Broome - to - Derby, 222kms. - 31st May, 2022.

 Left digs at 8.00am to drive to Derby. We had planned to stop at the Willare Bridge Roadhouse for a night  but as we arrived there about 10.30 am thought we had time to go up to Derby for the night instead. Originally we had planned to go to Derby , then we decided to by pass it but now we are here. Not a lot up here but always interested to see these types of towns. It is a place very popular for the tourists as it is close to a few activities. One would be the trip to fly over or go by boat to the Horizontal Falls at Talbot Bay right up North of Derby. Way too expensive for us to go and see them.  But in saying that, that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t love to do it. A few days ago they had a boat accident out there but fortunately nobody was thrown out of the boat but everyone had injuries. Some minor and some more serious. Don’t know if it hit the NZ news. The falls are called Horizontal Falls as with the big high and low tides (12.8 highest) the water rushes through the gapes between the land forming a horizontal rush of water. They say it’s very impressive but we won’t see that. It’s also famous for its big unusual Jetty the shape of a horseshoe. Walk onto it one end and come off it the other end. Unfortunately they were doing maintenance on it so we couldn’t take the walk. Also the Getty is famous for watching the sunsets from. Again we won’t see that as we have had thick cloud over us all day but no rain. It’s looking like we might not get out of this cloud over the next few days. Bad for photos. Derby is also near the outback gorge country, Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge. To outback for our wagon. Derby has an interesting history. The town was bombed by the Japanese during World War ll, and played an important role in introducing the Royal Flying Doctors service to the Kimberley region. Derby is the land of the Boab trees, the well know one is the Boab Prison Tree. This is located six kms south of Derby.

Now well in the Kimberley land. Different colourings and now notice the termite hills are a dark brown not the red we have been seeing. There is a big community of them here. Lots of breading.

My photos come out so dark without that sun. We have now seen a river with water and clearer water as well. They get a lot of rain up here in the wet season (summer time). Which is uncommon for this time of the year.

Just to show you what a normal Boab tree looks like. They are shredding their leaves now.

This is the famous Boab Prison Tree which is an impressive 1500 year old. Looking very old and going rotten in many places. The tree is reputed to have been a rest place stop for Police and the Aboriginal prisoners making their way to Derby. Before Derby was established in 1883, Aboriginal people were kidnapped from the West Kimberley. The kidnappers, known as the “black birders”, were settlers who were connected with the pearling industry. They wanted divers and workers for the pearling boats. They rounded people up, put them in chains and marched them to the coast. Some may have held their captives at the Boab Prison Tree while they waited for a boat.

The prisoners brought to Derby via the Boab Prison Tree came from as far away as Fitzroy Crossing and Christmas Creek. They Generally walked from 24 to 48kms each day in chains, (poor buggers), camping over night at Stations waterholes or wells. Some would have rested at the Boab Prison Tree on their arrival into Derby waiting for their boats.

The Jetty is the shape of a horseshoe. Low tide was 9.00am this morning so when I took the photos the tide would have been three hours on its way back in. Next daytime high tide will be at 2.40 pm tomorrow. That’s the trouble having one night at some places as we miss out on seeing high tide.

This is a photo trying to show how it is horseshoe shaped. Circles around, and each end is attached to the land. The tide was three hours on its way back in, we would have loved to see the high tide which would be 9mts higher. Just didn’t fit in with our plans.

Same time three hours on its way in can’t see any sea water anywhere. I am standing on the causeway out to the Jetty. No water on other side of road and no sign of water there as well. Would have been great to watch it come in. But we have to be on the road early tomorrow big driving day but we had a shorter drive today.

Just a quick drive past these rustic art works around the foreshore. We still can’t see the water. Gosh it must be miles out.

This was my favourite.