photos are Olives story, I did not want to for get her.

Private Gardner, did return from the war in October 1918. Only to die from drowning in November 1918.

Olive returned to Australia in February 1918 after marrying an Australian Soldier, Second Lieutenant Pat Dooley. She died in 1978.

Why the war started!

Recruitment

Only one horse returned.

Convoy Walk and Lookout

The Desert Mounted Corps Memorial

Avenue of Honour

The Avenue of Honour was planted in 1955-1956. It honours those who died in service or were killed in action in World War One, World War Two and the Korean War. The trees are Eucalyptus Robusta. Each tree has a plaque.

Apex Lookout

A beautiful spot to stop and take in the breathtaking views of Middleton Beach and King George Sound.

The MOTH met up with a fellow ex service man outside when we were looking at the guns. They had quite a good time reminiscing about the ships they had served on and the guns they had operated. They both still actually fitted into the loader and aiming stations although I think they both would have been smaller versions of themselves back in the 1980s.

40/60 Boffer Twin Barrel

Same gun, but you did not have to crank it. A bit more modern with an electric motor and a joystick. Two sailors would operate this gun.

The MOTH operated this 4.5 Inch Gun on HMAS Parramatta and his new friend on HMAS Swan, which is the ship that this gun was off. They were both disappointed at the signs of rust and disrepair of the guns as they had to be kept in perfect operational readiness when they were in service.

Fortress Trail Battery and Magazines

We were immersed in the Anzac stories in the place where it began and it was indeed a privilege to be here. We will return. When we will make more time to learn and pay our respects.

The Premier Hotel. 1891

We took time out for a cold winters day lunch of slow cooked beef cheeks at the very old Premier Hotel. The above photo is in 1936 at the first Albany Classic. This race still takes place in Albany every June.