The Kimberley Region
The Kimberley region is Western Australia's most northern region. The region encompasses an area of 421,451 square kilometres (one-sixth of the state's total land area).
The coastline faces the Indian Ocean to the west and the Timor Sea to the north, while inland it is bordered by the Great Sandy Desert in the south and the Northern Territory in the east.
Distances are vast:
- Katherine to Kununurra 572km
- Kununurra to Broome 1100km
- Broome to Perth 2300km approx
The Kimberley's immense and complex landscape encompasses spectacular gorges, waterfalls, cave systems, rainforests and astonishing variety of wildlife.
Population
28,000 people based in the regional centres of Broome, Derby, Kununurra, and Hall's Creek.
Economy
The main industries in the region are agriculture, pearling, mining and tourism.
Climate
There are two seasons in this part of Western Australia:
Dry/Winter (April to September):
- Little rainfall with mild to warm conditions
- Average temperatures are maximum 30°C - 32°C, minimum 5°C - 12°C
- Humidity levels are low, averaging between 30% - 40% in July
Wet/Summer (October to March):
- Heaviest rain falling from January onwards, average 200mm in January.
- Average temperatures are maximum 45°C, minimum 18°C - 22°C
- Humidity levels averaging between 60% - 75%
Environment
The rocks of the Kimberley are some of the oldest in the world. The northern part of the Kimberley was formed by sedimentation, laid down mainly as sandstone. The ranges of red sandstone have been worn away over time by the torrential rains of the wet season, forming beautiful gorges and permanent water holes.
Further south the rock is mainly of limestone. This dates back to the coral reefs that evolved when the whole area was under the sea millions of years ago.
Flora
Savannah woodlands cover much of the Kimberley. They are home to:
- Eucalypts (e.g. red river gums and coolibahs) and acacias (e.g. corkybark wattle and the Broome pindan wattle). These are the predominant species of tree in the region.
- Magnificent boab trees with their bottle shaped trunks, long-associated with the region.
- Cassia sp. is also common with their sausage-shaped seedpods.
- Floral treasures include the spectacular crimson coloured Kurrajong, many species of grevillea, wildflowers, water lilies, and palms. Livistonia palms are especially common on the Mitchell Plateau. Pandanus are often seen along the riverbanks in the region.
- Grasses such as Mitchell grass, kangaroo grass, black speargrass, and kerosene grass form the understorey.
Pockets of rainforests are also found in the area, typically in high-rainfall coastal areas. They provide a home to some 300 species of plants. Many wildlife species, for example birds and snakes, can survive only in these pockets of rainforest.
Fauna
Fauna of the region is again typical of the north's tropical savannahs. Wildlife is not conspicuous in this landscape mainly due to its rugged form and the fact that most rest in the shade during the hot days.
Birds
Birds are abundant throughout the region with the rare and endangered purple-crowned fairy-wren one of the more notable residents. Rainforest: Rainbow pittas and orange-footed scrubfowl feed on the rainforest floor, while figbirds and pied imperial pigeons which feed on the soft fruits are important transporters of seed between patches.
Jabirus, brolgas, sarus cranes, magpie geese and a variety of duck species are commonly seen on the wetlands.
Birds of prey such as the whistling kite, and a range of parrots and honeyeaters can be seen all over the region.
Mammals include the agile or pretty face wallaby and the antilopine wallaroo, which are the most commonly seen of the region's kangaroos and wallabies. The warabi, a small wallaby, is endemic to this area. Many species of bat are found in the region - watch out for fruit bats and flying foxes. Echidnas and northern brown bandicoots are found around the Mitchell plateau.
The region is home to both freshwater and estuarine crocodiles, as well as some unusual lizards including the snake-like Burton's lizard, the frill-necked dragon and the spiny-tailed monitor. Children's and diamond pythons, the highly poisonous king brown snake, and the common death adder may also be seen.
History
- 1688 - English explorer William Dampier landed near Broome.
- 1801 - Matthew Flinders passed along the Kimberley coast on his circumnavigation of Australia.
- 1880 - Region named by the Western Australian government after the Earl of Kimberley, British Secretary of State for the colonies at the time.
- 1880s - Pearling industry was established with its base at Broome. Influx of divers from Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines.
- 1883 - Town of Derby established for use as a port for the Kimberley cattle industry, and for Hall's Creek goldrush of 1885.
- 1972 - Lake Argyle and Ord River Irrigation Scheme completed near Kununurra.
Indigenous Culture
The region was inhabited by a number of culturally diverse Aboriginal people including:
- the Worora people in the west
- the Kija people in the south
- the Mirriwung people and Djarru people in the east Kimberley
The sandstone gorges of the region are the stunning setting for some of Australia's oldest surviving rock art, including the Bradshaw and Windjana styles.
Things To See And Do
- Bungle Bungles: Situated in the Purnululu National Park, the "Bungles", as they are known locally, are one of the world's most unusual geological formations. Thousands of beehive-shaped hills and mounds rise up out of the plain, striped in red, orange and black bands.
- Broome: The towns mix of colonial and Asian architecture is testimony to the multi-cultural mix of the population, many of whom can trace their roots back to when the town flourished as the world's leading pearling port with hundreds of sea going pearling luggers setting out each day for the rich offshore grounds.
- Derby: The town of Derby is situated on King Sound in the West Kimberly region of Western Australia's far north. Founded in the early 1880's Derby was for many years a vital port for provisioning the growing pastoral and mining industries. Today Derby is a major communication hub, a medical centre and a stepping off point for travellers wishing to explore the magnificent islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago and the West Kimberley.
- El Questro Wilderness Park: El Questro is on the eastern perimeter of the Kimberley and runs for approximately eighty kilometres into the heart of the region. Animal, bird and fish life congregate on the rivers and waterholes. El Questro boasts four major river systems, from fresh water springs to the lazy salt-water estuaries in the northern part of the property.
- Mitchell Falls: The spectacular Mitchell Falls with their 5-fall drop. The falls are accessible by 4WD only.
- Kununurra: Kununurra is modern town established in 1960 as the centre of the huge Ord River Dam and Irrigation project. It is now the major town of the East Kimberly region.
- Lake Argyle: 72km south east of Kununurra is a giant freshwater inland sea some 800 square kilometres in area. This is the largest body of fresh water in Australia and holds over 50 times the volume of water in Sydney Harbour. Formed by the damming of the Ord River in 1972, Lake Argyle is rich in native flora and fauna.
- Wyndham: Established in 1886, the old port of Wyndham was once a vital link with the outside world when the only communication was by coastal steamer. Now with a population of less than 850 this old frontier town is a far cry from when it was the centre of commerce for the East Kimberly region.
- Windjana Gorge: Here the Lennard River has carved a majestic gorge though an exposed Devonian reef. Fossils of shells and the creatures that lived in Devonian times can be seen preserved in the 100 metre high limestone walls. Windjana is one of the best places to view fresh water crocodiles in their natural habitat.
- Tunnel Creek: Southeast of Windjana Gorge, a small creek has carved a tunnel through the limestone creating a 750 metre long cave. It features formations such as pillars, shawls and stalactites as well as a roof collapse. Three species of bats can be observed in the caves. Visitors to the Tunnel may have to wade through water of various depths.
- Lennard Gorge: Off the Gibb River Road, the road to this gorge is for experienced 4 wheel drivers only. The gorge has a spectacular waterfall early in the Dry. The narrow, deep canyons are features all the year around. It can be a hazardous gorge and extreme care should be taken when exploring and climbing.
- Bell Gorge: Off the Gibb River Road. Boab trees line Bell Creek, which cascades through a series of falls through deep gorges.
Access
- Air: The Kimberley has an extensive network of airports and airstrips including all-weather jet airports at Broome (a restricted use international airport), Kununurra and Derby, smaller regional airstrips at Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek and Wyndham, and a network of landing areas suitable for small general aviation aircraft. Qantas Airlink provides regular passenger jet services to the region from Perth, Darwin and Alice Springs. There are local charter flights into and across the region.
- Bus: Greyhound Pioneer/McCaffertys provides scheduled services between Perth, Darwin and the Kimberley.
- Self Drive: The major centres are connected by the Great Northern Highway, which is a sealed national highway link. Most other roads are unsealed and can become impassable after rain. Check up-to-date road condition reports for the Kimberley by ringing 1800 013 314 or check online.
- Tours: The following Savannah Guides Operators run tours to the Kimberley:
Further Information
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