Princess Royal Fortress

The Princess Royal Fortress is one of Australia's best outdoor military museums and site of the National ANZAC Centre.

Located in the Albany Heritage Park which includes both Mount Clarence and Mount Adelaide, the fort encompases the entire summit of Mt Adelaide and is a beautiful way to spend a day immersed in history while surrounded by the natural beauty of Albany Australia.

The Princess Royal Fortress on the top of Mount Adelaide was built as a result of all the Australian states contributing money and the Imperial British Government providing guns. It was the first federal defense of Australia and it opened in 1893.

The National ANZAC Centre is the most recent addition to the Fortress complex and Heritage Park opening in 2014 during the Centenary Celebrations.

What's at Princess Royal Fortress?

It houses the National ANZAC Centre, the Albany Barracks & The Princess Royal Battery, the Military Heritage Centre, the Ellam-Innes Collection (extensive collection of War memorabilia of the 11th Battalion and 10th Light Horse regiments).

Explore the Underground Magazine, Repository Store and Caretaker's Cottage, Artillery Display, Torpedoes, HMAS Perth trail, Convoy Lookout, BBQ & Picnic Area, Children's Playpark, Function Centre, and more...

Visiting Princess Royal Fortress with children always proves to be a delight. Children should be supervised at all times.

What to see at the Fort?

The best part of the Fortress is that you can go any way you want... stroll up the hill to the Convoy Lookout, explore the underground magazine, walk to the top and see the Flag Pole and Signal Mast, down the bushwalk to the Commanding Officer's House, take a break at the picnic benches and have a play with the big guns.

Of course, be sure to check out the National ANZAC Centre!

You can even have a good look at anti-submarine missiles up close. The parkland adjoining the ANZAC Centre has benches and grassed area between the trees.

Dining near the Fortress:

The Earl of Spencer Historic Inn

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Soak up the atmosphere at The Earl of Spencer Historic Inn - Make memories at The Earl!

Make great memories in Albany’s traditional English-Style pub high up on Earl street. At The Earl we deliver delicious beer and local wines, fantastic live music on Friday nights and great pub grub! The traditional Aussie hearty pub meals, and tasty lunch specials are prepared fresh daily and can be enjoyed indoors in the restaurant and bar or outside in the spacious beer garden. Choose from the 16 beers on tap and a wide choice of wine and spirits, many which are local. Come round for a brew after work, or head to The Earl for dinner with the family or friends. You'll appreciate the British flair and decor, and the historic artefacts on display in this 1800’s Inn, one of the oldest and still running inns in Albany. There's a great ambiance and plenty of free off-street parking and the kids will enjoy the wooden playground with cubby house, swing and climbing frame. The Earl is significant as one of the oldest and still running hotels/inns in Albany, having first been licensed in 1884, and operating for 40 years and again as a licensed venue since 1987.

Telephone: (08) 9847 4262

Address: 60 Earl St, Albany, 6330 WA

Website: www.theearl.net.au

Ataturk Channel

From just outside the National ANZAC Centre you get an amazing view of Ataturk Channel, the channel leading into Princess Royal Harbour. The Turkish Government reciprocally named the beach at Gallipoli where the Australian and New Zealand troops landed as “ANZAC Cove”. An appropriate reminder of the wartime tie with the Turks. Have a look at Ataturk Channel from the Fortress in the video:

Centenary Upgrades

The Albany Heritage Park was considerably improved prior to the ANZAC Centenary on November 1st 2014. There is a beautiful new Convoy Lookout atop Mount Adelaide with stunning views over King George Sound, and the marine guns have a new gravel filled area making them easier to explore. The location of the ANZAC Centre is ideal, and open access to the Forts is fantastic. Highly Recommended.

Underground Bunker

From 1893 to 1956 the guns of King George III Sound maintained their role as a deterrent. They were never fired in military defence though they played their role well as it would have been extremely hard to 'take' Albany's deep-water harbour with the guns guarding King George Sound and Ataturk Channel.

The underground bunker is built into the mountainside which is open for the public to stroll through. The bunker leads to two big guns via stone walled trenches. It's amazing to see how a real bunker-fortress is constructed. This is one of the only examples of a still-standing fortified outpost in Australia. As the Historic Engineering Marker states, "...its design and durability are good examples of the military engineering techniques of the period."

National ANZAC Centre

The National ANZAC Centre was opened on November 1st 2014 at the commeration of the ANZAC Centenary celebrations in Albany. The National ANZAC Centre is a commeration of the ANZAC involvement in the First World War when the first Australian and New Zealand convoy departed from Albany on November 1st, 1914.

Convoy Lookout

Convoy Walk up to Convoy Lookout is amazing. The views over King George Sound and Vancouver Peninsula and outlying island is incredible. This is where the ships filled with Australian and New Zealand soldiers waited to depart.

Set onto the granite peak of Mt Adelaide, the Convoy Lookout's elevated view over the sound is breathtaking.

Great views and Information.