Broome
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Broome is a unique and exotic seaside town with a romantic and often flamboyant history. It is the southern gateway to the magnificent wilderness area of the Kimberley. Established as a pearling port in the 1880s, Broome boasts a multicultural population made up of the many nationalities that flocked to the shores of Roebuck Bay in the hope of making their fortune from the pearling industry. It was this exciting and often dangerous quest by many colourful personalities for the valuable harvest of pearl shell that has helped forge the character and charm of Broome. The first pearl divers were the Aborigines who free dived in the shallow waters. Later on, in the heady pearling years after the introduction of heavy diving equipment and airpumps, over 400 luggers worked the shores off Roebuck Bay. Japanese, Malays and Koepangers made up the crews, while the Chinese became the shopkeepers of the town.
Today Broome offers a cosmopolitan atmosphere and easy-going tropical charm that made it a popular travellers' centre and a favoured spot for alternative lifestylers and urban burnouts. Nearby Cable Beach regarded as one of best beaches in the world is also one of the most famous beaches in Australia, and the up-market tourism promoted here has saved the town from the crasser Australiana flotsam that swamps most WA tourist towns. The other major attractions in Broome are the small Chinatown, the 80-year-old open-air Sun Pictures Cinema, the Japanese cemetery, and the dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point, Broome Crocodile park, Willie Creek Pearl Farm and sunset Camel riding on Cable beach. Broome is also popular with bird-watchers, with the Broome Bird Observatory on Roebuck Bay rating as one of Australia's top non-breeding grounds for migrant Arctic waders. Built in 1916, the unique Sun Pictures has withstood the ravages of war, cyclones and king tides. It is the world’s oldest outdoor picture garden, and there’s nothing like watching a latest release movie under the stars, laying back in a deck chair! Visit Willie Creek Pearl Farm – the only pearl farm in the Kimberley open to the public. Learn about the process of cultured pearl farming, including a trip on the boat Willie Wanderer and learn about the process of cultured pearl farming, including a demonstration on seeding pearl shells. The Japanese Cemetery stands as testimony to the perils of the early pearling industry. This is the final resting place of over 900 Japanese pearl divers. Broome Historical Society Museum features a display on pearling and a large collection of photographs and files that piece together the fascinating history of Broome. Broome offers a vast range of accommodation styles from first class resorts to luxurious self-contained apartments. There is an excellent choice of hotels, budget and backpacker accommodation as well as a good selection of caravan parks and camping areas. Local tour operators offer a diverse range of tours to show you the best of Broome and its environs.
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