Albany 2026: Brig Amity shaped WA’s first European settlement and ship is now a key Albany tourist attraction

One of Albany’s most iconic landmarks, the Brig Amity, stands as a tourist attraction and lasting symbol of the voyage that established the first European settlement in WA hundreds of years ago. Built in 1816 in St John, New Brunswick, Canada, the Amity was a merchant vessel crafted from black birch and pitch pine. Designed by Christopher Scott, in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, the Brig began its life trading between America and Britain before making its way to Australia. By 1924, the Amity had been bought by the New South Wales government and quickly became a key vessel serving the development of early colonial settlements. It transported convicts, soldiers and supplies along the east coast, helped establish the Moreton Bay settlement and even rescued survivors from a shipwreck off Queensland. Its most significant journey came in 1826, when British authorities ordered the establishment of a military outpost at King George Sound. Major Edmund Lockyer was tasked with leading the expedition, departing Sydney aboard the Amity on November 9. Carrying 45 people including soldiers, convicts, officials, women and children, the ship undertook a challenging six-week voyage along Australia’s southern coast. On Christmas Day, 1826, the Amity anchored in Princess Royal Harbour marking the beginning of permanent European settlement in WA. The settlement was initially named Frederickstown, before being renamed Albany in 1831 by Governor James Stirling. Over time, it grew into an important port, supporting agriculture, trade and later the State’s booming goldfields. For the Menang people, the traditional custodians of the land, the arrival of the Amity marked a major shift. While earlier explorers had visited the region, this voyage signalled the beginning of ongoing European occupation. After years of government service, the Amity was sold into private ownership in 1834 and continued operating around Tasmania and Victoria. Its working life ended in 1845 when it was wrecked in Bass Strait during a winter storm with all on board making it safely to shore. Today, the full-scale replica of the Brig Amity built in 1975 stands just metres from where the original vessel anchored, preserving the legacy of the ship that helped shape WA’s history. Over the years, thousands of visitors have stepped aboard the ship, exploring both the deck and below to experience what life was like on the historic vessel. Brig Amity volunteer Lynette Carroll said sharing its story with visitors was a privilege, particularly during Albany’s bicentenary year. “It’s fascinating because this year so many people have come from all walks of life and places and have arrived in Albany to be part of the 200th anniversary,” she said. “To be a volunteer on the Brig means that you meet people and you’re able to give them some information about what happened 200 years ago. “Every shift that I do, I learn a little bit more about the history.” Museum of the Great Southern operations manager Ian Westmore said being able to tell the story of the Brig Amity in such a significant year has been very special. “It’s very humbling because it’s so iconic to Albany,” he said. “We get 80 to 90,000 people through per year and for them to come on and learn the history about the Amity is really wonderful.”