Broome Tourism
Cable Beach Resort
The $55 million Cable Beach Resort with its manicured lawns, slightly oriental architecture, and feeling of opulence is an example of a rich man’s fantasy. Built by Lord McAlpine it has become a popular tourist resort particularly as it fronts on to Cable Beach which has the reputation, not entirely justified, of being the most beautiful beach in Western Australia.
Eighty Mile Beach
Eighty Mile Beach the site of the 1887 cyclone, one of the most famous disasters to the Broome pearling fleet, lies some 50 km south of the Sandfire Roadhouse. In 1887 the length of the beach was littered with bodies (140 men were killed by the cyclone) and debris washed up from the battered fleet. Today it is one of the area’s tropical delights. Its blindingly white sands and intense blue seas are quite breathtaking. The beach stretches off to the horizon in both directions and there is an excellent caravan park nestled in behind the sand dunes.
Streeter old pearling Jetty
The jetty was named after Edwin William Streeter, the owner of the adjacent land and operator of the business that used the jetty. It was built in the late 1890s and was used to moor pearling luggers. The jetty was thought to have been rebuilt in 1946 and reconstructed in 1966, but deteriorated due to lack of maintenance. Following extensive lobbying in 1998 from the community and vested interest groups, the Shire of Broome convinced Paspaley Pearls Pty Ltd to relinquish ownership and allow control of the jetty to pass to the shire.
Sun Pictures Cinema
One of the most interesting is the Sun Pictures building in Carnarvon Street which was built in 1916. Thought to be the oldest open air cinema in the world it is now operated by broome locals. It showed silent movies until 1933. It still operates and is a pleasant and unusual way to spend an evening in Broome.
Broome Historical Museum
Visitors interested in exploring the remnants of the history of the town should start and the Broome Historical Museum in Saville Street at the southern end of Dampier Terrace which has an excellent range of memorabilia relating the town’s pearling past. The Broome Heritage Trail brochure is an excellent guide to some of the town’s more unusual historical attractions.
