Slide of Whaling Station at Cheynes Bay Western Australia

Images(2)

Slide of Whaling Station at Cheynes Bay Western Australia

Photographer Laurence Bell

DateMarch 1977

Object numberANMS1304[033]

NamePhotographic slide

MediumCellulose acetate slide, colour

DimensionsOverall: 49 x 49 x 2 mm, 3 g

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Mr Laurence Bell

Terms

DescriptionSlide of Whaling Station at Cheynes Bay Western Australia where a newly caught sperm whale is being flensed.HistorySlides of the whaling station at Cheynes Bay in the W. A. port of Albany were taken in 1977 by Laurence Bell with the exception of the slide with L. Bell's identifying number 308A W.A. which was purchased by him around the same time. This was the last operational whaling station on the Western Australian coast, closing after the Australian Government of the day banned whaling across Australia in 1979. Albany now hosts a thriving whale watching industry. When the Greenpeace flagship the Rainbow Warrior docked in the Western Australian port on 4th September 2005 to highlight the region's successful whale watching industry it was hailed by environmental activists on board as a resounding commercial and environmental success. (ABC News Online) SignificanceThe Cheynes Beach Whaling Station was the last whaling station to operate in Australia. It was the focus in 1978 of Greenpeace's first protest in Australia and ceased operation in 1979.