Take a walk through the charming 1890s former general store, which is now the town’s museum. Check out the well presented visual displays, photographs and artefacts to learn all about the history of Broome.

Find out about the town’s interesting pearling history which has developed into a world class export industry today. Learn about the terrifying Japanese attacks on Broome during World War II and the impact it had on the local residents and allies who had taken refuge there.

You will be intrigued by the tales of shipwrecks and missing diamonds which takes you on a journey of discovery into the development of a culture that has melded from a diversity of origins. Examine Aboriginal artefacts and memorabilia from the area and discover how the town of Broome became the first truly multicultural district in Australia.

Regarded as one of the best regional museums in Australia, it is located in the town centre of Broome which is a two and a half hour flight north of Perth. Check opening hours prior to visiting.

Constructed of handcrafted limestone blocks with crushed termites mounds used as mortar, it was a magnificent building for its time. During the early 1970’s a decision was made to remove the homestead before Lake Argyle began to fill in order to preserve this magnificent building for all time. The homestead was dismantled stone by stone with every stone coded in such a way so as to be able to be rebuilt with every stone back in its original position. The homestead now lives on as a museum dedicated to the pioneering spirit of the Durack Family. The Historic Durack Homestead Museum is operated by the Kununurra Visitor Centre and is open to the public daily from April to September. For further enquiries or out of season viewings please contact the Visitor Centre on (08) 9168 1177 or by email: [email protected] Note: small fee payable upon entry to museum grounds

March 20th 2017 will mark 75 years since the forced landing of Wirraway A20-62, on the far north Kimberley NT-border coastal saltmarsh after engine failure over the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf. From an East Kimberley at war, comes a story of survival of two RAAF 12 Squadron pilots who force-landed Wirraway A20-62 on March 20th 1942, and subsequent rescue by Charlie Pretlove and four Aboriginal stockmen form Carlton Hill Station.

In 2005 (on March 20th when they got the pilot, Lew Dwyer to Kununurra to open the display, he was pleased to meet descendants of those Aboriginal stockmen who had gone out on horseback to rescue them. The rescuers in 1942 were Waddi Boyoi (Head Stockman), his brother Joe, Grant Njabidg [and George Carlton]. Just weeks after Darwin's first air-raid, this was the same day as air-raids on Broome and Derby, so their forced-landing may have been a blessing in disguise, as their mission to Drysdale (River Mission), may have meant an encounter with the enemy.

March 20th - 'Wirraway-Challenge' Day (annually) at the Kununurra Museum, run by the Kununurra Historical Society. [Wirraway means Challenge!]