Quaranup

About

Quaranup, also known as Camp Quaranup and Albany Quarantine Station, was once a quarantine station in Albany, Western Australia; it now operates as a camp for tourists and school excursions. Situated in a Class A nature reserve on the Vancouver Peninsula on the shoreline of Princess Royal Harbour opposite the Port of Albany, the camp has panoramic views of Albany. The complex consists of 17 separate stone and timber-framed structures in varying architectural styles.

The necessity of a quarantine station arose after a number of incidents involving sickness aboard ships arriving in Albany, which lead to demands for a quarantine station to be built close to the port. These included an illness on the Bombay in 1865, suspected smallpox on the Rangatira in 1872 and a sick passenger aboard the Baroda the following year. No plans were made until a group of dignitaries including the Colonial Secretary, Frederick Barlee, were quarantined in tents during inclement weather on barren Mistaken Island for a period of two weeks.

The irate officials then took an interest in having a permanent quarantine station close to the port. Tenders were called for and the facility was established in 1875. Initially...