The Kimberley and Broome
The Kimberley and Broome
Wyndham
Originally established in 1886 as a result of the goldrush to Halls Creek, Wyndham could boast six thriving hotels in its heyday. Now, its population stands at around 850 and the town remains a small frontier style centre, typical of the character of the Kimberley - unpretentious and friendly but proud of its heritage. In 1931, Wyndham was the starting point for two record breaking flights to England as well as an England to Australia flight in 1933. Wyndham is the most northern town and port in Western Australia, on the tidal waters of Cambridge Gulf and services a huge beef cattle industry, the Ord River Irrigation Project and mining companies.
Features of the town include the Museum and the Boab Gallery and the visitor is welcomed by a 20 metre concrete crocodile. Viewing at the Crocodile Farm is excellent and ranges from hatchlings to huge saltwater monsters which can still be found in the wild. Visitors are reminded to stay well back from the mud flats at the edge of the gulf waters.
The Wyndham Heritage Trail highlights historical buildings and sites and the town still has its own Prison Tree - a huge hollow boab still living and estimated to be around 4,000 years old which was once used by local police as a natural lockup! Dreamtime Park features a larger than life collection of copper and bronze statues depicting an Aboriginal family as well as a collection of animals.
Overhanging Wyndham is the towering 1,200 foot summit of the Bastion Range and from the Five Rivers Lookout, visitors have a magnificent view of the port and the five rivers which flow into the Cambridge Gulf. The Grotto is a lovely natural waterhole with a natural amphitheatre and during the tropical summer season, water cascades over a two stage waterfall some 15m high into a deep pool. Marlgu Billabong is a protected bird sanctuary sheltering a vast array of superb birdlife including the elusive Jabiru. Other attractions include Singh's Garden, the pioneer cemeteries, Crocodile Hole and much more.
