The first sign that we were near Broome was the "Beware of Camels" sign.
You know you are in Broome when you see this sign!
On the way in we passed lots of mango farms where you can buy all sorts of things made from mango - wine, smoothies, liqueur cake, ice cream, chutneys, sauces and many more.
We headed to Cable Beach as we had booked into the Palm Grove Holiday Park which is just over the road. We had been given a great shady spot, not far from the pool.
After we set up, we went for a walk to Cable Beach. What a great beach, it is long, sandy, with some gentle surf waves. You can rent umbrellas, lounges, surf and boogie boards and kids toys on the beach. What a great idea. It all packs into a closed in trailer. At the prices charged it wouldn't have taken long to pay off the items so it would all be profit and you get to spend the day at the beach as well!
Looking left down Cable Beach
Looking right, it continues around the bend as well
Hiring rates for umbrellas, lounges, surf boards, boogie boards and kids toys
There is an historic marker on the beach where the 1650km long submarine cable from Banjoewangie, Java to Broome provided the third link to Europe in 1889. The cable came ashore at Cable Beach which is how it got its name. The link greatly increased the security of Australia's overseas communications.
Broome to Java Telegraph Cable Marker
Broome has a population of 13,717 and was gazetted as a town in 1883. The discovery of the largest pearl shell in the world, "Pinctada Maxima", in Roebuck Bay led to the establishment of Broome's pearling industry. In the first decade of the twentieth century, Broome produced 80% of the world's Mother of Pearl shell. The industry peaked in 1913 with 403 registered pearling vessels. Many divers dived from the bends, drowning, shark attack and cyclones. The development of the plastic button in the 1950s sealed the fate of the Mother of Pearl shell industry but it was revitalised in the late 1950's with the advent of the cultured pearl and by the 1970s, Broome was producing 60% to 70% of the world's large cultured pearls. Tourism became a new industry in the 1980s which saw the rebuilding of hotels and resorts and the sealing of the gravel road to the south to Port Hedland.
Broome is situated at the southernmost tip of the rugged Kimberley region of Western Australia. October through to March is the monsoon season. It has a multicultural population, made up of many people who flocked to the shores of Roebuck Bay in the hope of making their fortunes from the pearling industry. Cable Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the workd and the pindan (red) cliffs, stark white sands and turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean are part of the appeal.
The temperature here is about the same as Port Hedland (35 degrees) but no humidity today so it is just lovely. A dip in the pool topped the day off for me.
cheers
Pete and Roz
No comments:
Post a Comment