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Busselton Historical Society > Records

Whalebone Floor Paver

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Overview

Almost circular flat whalebone that was probably a whale vertebra with the rib joins cut off. This bone was used as part of the floor paving at the Castle Bay Whaling Station in 1846.

Historical information

In 1845 John Bateman formed the Castle Bay Whaling Company with three other Fremantle businessmen and a whaling station called ‘The Fishery’ was set up at the Bay to process the whales to extract whale oil. The ‘whale lookout’ on the hill above Castle Rock was used to sight whales swimming past. Harpooned whales were brought ashore and whale oil was obtained by boiling their blubber in huge cauldrons stirred with long handled spoons. The oil was then poured into casks for shipping. The Castle Bay Whaling Company closed down in 1872 as the price of whale oil declined with the commercial development of petroleum.

The two main species of whales targeted by whalers at Castle Bay were the Humpback Whale and the Southern Right Whale which migrate north-south along the Western Australian coastline stopping in Geographe Bay to feed and strengthen their calves before continuing to the Southern Ocean.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2024.128

Item type

Animal Specimens

Themes

Environment
Social History

Material

Width

35 cm

Height or length

37 cm

Depth

22 cm

Keywords

Castle Bay Whaling Station

Primary significance criteria

Social or spiritual significance

Related Objects

Related Objects

Parent records

ROOM 1.7 Marine

Busselton Historical Society

Busselton Historical Society

Organisation Details
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Other items from Busselton Historical Society

Whale bone floor paving from the Castle Bay Whaling Station

Whale bone floor paving from the Castle Bay Whaling Station

Whale bone floor paving from the Castle Bay Whaling Station

Whale bone floor paving from the Castle Bay Whaling Station

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