About the Event
Historian and author John Dowson launched Early Albany at Albany Town Hall on 28 August, presenting the result of around 3,000 hours of research into the region’s earliest recorded history.
Spanning 1595 to approximately 1890, the 208-page publication traced the navigators, explorers, sailors and maritime expeditions that connected Albany with the wider world. It also examined the relationships between Menang people and early European visitors and settlers, whose journals and artworks provided insight into Albany’s place in maritime history.
The launch featured a conversation with Dowson about the research and stories behind the book, followed by its official launch by Matt Benson-Lidholm, book sales and signings.
Supported through the Albany 2026 program, Early Albany expanded the region’s historical record and offered an accessible account of the people, voyages and encounters that shaped its early colonial history.