Broome

Gateway to the Kimberley

ravel up the coast a few hundred kilometres (well 1,800 or so) and you will run into one of the pearls of Western Australia, Broome, and gateway to the Kimberley region. I think Broome is a fascinating place for a few reasons. Firstly as a beautiful destination full of activity and unique Australian splendour, but also for the fascinating history. Many people will visit there and make the mistake of not researching the town a bit and getting a whole lot more from their visit.

Broome at the turn of the last century was as well known on the streets of London as any Australian city. Ships from all over the world called into this tropical port to take on cargo's of pearl shell. The main extractors of this shell were the Asian community who prospered along the crowded foreshores of Broome. The Japanese in particular were determined to make a name for themselves as divers amongst the many visiting fleets, and this name came with a fatally expensive cost.

Most of the Japanese came from a place called 'Wakayama' in the south east corner of Honshu, Japan's main Island. This town is renowned for its fishermen, so when as many as 30 or 40 men a year began dying of a mystery illness, which we today know as 'the bends', it was pride that became the main reason for continuing this perilous career. On the 26th April 1908 near La Grange Mission, forty one luggers were sunk and forty men died. There is a memorial for these and many others in the Japanese cemetery at the top of Anne St.

A visit here is one of the few ways to get an insight into this fascinating past as a lot of the original buildings were made by fortune hunters who made their money and deserted the area, leaving the flimsy houses to perish very quickly. Still, today Broome is one of the major producers of fine Pearls and this industry along with tourism and mining support a town of over 11000 people. There are many other activities in Broome such as camel safaris and diving trips as well as a very well catered for backpacker scene, not to mention the Kimberley region to the East. (* see last edition). Tours from Perth to Broome start at $950.00 peak season for 8 days all meals and accommodation. (Broome Tours here)

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