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Posted by Allen Newton
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3 March, 2026
WESTERN Australia’s first port will celebrate its 200th anniversary with a festival on 11 April.
PortFest will celebrate the Port of Albany’s birthday by throwing open its gates for a free celebration for families to explore behind the scenes of WA’s first port.
Southern Ports says the anniversary will have something for everyone, from maritime enthusiasts to curious kids.
The event will bring together port operations, with giant family-friendly entertainment, live music, food vans and more activities for all ages.
The festival will include bus and boat tours on the day, as well as the opportunity to take a self-guided walking tour.
Southern Ports CEO, Keith Wilks, said it’s an important celebration for both Albany and the port, which together mark their bicentenaries, and goes to show how pivotal regional ports are in building strong regions.
“For 200 years the Port of Albany has connected Australia’s west coast to the world,” Mr Wilks said.
“We’ve been shaping opportunities for the region and the community since before Western Australia even became a state, so it’s only natural we invite the community to celebrate this milestone with us.
“We’ve held open days across our ports many times, but this will be one of our biggest and most memorable yet.
“As well as encouraging our port users to get involved, a range of organisations and community groups are on board and there a few more special attractions we’ll announce over the coming month.
“The story of Albany and the port go hand-in-hand so we’re bringing community together to discover more about the impact of that enduring connection.”
Southern Ports regional manager – Albany, Paul McSweeney, said the port continues to build on what he described as a significant legacy.
“Our team is incredibly proud of the role it plays enabling our regional industries to thrive and we love being able to give people a glimpse behind the scenes,” he said.
“During our recent community boat tours one of the questions we got the most was about when they could next get onto the berth, we’re really excited to tell everyone it’s only a couple of months away.”
PortFest will be held at the Port of Albany from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 11 April, and while it’s a free event, tickets are essential and can be secured through the Southern Ports website.
