EDEN, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA

February 15, 2023 

We docked in Eden, half way between Melbourne and Sydney.   


During the hundred years after 1830 Eden was one of Australia’s main whaling locations.  Whales migrating to Antartica regularly visited the bay here.   We learned that the whalers actually partnered with killer whales (orcas) to kill other whale species (humpback, sperm, blue and others).  Orcas love to chow down on the tongues and lips of other whales, real delicacies.  So the orcas in a pack would herd other whales toward shore and then the whalers would harpoon them.   After the orcas dined on tongue and lips,  the whalers would claim the blubber which was boiled down to produce whale oil, very much in demand at the time.   


We visited Old Tom’s museum.   Old Tom was a huge killer whale who was well known by the whalers for many years.   Because whales' life span is about the same as humans,  orcas and whalers would get to know each another.   Whalers could distinguish the orcas by their fins and gave them all names.


Old Tom finally died in the bay and folks in the community were able to collect his skeleton and built a museum just for him.


                                              The bay at Eden

                                             Old Tom's resting place..... Old Tom Museum

                                              Old Tom's bones

                                              Whole Foods in an Australian village

                                              McDonalds Australian style

                                           Place where we had lunch. Mighty good fries and beer


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