The name Ataturk Channel in Albany, WA comes from a reciprocal 1985 naming agreement with Turkey. The channel was renamed in honor of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and in exchange Turkey named the Gallipoli landing site Anzac Cove.

Why it was named that

  • Atatürk was the founder and first president of modern Turkey.
  • The Albany channel had earlier been called the entrance to Princess Royal Harbour, but the 1985 renaming gave it the Atatürk name.
  • The idea was to mark a gesture of remembrance and mutual respect linked to the ANZAC and Gallipoli history.

Albany connection

Ataturk Channel is the waterway leading from King George Sound into Princess Royal Harbour in Albany.

A memorial and statue of Atatürk near the channel also reflect that historical link.

TL;DR

It was named after Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1985 as part of a shared commemoration with Turkey, alongside Turkey’s naming of Anzac Cove.