Aug 16, 2025 “The Law of the Tongue”
We visited the Eden Killer Whale Museum today to learn more about the unique shore-based whaling operations in Twofold Bay from the 1820’s to the 1920’s. The Europeans who established whaling operations in Twofold Bay in the 1820’s did so because humpback whales as well as southern right whales, minke and occasional blue whales migrate fairly close to shore here. However it wasn’t until the 1860’s when the Davidson family began a whaling operation that they incorporated the Aboriginal custom of utilizing killer whales in a partnership to hunt the larger whales. 
A mutually beneficial arrangement that eventually collapsed when the number of whales dropped precipitously in the early 20th century due to over harvesting (a nice way to say the whales were driven almost to extinction!). The killer whale pods that participated in this arrangement were very recognizable to the whalers and even named by them! ‘Old Tom’ was the most revered and probably the last of the pod. His body was found in 1930 and estimated to be at least 60 years old. His skeleton now hangs in the museum.
The skeleton of Old Tom. Notice the groove and missing teeth in the upper jaw. It’s said that Old Tom would be so enthusiastic during the hunt that he would grab the harpoon rope in his jaws and tow the boat or the injured whale!
The jaw bones of the largest blue whale ever killed by hand thrown harpoon from an open boat, killed in Twofold Bay in 1908. The black discoloration is whale oil that is still dripping from the bones over 100 years since death!