Built in 1852, the Albany Convict Gaol originally comprised a men’s cell block and warders’ quarters. Established as a Convict Hiring Depot with rehabilitation as a central principle, it housed Imperial convicts and skilled labourers transported from England between 1850 and 1868. The Gaol briefly closed in 1872, but by 1873 it was expanded and reopened as a public prison. The additions of women’s cells, a hall, and extra warders’ quarters reflected the growing demand for greater capacity and administrative facilities, marking a new era in the site’s history. In 1994,  it was opened to the public as a museum, managed by the Albany Historical Society.

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Address: 

267 Stirling Tce, 

Albany WA 6330

The Residency Building was originally constructed to support the adjacent Convict Hiring Depot, serving as both a commissariat store and administration office. After the depot’s closure in 1872, the building underwent significant renovations, transforming the store into a residence for the Government Resident and Resident Magistrate. However, it was often criticised for its cold and damp conditions. Over the years, the Residency took on many roles — including as a school hostel, naval depot and training facility. In 1975, it entered a new chapter when it opened to the public as a museum, becoming part of the Western Australian Museum network.

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Address: 

Residency Road, 

Albany WA 6330

The original H.M. Colonial Brig Amity was built in 1816 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. True to its name, meaning “friendship,” the Amity carried the first European settlers to Western Australia, arriving in Princess Royal Harbour on Christmas Day in 1826, near the very spot where its full sized replica now rests. Constructed in 1976 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of that historic voyage, the replica offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into 19th century seafaring life and the courage of those who navigated treacherous waters to forge new beginnings. Today, the Brig Amity is open to the public and managed by the Museum of the Great Southern.

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Address: 

20 Amity Quays,

Albany WA 6330

Foundation Park marks the site where Major Edmund Lockyer established Western Australia’s first European and Aboriginal settlement. The garrison included a commandant’s residence, hospital, barracks, cookhouse, powder magazine, vegetable garden, officers’ quarters, blacksmith’s shed, boat shed and saw pit. On 21 January 1827, Lockyer raised the British flag to proclaim the settlement of ‘Frederickstown,’ in honour of King George III’s second son, H.R.H. Prince Frederick Augustus, Duke of York and Albany. In 1832, Sir James Stirling, Governor of the Swan River Colony, visited the settlement and officially renamed it Albany, cementing its place in the history of the region.

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Address: 

35 Parade St,

Albany WA 6330

Patrick Taylor Cottage, built in 1832 by John Morley is the oldest surviving dwelling in Western Australia. Originally situated on a 240-acre (97 ha) block, the cottage was purchased by Patrick Taylor in 1834. This eleven room wattle and daub dwelling offers a rare glimpse into early colonial life, with rooms including an entry, parlour, nursery, dining and family rooms, sewing room, kitchen, laundry, and side verandah — reflecting the daily domestic life of early settlers. Patrick Taylor Cottage was the first museum in Western Australia and today, still operates as a museum, preserving the heritage, stories and experiences of one of WA’s earliest European homes for the public to explore.

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Address: 

37 Duke St,

Albany WA 6330

Wesley Church was constructed between 1889-1891 and stands as an exemplary representation of Victorian Gothic architecture, featuring local granite, intricate brickwork, pointed arch windows and a prominent spire. The church played an important role in the lives of Albany’s early settlers, serving as a spiritual and community hub during the town’s formative years. Adjacent to the church is the Manse, built in 1903, an elegant residence showcasing decorative timberwork, turned verandah posts and a distinctive pyramidal roof, all hallmarks of early 20th century design. Many of these refined details were generously donated by prominent merchant John Robinson and his wife.

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Address: 

12 Duke St,

Albany WA 6330

St John the Evangelist Church holds the distinction of being the oldest church to be consecrated in Western Australia with the ceremony conducted by Bishop Short on 25 October 1848. At the time of consecration, the church could accommodate the entire population of Albany - 170 people. Construction began in 1841 and progressed through several stages, reflecting the practical challenges of early colonial building. The Rectory commenced in 1850, featuring walls made of ‘cob’ a traditional mixture of clay, marl, chalk, gravel and straw, with a brick upper floor added in 1875 and a second rectory, built behind the original in the 1980s. St John’s was vital to the early settlement, serving not only as places of worship but also as centres for community.

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Address: 

York St,

Albany WA 6330

Built in 1884, the former Union Bank of Australia is a fine example of 19th century colonial architecture, designed by renowned architect George Charles Inskip, who also designed Union Bank branches in Fremantle, Perth, Geraldton, and Roebourne. Situated at the corner of York Street and Stirling Terrace, the building features identical facades on both streets, with distinctive paired arched windows and corner entry doors. The Union Bank paid £600 for the site, a record at the time, sparking an intense interest rate war with the Bank of Western Australia that played a key role in shaping Albany’s early economic development and growth. This building stands as a testament to the town’s growing financial and commercial importance in the late 19th century.

Address: 

119-125 York St,

Albany WA 6330

The Chusan Hotel was the original hotel on this Stirling Terrace site, built in 1849 and later rebuilt in 1871. At the turn of the century, the London Hotel was constructed in 1909 by proprietor Harry Sims for the sum of £7,000. Sims remained the proprietor until 1918. The hotel featured a large, spacious ground and first floor balcony, offering commanding views of Princess Royal Harbour and evoking the elegance of an English manor. In 1920, the building was renovated with an elaborate fretwork façade on both the downstairs and upstairs balconies, which was later removed in the 1960s. The inscription ‘LONDON HOTEL 1909’ remains proudly on the building, preserving its historical identity and connection to Albany’s early hospitality industry.

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Address: 

164 Stirling Tce,

Albany WA 6330

The Women’s Rest Centre was originally built in 1908 as a shelter for cabmen and their horses. Well known townsman Frank Rawlings Dymes, along with his heiress wife Ellen Belinda of the prominent Hassell family, donated significant funds for its construction. In 1909, the Cabmen’s Shelter now known as the Taxi Rank and Women’s Rest Centre was formally handed over to the Town of Albany, with the keys presented to acting Mayor William Mawson. In 1926, the building was expanded to serve as a women’s rest room and in 1976 it was further extended to provide additional facilities, continuing its long standing role as a community focused space in Albany.

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Address: 

176 Stirling Tce,

Albany WA 6330

Several buildings have been constructed on this site, including a bakery, tearooms, a wine bottling facility, a rural merchant and accommodation. In 1887, a bakery occupied the first structure behind the residence leased from Mrs. McKail. The site changed hands several times, being sold in 1901 and again in 1903 to Johann Greeves. That same year, C.H. Neumann, a produce merchant built a double storey building on the centre block. In 1905, another portion of R. Bell & Co was constructed and reopened as the Ballybane Tearooms aoperating until 1961, continuing the location’s long tradition as a centre for commerce, hospitality and community life.

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Address: 

178 Stirling Tce,

Albany WA 6330

Albany Courthouse, designed by renowned government architect George Temple Poole and built by C.F. Layton, began construction in December 1896 and was completed in February 1898. Constructed from local granite, the building features rare convolute arch doorways built in a dry stone style by local stonemason William Trott. A striking feature is the large British coat of arms, carved in Sydney freestone, prominently displayed on the exterior. The courthouse also served as Albany’s police station until around 1970, marking it as a key civic landmark in the city’s legal and policing history and reflecting the growth and governance of the early settlement.

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Address: 

184 Stirling Tce,

Albany WA 6330