Western Australia's First Bicentenary
Celebrate 2o26 Albany
Albany / Kinjarling, Western Australia
Celebrating 200 Years of Heritage, Culture and Community.
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Honouring and celebrating our community and the people who contributed to the first settlement of Western Australia.
Join us in celebrating 200 years of history, culture and community spirit. From 1826 to 2026, Albany /Kinjarling has grown, thrived and built a legacy worth honouring.
The Albany Historical Society recognises our rich cultural heritage the deep connection of the Menang Noongar people to this land. We honour their enduring relationship with Country and the significance of Kinjarling in their lives.
Through stories of resilience, growth and shared history, we celebrate who we have become together. Celebrate 2026 is an opportunity to reflect on our heritage, people and community.
The story begins with the Menang People — the Traditional Custodians of Kinjarling.
Albany, known to the Menang people as Kinjarling – “the place of rain”, lies within the traditional lands of the Menang Noongar people. The Menang people are the Traditional Custodians of this region and have maintained a deep connection to Country for countless generations.
Their culture, language and knowledge are woven into the landscape from the coastline to the hinterlands and beyond. We recognise that our shared history began long before European settlement. The strength, resilience and wisdom of the Menang people continue to shape the identity and future of our community today. We honour their enduring spiritual and cultural connection to Kinjarling and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
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Revitalising a historic icon for Albany’s Bicentenary.
The Albany Convict Gaol Museum has long displayed a model of Major Edmund Lockyer’s 1826 settlement at King George Sound, one of the earliest visual records of European arrival in Western Australia.
As part of Albany’s 2026 Bicentenary, this iconic diorama is being fully redeveloped by local artist Matt, who is blending skilled craftsmanship with a richer, more inclusive perspective. The updated display will feature new huts, lifelike figures, and—importantly—representations of the Menang People, the Traditional Custodians of Kinjarling.
Set to become a centrepiece of Celebrate 2026: A Journey to 200 Years, the revitalised diorama will stand as a powerful tribute to the enduring history and shared heritage of King George Sound.
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