BROOME - Early History

William Dampier was the first known European to sail this way in 1699 in the command of H.M.S. Roebuck.  Nicolas Baudin named Ganthaume Island in 1801.  This was later corrected to Ganthaume Point by Phillip Parker King in 1821.  King also named Roebuck Bay after Dampier's ship, and Dampier Creek after the great navigator himself. 

John Lort Stokes visited Roebuck Bay in H.M.S. Beagle in 1838 but stayed only a short time before sailing  north and naming Beagle Bay after his ship.

By the 1860's, pearling had become a major industry; and in 1883 the WA Governor, Sir Frederick Napier Broome, officially declared Broome as a town.

With the advent of "helmet divers", the pearling industry flourished in Broome throughout the late 1800's and early 1900's with the pearling fleet reportedly peaking at 403 vessels immediately before WW1.  Between the wars, the industry waxed and waned until in the mid 1950's cultured pearl farming was introduced to the Kimberley.  Broome is now the major base for the industry on the WA's Kimberley coast, and Roebuck Bay is still the favoured area for growing out the shell for pearl farms.

         Broome in our Lifetime

In 1982, the anchorages in both Roebuck Bay and on the northern side of Ganthaume Point were untenable for live-aboard yachties, particularly in the predominantly 9 to 10m cruising boats of the time.  We tackled the problem in Spindrift III by anchoring in the shallow Dampier Creek and partially drying out on each low tide (right).  To keep things level inside the boat, we used spinnaker poles to hold the boat upright for two hours on each low tide. 

This was a comfortable, if time consuming solution, but one which allowed us to stay in Broome for a week during a period of strong easterly winds.  Being close to Streeters Jetty, we could do our shopping and sightseeing during the six hours we had between "propping up" sessions.  At low tide, we went fishing or crabbing in Dampier Creek.  This solution was a little less risky than anchoring in Roebuck Bay where one of the luggers (left) was washed ashore over rocks during the period of strong winds.

During the influx of Vietnamese refugees in the 1970's, Broome was a target port for landings in Australia.  This steel refugee boat (above) abandoned in Dampier Creek produced about two dozen mud crabs from under the edge of the hull in one expedition in 1982.  In the 80's, the offshore reefs were just as prolific with these trevally being part of the day's catch from the charter boat "Island Lady".  Anyone recognise Damien at 10 yrs old in these two photos?

Broome is now a mecca for tourism.  And why shouldn't it be?  Grey nomads and backpackers invade the place all year round.  The town boasts attractions not seen on the east coast such as the "Stairway to the Moon" (left), Dinosaur footprints and the stunningly spectacular sunsets over the ocean at Cable Beach (right).

Add to these the dinosaur footprints and the historical light tower at rugged Ganthaume Point (left), the frightening thunderstorms surging across Roebuck Bay during the wet season (right) and the famous camel rides along the seemingly endless expanse of white sand at Cable Beach (below left). 

The geology and geomorphology around Broome is also interesting, with eerie red rock fingers  guarding the hovercraft base adjacent to the main wharf.

Sand bars guard the entrance to Willie Creek (right) 20 miles north of Broome where a "boutique" cultured pearl farm and campground are located.

It takes at least a week to see these attractions and stock up for the trip north or south, so find a secure anchorage and enjoy Broome.  Alternatively, a much better idea may be to visit Broome by car or by plane!