The Whaling - site

Statement of Significance

The Whaling (site and cairn) is of significance:
• For its historical association with the visitation of whaling ships to the colonial settlement at Augusta from the 1830s to c.1850.
• As a community memorial recognising an important activity in the history of Augusta.

Physical Description

This memorial is a small limestone plinth with a sloping top, bearing a brass plaque that reads:

The Whaling Flinders Bay has had a long association with whaling American whalers were operating in the bay
in the 1830’s when the fist settlers were living at Augusta Whaling continued to flourish and in 1844 Robert Viveash
was granted permission by Governor Hutt to erect try works near Barrack Point. The settlement around this point was known as “The Whaling” and the name was still in use in the early part of this century - June 1969 -

As an interesting juxtaposition that represents changing values over time, the whaling memorial is located immediately adjacent to a memorial to a major whale rescue event in 1986 (Place # AU-25).

History

Whaling was Australia’s oldest industry and well before official Colonial settlement took place our shores were visited by British, French and then American whalers. It was the presence of French warships, which followed their whalers into this area that was the reason for Major Edmund Lockyer being sent to found the first permanent settlement on the Western half of the continent. This settlement was first called Frederickstown but was later changed to Albany. Soon after official settlement at Albany in 1826, some of the settlers took up this arduous, but lucrative, trade and set up bay whaling stations at a few sheltered beaches, mainly to the east of the Albany.During the earliest days of Colonial settlement at Augusta in the 1830s, yearly visits by whaling vessels added colour to the lives of the early settlers when the whalers came ashore to collect fresh water and trade with the settlers. The settlers would exchange potatoes, meat, vegetables and wood for much needed oil (for lighting), molasses, rum and tobacco.It is recorded that in the winters of 1839 and 1840, two US vessels each season had caught 30 and 31 whales respectively inside Flinders Bay.Whaling reached a peak around 1845 when there were approximately 300 whaling ships (mostly American) and numerous shore stations operating along the South Coast of Australia. The numbers declined rapidly after 1859 when petroleum oil was discovered in Pennsylvania with only a handful remaining after the turn of the century.A plaque has been erected at Flinders Bay to commemorate the visitation of the whalers during the early years of colonial settlement. This refers to an 1844 proposal by Robert Viveash to erect try works at Augusta. Newspaper articles of the era confirm that Messrs. Habgood and Viveash were involved in whaling operations in Western Australian waters in the late 1840s, but it is not clear if any works were ever established in this locality.

Integrity/Authenticity

Historic site – N/A
Memorial - High: The original use has been maintained.
Historic site – N/A
Memorial - High: The original/significant fabric is largely intact.

Condition

Historic site – N/A Memorial - Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.