Albany’s Port to Point trail upgraded with addition of historic maritime buoy

Albany’s Port to Point trail is undergoing upgrades with a historic maritime buoy installed near the port and more signage in the works.

The Port to Point trail features more than 12km of dual-use pathway stretching from the Albany CBD to Emu Point.

Southern Ports Authority has installed a maritime buoy on the path near the historic pilot station.

The buoy is painted green, the international colour for a starboard marker when heading upstream.

It is believed to have been manufactured by the former public works department in the 1950s or 1960s and initially used off Port Hedland.

According to Southern Ports, the buoy was then kept in a yard in Perth until it was repurposed and used in Albany from the early 1980s until last year.

It now acts as a waypoint for the port section of the trail, where there is also a new parking area.

Southern Ports chief executive Steve Lewis said incorporating the buoy was a way of “celebrating our history”.

He said Southern Ports was finalising designs for new interpretive signage in the area, in conjunction with City of Albany staff.

“We want to see our coastal environments thrive,” Mr Lewis said.

“We look to invest in projects and initiatives that enrich or revitalise the environment around our ports.

“One way we can do this is through improving public amenities and walkways that provide a tangible experience within that environment.”