In Town
Pearl Luggers Experience Broome's pearling heritage. Visit two restored pearling luggers in Chinatown and take a historical journey through the life and times of the divers. Tours daily. Dampier Tce; (08) 9192 2059.
Japanese Cemetery The largest Japanese cemetery in Australia contains the graves of over 900 Japanese pearl divers, dating back to 1896. This is a sobering reminder of the perils of the early pearling days when the bends, cyclones and sharks claimed many lives. Cnr Port Dr and Savannah Way.
Staircase to the Moon This beautiful optical illusion is caused by a full moon reflecting off the exposed mudflats of Roebuck Bay at extremely low tides. Town Beach; 3 nights monthly from Mar–Oct; check dates and times at visitor centre.
Chinatown: an extraordinary mix of colonial and Asian influences, Chinatown was once the bustling hub of Broome where pearl sheds, billiard saloons and Chinese eateries flourished. Now it is home to some of the world's finest pearl showrooms. Buildings on Hamersley Street: distinctive Broome-style architecture including the courthouse, made of teak inside and corrugated iron outside; Captain Gregory's House, a classic old pearling master's house, built in 1915, now an art gallery; and Matso's Cafe, once the Union Bank Building. Historical Museum: pearling display and collection of photographs and literature on Broome's past; Robinson St. Bedford Park: war memorial, replica of explorer William Dampier's sea chest and an old train coach; Hamersley St. Shell House: one of the largest shell collections in Australia; Guy St. Sun Pictures: the world's oldest operating outdoor cinema, opened in 1916; Carnarvon St. St John of God Convent: built in 1926 by a Japanese shipbuilder using traditional methods that emphasise the external framing of the building; cnr Barker and Weld sts. Deep Water Jetty: good for fishing; Port Dr. Heritage trail: 2 km walk introduces places of interest; contact visitor centre for self-guide pamphlet.
