Sheep loose in the main street of Derby

Image

Sheep on the run

Few may remember that it was sheep, not cattle, that were brought to the rich pastures along the Fitzroy River in the 1880s. Since that time Derby has been the regional centre and port for the west Kimberley. Tons of wool as well as live sheep were exported from the jetty. The sheep were mustered and drovers brought them to the jetty via the Myall Bore and the one mile dinner camp on the edge of the marsh. Occasionally things didn't go to plan, and the sheep went their own way, as in this image, in which they are fleeing through the town!

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Shire of Derby / West Kimberley Library - local studies collection

Muddy Waters

Named after the Earl of Derby, the town has a rich colonial history as the first regional and administrative centre, supporting the sheep and cattle stations of the west Kimberley. Keeper of this...

Address:

Clarendon Street
Derby WA 6728
Australia

Tel:

(08) 9191 0900

Email:

libmanager@sdwk.wa.gov.au

Open Hours

Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri 9.30am - 12pm; Thurs 1 - 5pm; Sat 10am – 12pm

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Shire of Derby, West Kimberley Library Overview

Namarali at Rest, by Donny Woolagoodja

Namarali, the great wandjina

Namarali is one of the greatest and most powerful Wandjinas of the Worrorra people, characterised by a halo of several lines and a shell pendant on his chest. The feared Wandjina, who enforces the law...

Cow-horn sharks by unknown artist

Two in one

A favourite pastime of many locals was to carve whatever enduring materials were at hand—turtle shell and catfish bones for the saltwater people, and cow horns and boab nuts for those from the station...