Broome Pearling |
Introduction In Western Australia on the north west coast there is a town called Broome. Broome is a small community. It has a rich history. Broome is famous for its pearling industry. The pearling industry was first discovered in 1861 by the crew of a ship called the 'Dolphin' at Nickol Bay. Before 1914 Broome was supplying 80% of the world's mother of pearl. |
Pearls Pinctada |
History During the latter part of the nineteenth and early twentieth century in Australia, pearling was important and a colorful industry. The mother of pearl shell was the silver or gold-lipped pearl oyster is called pinctada. In 1861 commercial pearling began in Western Australia by James Turner. James got to Western Australia on the vessel 'Fremantle'. He gathered 910 shells by himself. Then James Turner got the Aborigines to dive for pearls for him. In 1890's Broome,on Roebuck Bay became the main Pearling port. The port in Broome could hold about 300 vessels. In Broome there is a church that is made out of the mother of pearl shells. Divers The Aborigines were some the first Divers to dive but were slowly replaced by the Japanese divers in the early 1900's. The Japanese could stay under water longer than the Aborigines. The Japanese and Malays came to Broome to look and dive for pearls and hoping to make their fortune. |