There’s nowhere like Australia for a great family beach vacation. If you’re headed to Western Australia, Albany is a terrific place to base yourself to discover the whole state. Retirees who head for Western Australia find a welcoming and active lifestyle in Albany, and the population of around 30,000 continues to grow.

Around 400 km from Perth, Albany has several beautiful beaches which are clean and unspoiled. Divers love the pristine water — clear and blue — and Middleton Beach is a favorite destination. It’s sheltered and safe, well-suited for swimmers. You’ll find a variety of hotel options there too.

The history of Albany revolves around the deep water port, Princess Royal Harbor, which is the state’s largest natural harbor.Whaling was a major industry in Albany until the late Seventies, and the Whaling Station became a museum after it closed in 1979.

Like so many other parts of Australia, Albany’s history is intimately connected with early settlement by convicts unwillingly transported to Western Australia. Both the Albany Museum, and the Convict Gaol, showcase artifacts and exhibits about the prison, its inmates, and the living conditions there.

While you enjoy your beach vacation in Albany, take time to see the oldest house in the state. Built in the 1830s, Patrick Taylor Cottage shows how the non-incarcerated residents of early Albany lived. Much more spacious than the old Gaol, the cottage has eleven rooms including a nursery, a sewing room, and a parlor. The cottage garden, based on an English model, is not to be missed.

The natural topography of Albany has lent itself to an experiment in wind farming. With twelve turbines, it’s Australia’s largest wind farm and provides most of Albany’s electricity.

Other great beaches in Albany include Two People’s Bay and Frenchman Bay. Confident surfers will enjoy Salmon Holes and Jimmy Newhill’s Harbour — but although the surf’s good, the waves can be quite dangerous.