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TORNDIRRUP, wa

The Ivory Ballads: Songs of a Whaling Voyage

Reviving lost songs of 19th-century whalers these ballads are etched into 22 Sperm whale teeth within a striking jawbone. An interactive display pairs scrimshaw engravings with excerpts from original ballads, capturing the hardships and camaraderie of sailors who found solace in music at the sea.

Step into The Ivory Ballads, a highlight of The Art of Scrimshaw at Albany’s Historic Whaling Station. This exhibition revives the lost songs of 19th-century whalers, preserved in scrimshaw and brought to life through an interactive display.

At its heart is a 4-metre Sperm whale jawbone, adorned with 22 engraved teeth reflecting ballads sung aboard the American whaling vessel Kathleen. These songs capture the hardships, triumphs, and daily life of sailors who spent years at sea, now immortalised in ivory.

An interactive touchscreen pairs each engraving with excerpts from the original ballads, letting visitors hear the words that once echoed across the decks. Through sight and sound, audiences can experience the music that united and comforted sailors.

The Ivory Ballads is a tribute to the voices of the past, where scrimshaw and song intertwine. Entry is included with your Historic Whaling Station ticket.

Event dates

Event Details

Address:
81 Whaling Station Road, TORNDIRRUP, Western Australia
Times:
9am-5pm daily 18 April - 18 May 2025
Entry fees:
Adults $ 35, Children $ 12, Concession $ 30, Family $ 80
Attendance limit:
no
Website:
https://discoverybay.com.au/
Onsite facilities:
Social: