Celebrating 125 years: From country town to thriving city

Albany’s emergence from a country town to a thriving regional city has been identified as the most defining moment of the past 25 years by the key figures who oversaw the transformation.

The overhaul of Albany’s image has faced many hurdles, and along with significant infrastructure changes, has created some of the biggest news stories for the Albany Advertiser over the last quarter of a century.

With progress and development have also come opposition and resistance to change.

The creation of Albany’s waterfront including Albany Entertainment Centre and the footbridge linking the CBD to the foreshore came with fears that the character of the port city would be irreparably damaged.

Similar opposition was mounted against a contentious high-rise development proposed for Earl Street which brought much debate over the City’s town planning strategy and which direction Albany’s future would take.

Former Town of Albany mayor Annette Knight, who stood from 1988 to 1997, said her era was an exciting time for development.

“It was the can-do attitude of the council and its community that made this work,” she said.

“Albany was touted around Australia as being an example to follow and literally thousands of people came to view the transformation.

“Albany became a must-see destination for tourists and visitors alike.

“It was exciting times as Albany was known as a sleepy hollow.”

Mrs Knight labelled the opening of the University of Western Australia’s Albany centre and the creation of Great Southern Grammar and the late entrepreneur Paul Terry’s re-creation of the Esplanade Hotel as great moments in her time.

She said the entertainment centre and new hospital were “well worth the wait”.

Inaugural City of Albany mayor Alison Goode was involved in what she believes is one of the most defining moments in Albany history.

Ms Goode, who was mayor from 1998 to 2007, said the town and shire amalgamation, followed by criticism of the planning direction of the city in 2005, were important issues.

She labelled the creation of the Anzac Peace Park as the greatest achievement in her time.

According to Albany MP Peter Watson, Albany struggled to embrace change in its first decade as a city.

Mr Watson, who is in his fourth term as the local member, cited the Blaxell inquiry into paedophile Dennis McKenna, the loss of major industry such as the Woollen Mills, and the waterfront development as major news stories.