A remarkable history. 

Nowhere else in the world have eight tonne killer whales worked with Baywhalers in rowboats, with only hand harpoon and lance, mostly at night, in Winter, to hunt 50 tonnes of angry whale, and much more of its history is just as uncommon and is Eden’s alone.

Its people are justifiably proud of it.

With the prospect of many regular visitors arriving by sea in the not too distant future, in cruise ships, the “third naturally deepest harbour in the world” is abuzz.

We certainly have a beautiful harbour for them to visit. 

Spectacular even, sometimes, but beautiful panorama’s “like” Twofold Bay, here in Australia, are “everywhere”, especially if you come from overseas.

It’s Eden’s History, particularly it’s nautical history, and it’s architectural icons, that our visiting tourists find the most fascinating and intriguing and their preservation and maintenance should be paramount.

For the most part it has, and is.

Despite our town’s economic hardship and isolation quite a few of our locals for many years now, have invested their own blood, sweat and tears into the restoration and even the commercialization, of most of our historical architectural icons; Seahorse Inn, The Killer Whale Museum, The Crown And Anchor, The Great Southern Inn and Imlay House just to name a few.

Quite a few of these and others were in disrepair, Seahorse Inn, severely damaged.

All success stories.

Surely then, the developer involved with a demolition of our Historical Australasia Hotel, is unaware.

Unaware he’s been misinformed.

The asset he and Eden could have to time indefinite, in keeping the original building and allowing some of Eden’s talented “restorators” and artisans, to be given the chance to renovate her into shades of her previous splendour, shouldn’t be so quickly discounted or it’s expense so over estimated. 

Government grants are available for this and we’re one hell of a talented lot.

Especially with the original hotel front, in mint condition still, hidden behind the present top facade.

It’s priceless.

Incorporating a cultural/arts centre with a business or two, what a sight she could once again be!

Her two verandahs are gold. 

In fact nothing could replace her.

Many here, see her in fifty years, some even now, (being the Port of Eden’s main waterhold for nearly a century), as just as historically important as Boyd’s Tower.

From Australia’s Federation through to our tuna fishing “boomtimes” etc.

That’s a lot of local modern history.

Many Eden folk are insulted and incensed, shocked and angry, over the thought of the Australasia disappearing from Eden’s streetscape.

Especially to an unneeded supermarket.

Let commonsense fly back into the window and stop this talk of demolition and let’s start talking restoration. 

Our History is our future.

Give some of us half a chance to blind you with brilliance.

Let her neglected walls become pictorial testimony to their remarkable history and quadruple her value.

Then let the cruise ships come.

Blind Freddy could see her viability.

-Brett Ralph