Kim Beazley

‘The first event of the of the bicentennial celebration’

A BOOK about Albany’s early history has been described as a “printed museum” by former Australian ambassador to the United States and WA governor Kim Beazley.

Mr Beazley was speaking at the launch of Fremantle Society president John Dowson’s new book Early Albany at Fremantle Town Hall last Thursday, where the Fremantle Society event filled the downstairs hall.

“It is not so much a book; it’s a printed museum,” Mr Beazley said. “It has been superbly curated by John.”

“You will find when you look through it what I mean by that; there’ll be things in this book that you haven’t seen, and that will delight you when you do. But the order in which they’re put, the common sense that’s applied to them, and a sense of wonder in some cases that is applied to them, that’s all John. And as I said, the printed museum.”

Mr Beazley said the launch also provided an opportunity to gather ideas for WA’s bicentenary in 2029.

He said the State Government had provided him with a list of objectives for the bicentenary, including recognising Aboriginal heritage, sharing stories, supporting reconciliation, celebrating the contributions of people from all backgrounds, showcasing WA’s identity and creating lasting legacies.

John Dowson

“This book contains elements which enhance, explain, and deliver on all of them,” he said.

Mr Beazley highlighted the book’s examination of the history of Albany before and during European settlement, including early Dutch, French and British exploration and the relationships between settlers and the Menang people.

He quoted Dowson’s introduction, which says: “It is important not to keep rehashing the same history over and over, but to get beneath the skin and seriously take a fresh look. By the same token, the revisionist fad is highly political and often divisive. Balance is always a good outcome.”

Mr Beazley also discussed the arrival of British forces in Albany in 1826 and the treatment of Aboriginal people by settlers, sealers and whalers.

He described the book as containing material and perspectives that had not previously been widely available.

“They will get out of this a whole range of things, perspectives, memorials, diaries that really just haven’t been out in the public domain,” he said.

Mr Beazley concluded by congratulating Mr Dowson on the book.

“So I conclude by congratulating John on a really brilliant piece of work and you deserve all the accolades you get,” he said.

“I know you don’t do this for the money, you do it because your pride is in West Australia, and you have a sensibility here, which I think, starts the celebration extremely well. This is, I think, the first event of the of the bicentennial celebration. So I would say it’s a pretty good way to start.”

Mr Dowson told the Herald that a number of submissions from the audience about projects to mark the bicentenary echoed ideas being pursued by the Fremantle Society.

But one young person suggested bringing trams back to Fremantle, both to improve transport and to promote the city’s heritage and human-scale architecture.

by STEVE GRANT