Christensen Axel

Axel Christensen

Job Description
Skipper, Mate

Period
1953 - 1978

Axel was born in Denmark on the 20th September, 1920. His father was a Danish Chemist and his mother was a hospital matron.

Axel trained under sail on the fully rigged sailing ship the "Danmark".

At the start of World War II, he joined the Merchant Navy and sailed on convoy between the United Kingdom and Europe before travelling to Australia and enlisting in the US Merchant Navy in the Pacific. He then went on to gain Master mariner qualifications with the Danish Merchant Navy.

After starting his career with the whaling industry with the Nor' West Whaling Company at Point Cloates, he came to Albany in 1953 with Frank Hughes to operate the original "Cheynes", for the Cheynes Beach Whaling Company.

he was involved in bringing the "Kos VII" from Tangalooma, Queensland to Albany, also taking the "Cheynes II" to Hobart for its brief residency in their Maritime Museum prior to its return to the Albany waters in less unfortunate circumstances.

More significantly, Axel was involved in bringing the "Cheynes IV" from South Africa, where it was on this ship that he was to finish his whaling career when the Cheynes Beach Whaling Station closed in November 1978.

He was caretaker of the "Cheynes IV" when it was moored at the Town Jetty, at the time a painting of his sailing ship the "Danmark" adorned the wall of his cabin. The final resting place of the "Cheynes IV" is at Whale World, where visitors can climb aboard the vessel. To access the "Cheynes IV", you must first step on the dock dedicated to Axel Christensen, known as the Axel Christensen Dock.

He was a very private man, typical of many mariners and earned the respect of his fellow whalers. His life typified the industry that attraacted many nationalities that have become integrated into Australia's social fabric. Although he dies in 1989, it is very appropriate that he be permanently recognized in a special way.