Trail follows path of first dawn service walk

Residents and tourists will soon be able to walk in the footsteps of Padre White, who is said to have led the first Anzac Day dawn service in Albany in 1930, after a new interpretive trail is completed.

A project by the City of Albany and St John’s Church, signs will be placed from St John’s Church, up York Street, Grey Street, at the back of Albany Senior High School and up to the Padre White Lookout at Mt Clarence, marking the original walk made by Padre White.

St John’s Church Father Ed Argyle said they came up with the idea for the walk a few years ago.

“The logo is from the chaplain’s badge in World War I — that’s what he would have worn as a chaplain, it’s his insignia,” he said.

“It’s not just re-enacting the pilgrimage of Padre White to the top, but they will also participate in other things on the way.”

City of Albany recreation services manager Sam Stevens said they were carrying out works including restoring the trail and installing seating and signs to be ready for the Anzac centenary commemorative weekend at the end of the month.

“I think it gives a really good sense of place and occasion, commemoration; as you make your way to the top you’ve got those terrific vistas,” she said.

“We are using it as a pilot project to try our new trail markers, the City has a broader trails strategy that it is working on.”

Ms Stevens said the walk, which was just over 3km, was one way they were looking to transform the city into a trails hub and “cycle city”.