COMMUNITY INFORMATION The horse drawn tramway extended extended to a length of 120 metres. The ART & HISTORY from the Jetty down Loch Street as far flow from the bore was dropping off even The Spirit of the Wandjina Art Studio as the King Sound Hotel site. Nearby by 1919. Now water is pumped into the at Mowanjum Aboriginal Community was a quarry that was used to supply trough by a windmill. The water from the welcomes visitors. Phone (08) 9191 stone for the causeway across the bore has a rich mineral content and was 1008. Work from this community was a mud flats. The tramway finished near reputed to have therapeutic properties. A feature of the opening ceremony of the McGovern and Thompson’s Store (now bath house once stood near the trough. Sydney Olympics. Norval’s Gallery located Woolworths). (see the Boab Prison Tree Interpretative on Loch Street, opposite Lytton Park, Pavilion located on site for further Those wishing to follow up on the story has a large range of local artwork from information). of the SS Colac can view the anchor throughout the region. Jila Gallery & Café and propeller of the vessel in the Lions located in Clarendon Street showcases Park in front of the Derby Civic Centre in BOAB PRISON TREE the art of the Looma Community 120kms Loch Street. The remains of the vessel 7km from Derby on the Derby – south east of Derby, plus local Derby can be viewed at low tide out from the Broome Highway artists. end of the Derby airport runway via a This huge tree is believed to be around fixed wing or helicopter flight. Access to 1,500 years old and has a girth of 14.7 DERBY (waste water) WETLAND the wreck is not possible from the land. metres. It was used as staging point for Access via Conway Street prisoners being walked into Derby in the Bird watchers can make use of an OLD DERBY GAOL early days. observation tower provided by the Water Loch Street – Registered National & The Prison Tree is a registered Aboriginal Corporation near the waste water ponds State Heritage Site Site. Visitors are requested to respect to view a great variety of ducks, waders The Police Station and depot for the the cultural sensitivity of the site and not and other water birds that use the area Police Horse Patrol was located in climb into or approach close to the tree. as a day time roost. The managed Loch Street halfway between the wetland adjacent with shallow water (see the Boab Prison Tree Interpretative original Town of Derby (established and reed beds attracts wetland birds Pavilion located on site for further near Numbala Ngunga) and Derby Port, and migratory waders. (Ask at the Derby information). locally known in the early days as “The Visitor Centre for bird list and directions). Point”. The restored Old Derby Gaol is a tangible reminder of these times DERBY PASTORAL TRAIL – DERBY GOLF COURSE and is the oldest building in the town STAGE 1 Derby Recreation Area Ashley Street (1906). The significance of the Gaol to The Derby Pastoral Trail tells the story The wonderful boab trees, green fairways the Derby community is explained at the of the last day of travel for drovers with and putting surfaces make this 18 hole site. their herds from Myall’s Bore to the jetty. composite course a pleasure to play Stage 1 starts at the One Mile Dinner on for any golfer. Recycled water has DERBY PIONEER CEMETERY Camp at the corner of Mimosa Street enabled the green fairways to be created Lovegrove Street and Rowan Street and ends at the to a design by well known professional Centenary Pavilion at the jetty. The cemetery and Old Gaol are sites golfer Terry Gale. Visitors are welcome. on the Pigeon Heritage Trail which Clubs are available for hire from the tells of the exploits of the Aboriginal FROSTY’S POOL Caravan Park. Please contact the Derby Jandamarra. A booklet on the trail can Adjacent to Myall’s Bore Sportsman Club for more information. be obtained from the Visitor Centre. Built in 1944 as a bathing area for At the cemetery one of Jandamarra’s troops stationed in the area during the KIMBERLEY SCHOOL OF THE AIR victims, Police Constable William Second World War, this is one of the Marmion Street Richardson, is buried. Another few remaining reminders of those years interesting grave is that of the Aboriginal Visitors are welcome to see how in the town. The bath was constructed classes for children on remote stations Police Tracker “Larry” Kunamarra who by the 3rd General Transport Co. and was honoured by the Queen for his are conducted. Visiting sessions during was nicknamed Frosty’s Pool after a school terms two and three only, on services. Many graves in the cemetery platoon member, Charles L.V. Frost. are without headstones. Thursdays only at 9am. JOONJOO BOTANICAL TRAIL MYALL’S BORE AND CATTLE THE BUCCANEER ARCHIPELAGO Some of the plants and animals of the TROUGH The Archipelago is 35 minutes flying Wanganut Land System are described time from Derby. It consists of up to 7km from Derby near the Prison Tree on three kilometres of walking trail 1,000 rugged, sparsely vegetated The first bore at this location was dug located in the Wanganut Reserve islands, with patches of rainforest in in 1910/11. It replaced the original well between the Derby Speedway and moist areas, secluded beaches and sunk by Alfred Duckworth Mayall in the Conway Street. Interpretative plaques a fringe of mangroves where silt has early 1890s. The 1910/11 bore was 322 explain how the bush was used by the accumulated. The islands are rich in bird metres deep, had a residual head of 6 Nyikina people. The trail is an initiative and animal life with 118 species of bird metres and cost £2700. When John of the Derby Chamber of Commerce and 11 species of snake recorded on Tait Blain was Secretary of the Road and the Derby Visitor Centre. Access Koolan Island alone. Board (1916/17) he had Joe Griffen off Speedway Road. A trail booklet is build the concrete trough which is there available at the Visitor Centre. to this day. This trough could handle 500 bullocks at one time and was later 26 DERBY & FITZROY CROSSING – COMMUNITY & BUSINESS INFORMATION COMMUNITY INFORMATION A tidal range of up to twelve metres THE PIONEER CEMETERY GEIKIE GORGE NATIONAL PARK is experienced, which creates such Skuthorp Road 20km from Fitzroy Crossing via Russ Rd phenomena as the horizontal reversible Just up the road from the Crossing Inn This spectacular 30 metre high-walled waterfall in Talbot Bay, a must see for and on the river banks is the original gorge has been carved by the Fitzroy any visitor. Rock art on the islands cemetery containing the graves of old River through the ancient Devonian reflects the occupation by Aboriginal stockmen and district pioneers. Limestone Reef. people and isolated graves are testimony to the dangers of pearling at April to October, the tranquil waters the turn of the century. THE CROSSING INN offer a haven for many types of fish and Skuthorp Road bird life abounds. During this time boat The scars of mining for iron ore can tours are provided daily by Department be seen from the air on Koolan and July 5th 1997 saw this historic hotel of Environment and Conservation (DEC) Cockatoo Island. NOTE: Access celebrate its Centenary as the oldest Rangers. An Aboriginal Cultural Tour is to Koolan and Cockatoo Islands is Kimberley Hotel on its original site. also available run by Darngku Heritage restricted, as both are mining sites. In Located close to the banks of the Fitzroy Tours. This takes in a scenic lookout addition, sea safaris leave Derby on a River, it has been a ‘haven in a lonely over the Gorge. regular basis between April and October country’ and many a story of the droving days has been told across its bar. to explore the West Kimberley Coast. The Gorge has three walks varying in length and is an ideal location for Regular scenic flights leave from Derby The Fitzroy River has flooded the photography, walking, nature observation and give a tantalising view of this property and in 1993 the level was and picnicking. Rangers are based in the wonderful coastline. measured as 9 bricks through the bar. park throughout the dry season. The Walls of this historical hotel have been decorated with over 20 pieces of FITZROY CROSSING art by students from the Fitzroy Valley District High School. FITZROY CROSSING VISITOR CENTRE PO Box 101 Fitzroy Crossing .................... 9191 5355 Fax ....................................... 9191 5085 Email .......... [email protected] The Fitzroy Crossing Visitor Centre’s first year of operation was 1996. It is run by the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley and is located at the entrance to Fitzroy Crossing in a building also containing the Fitzroy Crossing Library and Shire Offices. A range of tours and accommodation may be booked at the Centre and souvenirs purchased. The Centre is open 7 days a week – May to October and 6 days a week for the remainder of the year. These hours are subject to change without notice. THE ORIGINAL TOWNSITE Off Russ Road Built on a high bank of the Fitzroy River, the other side of Brooking Creek from the Crossing Inn, was the original town. Today it consists of the former Police Kimberley Residents – Mahal Kito Station, Lock-up and Police Officer’s House, the old Post Office, a monument to the Australian Inland Mission Hospital and an avenue of Boab trees.