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Considering a move to Albany?
Wondering what life in Albany might be like?
Let us be your guide and help you find out what living in Albany can offer you …
Albany is a very popular tourist destination located on the south coast of Western Australia. It is famous for its stunning coastline that features both pristine white beaches and spectacular granite clifftop outlooks. With a rich tapestry of historical landmarks and things to see and do, it is easy to see why Albany remains one of Western Australia’s most popular destinations for both tourists and those wishing to make it their permanent home.
Albany is located on the South Coast of Western Australia, approximately 400kms from Perth. Travel to Albany from Perth by car takes about 4.5 to 5 hours. The flight from Perth Airport to Albany Airport is just over an hour. This distance means that Albany is rarely somewhere people will pass through. It is more often the primary destination for anyone wanting to explore the Great Southern region.
Albany is neither a country town nor is it a major metropolitan city. It offers the best of both worlds.
With a population of just under 40,000, it is the largest community in the Great Southern part of WA and the only city in the region. Being a regional city, it is small enough to possess many of the great qualities of a large country town, such as a sense of community and short transit times to work, schools and other amenities.
Albany is large enough to feature a great selection of cafes, restaurants and a range of evening entertainment venues. In addition, there are multiple retails hubs, lots of things to do, and excellent facilities such as a modern hospital, a TAFE, and a centrally located UWA campus.
It is a great place to raise a family with a good selection of primary & high schools and many sports & activity programs, all part of a very safe and friendly community. Taking the family on an outing to the beach or to do some sightseeing is often just a short 5 to 10 minute drive. For those willing to travel a little further, neighbouring towns such as Denmark and Mt Barker are only half an hour away.
Having all of the amazing tourist attractions on your doorstep and the facilities of a modern regional city seems almost too good to be true – but it isn’t. Open spaces & beautiful surrounds, easy access to modern facilities and a greater sense of belonging to a community are all tangible benefits of living in Albany.
Albany plays a major part in the history of Western Australia. As the first English settlement in the state and with archaeological evidence dating back over 18,000 years the area is rich in both Aboriginal and European history.
The oldest known inhabitants of the Albany area are the Menang Noongar people. Their name for the area is Kinjarling, which has been said to mean “place of plenty” and “place of rain” and is part of the broader Wagyl Kaip region. The fish traps located at the mouth of the Kalgan River provide one of the few archeological remnants of the Menang people, dating more that 7,500 years.
Albany features strongly in the ANZAC legend, being the departure point for the largest detachment of troops during the First World War.
In 1923 the first ever dawn service was held and since then has become an event that attracts thousands every year.
On November 1st, 2014 major celebrations were held to commemorate the centenary of the original troop embarkation.
There are some things you can only do when you live in Albany
It’s great to visit Albany and enjoy the many wonderful attractions on offer. But, living in Albany will allow you to enjoy the sights at a more leisurely pace, and the activities on offer expand when you make the place your permanent home.
There are many options for keeping fit with lots of walk & cycle paths around plus gyms, yoga, pilates & martial arts classes. There is a great range of sports to get involved in, such as football, soccer, basketball, netball, cricket, hockey, golf, archery, shooting and even Dragonboat racing. Living on the coast means ample opportunity for deep-sea or river boating & fishing, water-skiing, swimming, surfing, diving and much more.
For the creative person Albany has a very active arts community with classes and art groups and exhibition spaces, workshops, local theatre & light opera groups, photography groups and a good live music scene. In addition, every year, during January, the Annual Albany Summer School runs for 2 weeks, providing a chance to study art, craft, writing, and many other creative activities.
If you just want to kick back and take it all in or while away the hours, then you are in luck. Albany has many beautiful parks & beaches where you can take the kids, walk the dog or sit in the sun with a book. If you want to enjoy great food and drink, then as well as cafes, bars & restaurants, there are regular events such as the Taste Great Southern Festival – a true food & wine extravaganza.
One of the most incredible things about Albany is that often you won’t need to travel more than 15 minutes to participate in activities, see the sights or enjoy some great food.
If you are willing to spend a bit more time travelling, then the region surrounding Albany provides even more to see and do.
There is so much, and you will never see it all when you are only visiting the area. The only way to discover all of the treasures on offer is to do so with the luxury of time. Living in Albany will provide you with the time you need to explore the town and all of the great beaches and lookouts along the coast, some so secret that only the locals know about them.
Mt Barker and Denmark are only a short drive away, and it is great to be able to visit these places with the luxury of choosing to stay for a few days or make a quick day trip with plenty of time to explore.
Take a trip along Marine Drive, and you will be treated to the spectacular vista of King George Sound, where you might even spot a whale or two.
The dual-lane cycle/walk path from Ellen Cove to the Albany Port will allow you to take in the entire expanse of the Sound at your own pace. This walk includes several lookout points along the way, as well as the boardwalk at Middleton Beach.
Whale Watching is a popular attraction, and regular tours are available from late May through to early October. You may also like to visit Albany’s Historic Whaling Station, where you can learn about the history of whaling in Albany. Climb aboard and explore a whale chaser or stand under the skeleton of the last sperm whale harpooned in Albany.
The coastline around Albany varies from Pristine white beaches to jagged rocky clifftops to protected bays and river inlets.
Tordirrup National Park (pictured above) features a number of vantage points for amazing views, hiking trails of variable difficulty and beaches for swimming or fishing.
One of Albany’s most famous attractions is the National ANZAC Centre, a state-of-the-art museum that explores the ANZAC legend through multimedia, interactive exhibits and historical artefacts. In the same location are the Albany Forts & Barracks, with sections restored providing a genuine sense of wartime history.
Albany is one of the oldest European settlements in Western Australia and provides a wealth of historical architecture from a period spanning nearly two hundred years.
The town square features a dynamic mixture of classic and modern styles coming together. The Albany Town Hall (1888), Albany Town Library (1968) and recently built Albany Visitors Centre cradle the contemporary town square in the city’s heart.
Stirling Terrace features several heritage-listed buildings that look out over the harbour. It also features many bars, cafes, restaurants and boutique retail stores.
You can get a feel for what life was like for early settlers when you board the Brig Amity replica – the ship that first carried European settlers to Albany’s shores. Nearby is the Albany Convict Gaol, first established in 1852. Also nearby is the Museum of the Great Southern, where you can explore stories of the Menang Noongar people and early European settlers and convicts, plus learn about the natural flora and fauna of the area.
If exploring some of the best beaches and coastline in Australia is not enough, then you can always venture inland and explore the Porongurup National Park. This mountainous forest landscape offers bushwalks of varying difficulty that provide spectacular views. If you want to take it easy, you can explore the wineries and cafes scattered around the base of the mountain range.
Heading a little further inland, you will soon find yourself in the Stirling Range National Park. The Stirling Ranges offer even more dramatic views, with the famous Bluff Knoll one of the most popular attractions.
Rising more than a kilometre above sea level, in winter, you might even get to see snow on the peak. Of course, it only happens occasionally, but this is one of the few places where it ever snows in Western Australia.
During spring, visitors flock to the Stirling Ranges to view the natural spectacle of wildflowers that grow. It’s an orchid lovers delight with over 120 species found in the area.
Food and wine lovers will be in paradise. Albany has many excellent cafes, restaurants, and bars. When you get out into the surrounding region, you expand your options by sampling the many great wines for which the region is famous. The Porongorup Wine Region and towns of Mt Barker & Denmark are all only 30 minutes from Albany and will provide you with a versatile selection of local wines. There are also breweries and a distillery to choose from.
There are many industries that provide good employment opportunities for those moving to Albany.
The major employment industries in Albany are:
Working remotely has become a reality where geographical distance is no longer the barrier it used to be. Good NBN speeds are available throughout, making Albany the ideal place for remote workers.
Statistics from June 2023 place the unemployment rate in Albany at 2.1%, making it lower than regional, state and national averages. This makes Albany a very desirable location for those wanting a quality of life away from metropolitan cities.
Albany is classified as a Mediterranean-type climate. During summer, there are many fine days of weather providing ample opportunity to spend the day outdoors playing a sport, going for a swim or enjoying an outdoor gathering. Winter will have some cold days, and rainfall is healthy, but sunny days are frequent. Living near the coast means it is rare to experience bitterly cold days such as those found inland.
The Great Southern is home to some of the most distinctive wildflowers in the world. After the winter rains, gardens and local bushland will become vividly colourful as Spring arrives. Autumn is equally as colourful with deciduous trees and their red-golden leaves being popular around many parts of town.
Pictured:
Albany Banksia
Even though Albany is an in-demand destination, the cost of real estate is moderate. Housing costs will usually compare very favourably against metropolitan housing prices, making it the ideal destination for those wanting to escape from big city life.
According to statistics, as of January 2024, the overall median property price in the Albany area is $716,000. However, median prices between different suburbs will vary from around $330,000 to $975,000.
For anyone looking to buy their first home or looking for a quality of life in a dream location, Life in Albany may be exactly what you are looking for.
This page has been brought to you by Ryde Building Company and we have enjoyed sharing with you some of the reasons why we think Albany is one of the best places in the world to live.
If you are looking to build your home in Albany, then Ryde Building has housing plans that suit all. From the first home buyer to those looking for the rural lifestyle, or perhaps a more luxurious sea-change, our plans can be customised to suit the life you want for you and your family.
House and Land packages are also available in the following locations:
Ryde Building Company Pty Ltd can help provide predesign or custom plans for your new home.
Call (08) 9841 2170 or fill in your details below and one of our friendly sales staff will be in contact.
