Derby

The town of Derby (population 3000) is named after Lord Derby, Secretary of State for the Colonies, 1883. Once a port of entry for miners making their way to Western Australia's first gold rush at Halls Creek, Derby today is the administrative centre for a rich pastoral and mining hinterland. The region's first cattle station was established in 1880 with the town being gazetted on the shores of King Sound in 1883 as a port for the industry - a jetty was built in 1885. One hundred years later, in 1983, the port was closed to shipping although the pastoral industry remains of great importance to the region.

Considerable mining exploration is taking place inland and in 1997 lead ore from the Cadjeput Mine near Fitzroy Crossing commenced shipment via barge from the Derby Jetty. The highest tidal range in Australia, sometimes up to 11 metres, poses some obstacles for loading at the wharf.

Tourism is growing at a rapid rate, as Derby is the gateway to the great gorges of the Napier and Leopold ranges. It is also the closest embarkation point for the islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago including the former iron ore settlement of Cockatoo Island, which is now a tourist resort.

Thing to see and do

Derby's local history museum is housed in Wharfinger House, the home of early harbour masters, where there is also a gallery specializing in works by Kimberley artists and local Aboriginal communities. You can visit the Royal Flying Doctor Base and Kimberley School of the Air, the Art Gallery and Botanic garden and there are a number of outlets offering traditional and contemporary Aboriginal crafts. Recreational fishing is well catered for with barramundi in the Fitzroy River and local freshwater prawns, commonly known as cherabin, in many of the creeks and pools. Mud crabs and a variety of local fish can be caught from the jetty.

District Attractions

Native to the area, the strangely shaped boab tree has become the symbol of Derby. Seven kilometres south is an interesting specimen known as the Boab Prison Tree. The centre of this particularly bloated tree is hollow and is reputed to have been used as a cell to hold prisoners overnight before the final stage of their journey in Derby. The tree and many of the district's other historic sites including Old Derby Lock-up, Constable Richardson's Grave, Windjana Gorge, the ruins of Lillimooloora Police Station and Tunnel Creek, are best toured on the self-drive Pigeon Heritage Trail. Descriptive brochures are available from the tourist bureau.