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The Kimberley is one of the nine regions of Western Australia. It is located in the northern part of Western Australia, bordered on the west by the Indian Ocean, on the north by the Timor Sea, on the south by the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts, and on the east by the Northern Territory. It covers an area of 424,517 square kilometres (163,907 sq mi), which is about three times the size of England or comparable to the size of California or 15% larger than Japan or twice the size of Victoria or one sixth the size of Western Australia. It has a population of 38,000 est.
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History
The Kimberley was one of the earliest settled parts of Australia, with the first arrivals landing about 40,000 years ago from the islands of what is now Indonesia. European settlement started around 1885, when cattle were driven across Australia from the eastern states in search of good pasture lands. Many other Europeans arrived soon after, when gold was discovered around Halls Creek.
The population of the Kimberley is only about 41,000, but this figure is growing at a rate of 4.8% per year, around three times the state average. The population is fairly evenly distributed, with only three towns having populations in excess of 2,000: Broome (15 000), Derby (3 600) and Kununurra (5 000). Approximately 33% of the region's population are of Aboriginal descent.
Climate
The Kimberley has a tropical monsoon climate. During the Wet season, from November to April, the region receives about 90% of its rainfall, and cyclones are common especially around Broome. The annual rainfall, however, is highest in the northwest, where Kalumburu averages 1,270 millimetres (50 in) per year, and lowest in the southeast where it is around 520mm 520 millimetres (20 in). In the dry season, from May to October, south easterly breezes bring sunny days and cool nights. The aboriginal people of the Kimberley recognise traditional seasons based on meteorological events as well as observed events relating to fauna and flora.
Geology
During the Devonian period, a barrier reef system formed before a subsequent drop in sea levels over the Kimberley. This reef system was similar to the Great Barrier Reef and is still visible today in the form of the Napier Range and the Ningbing Range. Some of the features are Tunnel Creek, Windjana Gorge and Geikie Gorge.[1] This area is also known as the Kimberly Block physiographic province, of which it is part of the larger West Australian Shield division. This province contains the King Leopold Range, Durack Range, Leveque Rise, Browse Depression, and Londonderry Rise physiographic sections.
Industry
The Kimberley features diverse industries such as:
Pearling
Broome supports a flourishing pearling industry which operates around the Kimberley coast. Some of the major farmers are Paspaley Pearls, Clipper Pearls, Broome Pearls and the Willie Creek Pearl Farm.
Mining
One third of the worlds annual production of diamonds are mined at the Argyle and the Ellendale diamond mines. Oil is extracted from the Blina oil field and gas is expected to be taken from offshore sources soon. Zinc and lead are mined at the Pillara, Sallay Mallay and Cadjebut mines near Fitzroy Crossing. The producted is exported from Derby after being trucked to the town.
Agriculture and aquaculture
Traditionally the region was oriented torwards pastoral leases - with most of the region utilised by the leases. More recently agriculture has been focussed on the Ord River Irrigation Area near Kununurra. Irrigation was also trialled in the West Kimberley by way of the now defunct Camballin Irrigation Scheme. There are also fruit growers in Broome and in other areas in the West Kimberley. Beef cattle are grown in the Kimberley and exported. Wyndham also features the last remaining meatworks in the Kimberley. Barramundi are bred in Lake Argyle and Broome features a fully equipped Aquaculture Park near the port which is tennanted by amongst others Paspaley Pearls and Broome TAFE. The Kimberley also has a thriving fishing industry.
Indigenous art
Some of Australia's most prominent Indigenous artists and art centres are in or adjacent to the Kimberley region. Artists such as Paddy Bedford and Freddy Timms have an international profile, and there are a number of Aboriginal-owned and controlled art centres and companies that assist artists, arrange exhibitions and sell works. The art centres in the region are also organised through the Association of Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists. Issues have been raised regarding the exploitation of Indigenous artists by businesses and individuals, including in the Kimberley, which were canvassed in an Australian Senate parliamentary committee report. See Also :
- Jirrawun Arts
- Waringarri Arts
- Warlayirti Artists
- Association of Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists
- parliamentary committee report
Tourism
The Kimberley is a popular tourist destination, with areas such as the Bungle Bungle, the Gibb River Road, Lake Argyle, El Questro Station, Horizontal Falls and Cape Leveque. The Gibb River Road and the road into the Bungle Bungles can at times be accessed in a two-wheel drive car, although one can access many additional areas in a four-wheel drive vehicle.
Political
At federal level, the Kimberley is represented by the member for Kalgoorlie. At state level, the Kimberley electorate takes in most of the region and all of its major towns, while Central Kimberley-Pilbara includes south-eastern areas such as Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing. The Kimberley region consists of the local government areas of:
See also
References
- ^ Western Australia's Department of Environment and Conservation (2007). The Devonian 'Great Barrier Reef'. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
External links
- Kimberley Development Commission
- Hugh Brown Out in the Back Country - The Kimberley Region of North West Australia
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| Regions of Western Australia |
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| Gascoyne | Goldfields-Esperance | Great Southern | Kimberley | Mid West | Peel | Pilbara | South West | Wheatbelt |
