Things to Do in Albany, Australia: Walking Guide
Things to do in Albany
Albany is a port city in Western Australia’s Great Southern region and the state’s oldest colonial settlement, founded in 1826 as a military outpost. Its harbour setting, historic buildings and layered past—from convict era to early shipping routes—make it a distinctive place to explore. Neywo offers a free audio guide for Albany with 8 narrated places, letting you hear the story of each site as you walk.
Key sights to see in Albany
Albany Co-operative Society Building
This heritage‑listed structure on the streetscape recalls Albany’s commercial past. It once housed the Albany Co-operative Society Limited, which played a role in the town’s shopping and trading life.
Albany Town Hall
Situated on York Street, the Town Hall holds the distinction of being the first civic building ever constructed in Albany, marking an early milestone in the town’s public architecture.
Albany (district)
Albany lies about 418 kilometres southeast of Perth, with its centre at the northern edge of Princess Royal Harbour, part of King George Sound. Founded on 26 December 1826 as a New South Wales military outpost to forestall French interests, it became the colony’s only deep‑water port for many years and served as a gateway to the Eastern Goldfields before the Fremantle Inner Harbour opened in 1897.
Albany Convict Gaol
Also known as the Old Gaol, this heritage‑listed former prison has been restored and now operates as a museum. Its cells and buildings provide a concrete glimpse into the convict era of Western Australia and Albany’s role in that history.
St Joseph’s Church
This state‑registered heritage place stands as a testament to Albany’s religious heritage, though the source notes only its protected status.
St John’s Anglican Church, Albany
Located on York Street, this heritage‑listed church is the oldest consecrated church in all of Western Australia. It was consecrated in October 1848 and has been a place of worship for over 170 years.
Wesley Church, Albany
Set on Duke Street, this heritage‑listed Uniting church overlooks Princess Royal Harbour, giving it one of the most scenic positions in the Great Southern region.
Residency Museum
Also called the Residency Building, this exhibition space forms part of the Museum of the Great Southern in Albany, offering displays on the region’s natural and cultural heritage.
Explore Albany with Neywo
Neywo’s free audio guide for Albany includes one walking tour: “Albana: Western Australia’s First Settlement.” The route covers 2.04 kilometres, takes about 67 minutes and stops at seven narrated places—Albany Convict Gaol, Residency Museum, Wesley Church, Albany, St John’s Anglican Church, Albany Town Hall and St Joseph’s Church, finishing at the Albany Co‑operative Society Building. As you reach each stop, the app tells the story of that site, allowing you to go at your own pace with no group and no schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages.
To make the most of your visit, download Neywo, start the Albany walking tour and let the city’s past unfold step by step.
Places with an audio guide in Albany
8 places in Albany with a Neywo audio guide. Each one starts telling its story as you reach it.
Self-guided tours in Albany
1 tour in Albany, free in the Neywo app. Each stop tells its story as you reach it.
- Walk
Albany: Western Australia's First Settlement
Albany is where Western Australia began in 1826, and its compact centre still holds the proof. Walk from the old convict gaol and the Residency, up to a church with a harbour view, then past the state's oldest consecrated church, the first civic building and the old Co-operative store.
Albany Convict Gaol · Residency Museum · Wesley Church, Albany · St John's Anglican Church, Albany · Albany Town Hall · St Joseph's Church …
Open this tour: Albany: Western Australia's First Settlement
Walk Albany with Neywo
Neywo turns Albany into a self-guided audio tour. Stories arrive as you reach the place they belong to, and the route reshapes when you wander off it.
