The Old Whaling Station located in The Bluff used to be one of the largest whaling stations in the southern hemisphere. Whaling started in 1907 and continued through to 1975, using harpoon guns. The whaling station then moved to the seaward side of the Bluff, due to the bad smell that saturated the area and also to protect bathers from sharks that were attracted by the blood during flensing.
In a way, whaling was a cultural practice for the people whose livelihoods depended on it. Emerging from this grim past, there is now a shift towards supporting conservation practices and celebrating cetaceans and their recovery. Given the remarkable recovery of the humpback whale population since whaling ended, local people feel a deep connection with them.
The vision is to turn this site into a museum and showcase how the community have evolved and become protectors and admirers of whales. A history that should be shared with generations to come to ensure it will never be repeated again. The museum will accommodate the cultural history and become a tourism Hub where cetaceans are celebrated in a responsible manner.
Helpful links
Apply to become a Wildlife Heritage Area
