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Fleshing Out


It has been mainly getting the feel of the Albany region over the past few days. From the original settlement days, the farm (not quite the original buildings) -- the convict museum - the oldest wattle-and-daub house in Albany - the Oyster Harbour Aboriginal fish traps. Today, Sunday 12th November, I met with Caroline and Lynette, direct descendants of the Noongah people of the Albany region. They took me along a sandy track through the bush. We sat on great slabs of granite overlooking King Georges Sound, and as we gazed on a panorama as near as it could possibly be to the view of 200 years ago, they told me of the great stories of creation of the region, as far as the eye could see, and further.

The original settlement, a collection of wattle and daub cottages slapped together on a hill overlooking Princes Royal Harbour, began on 25th December, 1826, when Major Edmond Lockyer planted the English flag. He had 23 convicts 18 soldiers, a surgeon and a storekeeper under his command. To supplement the stores, a farm was begun nearby, and a garden was also established on Green Island, in Oyster Harbour.



A model of the first settlement.

Little had changed when Collet Barker assumed command from Sleeman in late 1829. Barker took a keen interest in the garden, and the general well being of those under his command, as well as nurturing a close relationship with the Aboriginal people of the King Georges Sound region.



The Old Farm.



Green Island.



The convict Gaol.



In the Aboriginal section of gaol.



Patrick Taylor House, (oldest wattle and daub).




Lila, volunteer at Patrick Taylor House.




On Barker's trail.



Ancient fish traps in Oyster Harbour.




Princes Royal Harbour.




Barker Bay.



Caroline and Lynette.



Lynette's fish trap.



The isthmus.



King Georges Sound.

Posted: Mon - November 13, 2006 at 02:10 AM      
 
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