About the Event
Historians Mike Lefroy of Fremantle and Malcolm Traill of Albany revisited the long-running rivalry between Western Australia’s two historic ports in the Battle of the Harbours. Drawing on historical records, photographs and documents, they examined why Albany served as the colony’s principal port until the turn of the twentieth century and how engineering, trade routes and government priorities later shifted the advantage to Fremantle. The discussion also explored the harbours’ important roles in Australia’s military, migration and social history. Albany was ultimately declared the winner, although the strongly local audience may have given its home harbour a slight advantage. The event formed part of the Gift of Truth Telling Lecture Series.