While in Eden, after the Eden Wale Festival we wanted to get out of the cold windy weather so we headed to the Eden Killer Whale Museum which is located in a great spot for whale watching – mind you we didn’t see any while there, but did see them at Ben Boyd Tower. Actually I loved Ben Boyd Tower and have already written a review over on TripAdvisor about the “Ben Boyd Tower Perfect for Whale Watching” before even writing about it here!
Eden Killer Whale Museum ::
When you walk into the Museum {after paying for the very cheap entry fee} you will see “Old Tom” Skeleton.
The history of Old Tom ::
“From The Museum Information Pamphlet”
“Old Tom” and his pack of Killer Whales worked with the local Whalemen of Twofold Bay for decades during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
This particular shore-based whaling operation was unique in the co-operation between the Whalemen and a pack of Killer Whales. These Killer Whales, which returned each year, were identified by special markings. Tom, Hooky, Humpy, and Stranger would herd the baleen Whales into Twofold Bay.
They would alert the Whalemen of their Prey’s arrival by “Flop-Tailing” (which is a term that means thrashing the water the water with their tails} and the chase would be on.
After the Whale was harpooned, some of the Killers would expedite its death by rolling over its blowhole to stop it breathing, and others would swim below it to prevent it sounding {diving deeper into the water}
When the Whale was dead, the Killers would take the Tongue and Lips as their reward and leave the carcass for the Whalemen to bring ashore. Whaling from Twofold Bay continues until the late 1920’s. The last whale was taken in 1928.
Tom’s Body was found floating in Twofold Baby in 17th September 1930. His remains were kept and his Skeleton mounted to become the First item in the collection of the Eden Killer Whale Museum.
The Museum was built in 1939 and “Old Tom’s” skeleton remains Display in the Whaling exhibition, Davidson Gallery, together with a Full Scale Replica Whaleboat and the Jaw Bones of a Blue Whale.
Never ever heard this as a Cure for Rheumatism……Not Sure That I could sit inside a stinking rotting Whale. Could you?
He got all excited thinking that he had seen some Whales but it was Water Over lapping {Tide going in and Out} that was looking like Whales were blowing water out of their spouts.
Interesting Facts ::
Whales have between 2 to 9 Stomachs – I know Cows have three Stomachs!
Some whales have only teeth in the lower Jaw, some in the Upper and others have teen in both Jaws.
All Whales Breathe Air
And their eyes are small to handle the Ocean Pressures
I love reading and finding out about the History of towns.
I always Joke that we could see Australia via the Playgrounds or by finding the nearest toilets…..now I wouldn’t mind seeing Australia by visiting all of the Lighthouses 🙂
Women had to be very adaptable to work with their Husbands in the Lighthouses – and they would have had to be able to cope with the long distances to towns as well as the harsh climates.
Unfortunately we didn’t stay very long at the Eden Killer Whale Museum due to both boys being very fast when ever they visit a Museum and because David wasn’t with us their attention span was not held for as long as I like, so I have my fingers crossed that we can return another time another year with all of us so that we can re-read some of the history of the area as well as read more about the Whaling.
Location ::
184 Imlay St, Eden NSW 2551
Opening Times ::
Monday to Saturday 9.15 am to 3.45 pm
Sunday :: 11.15 am to 3.45 pm
Prices ::
Adults $9.00
Seniors $8.5o
Children (5-15) – $2.50
Children (Under 5 years) Free
Yearly Pass :
Adults $18.00
Children $5.00
If we were living or staying close enough I would have purchased a Yearly Pass for all of us. Its such good value and that way we could have returned again to read more!
Have You Been To the Eden Killer Whale Museum?
Cheers
Lisa
New Life on the Road
Eden Killer Whale Museum Location.
I love these photos, How beautiful museum! Amazing!
Great pics Lisa! My kids would be very quick scanning through museums when they were young too. I’ve always found lighthouses and the keepers to be fascinating. Some are so remote aren’t they.
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Yeah, what is it with Kids and Museums? In and out before you can blink your eyes!
I love lighthouses, it would be so very cool to travel Australia from Lighthouse to Lighthouse. And yeah they would have been so very remote for people when there was only Horse and Carriages 🙂
Sounds like a great museum to visit and the skeleton of the whale is very interesting… Not that I’ve given it much thought before, but I never expected a whale skeleton to look just like the skeletons of land animals, only without the legs.
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Yeah i never knew what a Whale Skeleton would look like either 🙂
It was a wonderful Museum, would love to return again another time, to walk through more slowly and take more in 🙂
This would be soooooo much fun! Though I’m absolutely not a fan of the killer whales being killed I would still enjoy the history very much along with seeing the skeleton of Old Tom. Hmmm….depending on how sick I was and the assurance of being cured would dictate whether I would lay down inside a rotting whale, Lisa. Kyle needs to learn to keep eyes looking ahead before he crashes into something! 🙂
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