Whaling on the South Coast by Adam Wolfe
Past Event
Join local Maritime Archaeologist, Adam Wolfe, for this talk on Whaling on the South Coast, part of the 2023 Maritime Festival.
Drift whaling, the harvesting of the windfall arrival of dead whales on the shore, has been part of the traditional community life on the south coast for thousands of years, with evidence that in on occasion, non-Aboriginal people also engaged in the practice. Subsequently, and meeting different and commercial focused needs, shore, bay and pelagic whaling developed resulting in Albany and the surrounding coastal waters, and adjoining ocean depths, becoming a favoured whaling ground for 19th century British, American, French and Australian whalers.
In the 20th century the Norwegians took the initiative and in the post war years two Albany based whaling companies were established. One would become the ultimate persona of the Australian whaling industry.
This talk considers the technical and practical aspects of whaling, while reflecting on local economic, social, and cultural influences on the local community.
THURSDAY
27 July 2023
5:30pm - 6:30pm
BOOK ONLINE or phone the Library on 6820 3600.
