ALBANY FORESHORE GUEST HOUSE

Alfred Canning

Alfred Wernam Canning (born 21 February 1860 died 1936) was a Western Australian government surveyor. Born at Campbellfield north of Melbourne, he started work in New South Wales as a cadet surveyor and in 1893 joined the Western Australian Department of Lands and Survey. In 1901 a royal commission resulted in Canning being commissioned to survey a route for a barrier fence across the State. Construction of the fence, known as the No. 1 Rabbit Proof Fence was completed in 1907. When completed it was the longest line of unbroken fence in the world. Canning is best known for surveying a stockroute for bringing cattle 1500 km overland from the Kimberley district to the goldfields in 1906 and 1907. He returned the following year to commence construction of 51 wells which were set one days march (20 km) apart to feed travelling livestock. The route was competed in 1910 and runs from Halls Creek to Wiluna. In 1929 at the age of 68, Canning was commissioned to complete a restoration of the wells.

The Canning Stock Route is named after him, as well as Canning Highway and the Federal Division of Canning.