Broome in Review
Broome, located in the Kimberley region in Western Australia, is a pearling coastal town situated on the homelands of the Jukun and Yawuru people; indigenous tribes who inhabited the land for over 27 thousand years. Aboriginal culture survives here through oral traditions which promote the heritage, language and culture of these tribes.
The town’s remarkable history is based around the exploits of the men and women who developed the pearling industry. In the late 19th century, they first started harvesting oysters for ‘mother of pearl’. The Japanese cemetery is the resting place of over 900 Japanese divers who lost their lives to shark attacks, storms and diver’s paralysis while working in this often ill-fated industry. Today, you can see the current major cultured pearl farming enterprises in action and you can even purchase the end product.
Broome, a fisherman’s paradise, is home to splendid national parks, colourful coral reefs and stunning coastal scenery. Cable Beach, 20 kilometres of fine white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water is an excellent spot for sunbathers, shell collectors and camel treks and many visitors find themselves spending a lot more time on this beach than they originally planned to.
Broome is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination which is reflected in the good selection of hotel and backpacker accommodation.
From our editor T. Ireland – Sydney