Albany’s whaling industry anchored the local economy and community for decades along the rugged south coast. While histories often highlight the men who toiled there, the vital contributions of women remain largely untold.
Life at the Whaling Station
Between 1952 and its closure in 1978, families flocked to the Cheynes Beach Whaling Company station, roughly 70 kilometers east of Albany, to sustain operations. Local resident Barb Reader arrived in 1966 at age 18 and now stars in a compelling five-portrait series celebrating these women’s legacies.
‘I had just married and had never left home before,’ Reader recalls. ‘My husband secured a job as paymaster and radio operator, complete with a house—but we had to be married first, so we did.’
Reader describes station life as a tight-knit family affair that bolstered the region. ‘The whaling station sustained Albany; countless businesses depended on us,’ she says. ‘It formed a powerhouse industry. When it shut down, Albany felt abandoned. My children switched schools, we relocated to town—it hit hard.’
Protests marked the station’s final days, turning highly charged. ‘It grew political with massive rallies and heated crowds,’ Reader remembers. ‘Environmental concerns dominated, though I didn’t grasp it then.’
No compensation came for workers like her husband and other families. ‘Modern closures offer payouts and alternatives, but back then, jobs vanished without support.’
Women in Whaling Exhibition
The former station now operates as a museum chronicling Albany’s whaling past and hosts the featured exhibit. Artist Jo Wassell crafted the portraits after three months of interviews, archival dives, and historical photos.
‘Whaling was male-dominated, yet women’s voices deserved amplification,’ Wassell explains. ‘This space honors their fuller lives, enriched by the industry—not merely as spouses. Some worked on-site or grew up there.’
Wassell gravitates toward overlooked narratives. ‘I focus on forgotten individuals, cherishing intimate glimpses into their backgrounds.’
The Women in Whaling exhibition runs at Albany’s Historic Whaling Station until Sunday, May 31.
