Broome Museum

The Broome Historical Museum reveals the character and history of the unique, multicultural town of Broome, dubbed 'the pearling capital of the world.' Originally housed in the Old Broome Lockup the museum moved to the Old Customs House where thousands of indentured labourers from Asia had had their papers processed. Committed to preserving Broome’s built heritage, they have also rescued buildings and objects, bound for demolition. The engaging grounds include Bragge’s sail-making shed, the old CWA hall, Vietnamese refugee boats, old gravestones, machinery and gardens. The professional, witty, as well as hard-hitting displays capture the character of Old Broome. Old Broome was a town with an extraordinary history of pearling masters in their colonial whites, divers and their primitive suits, the allure of pearl shell buttons and pearls. There are also displays about the Yawuru people and the violence and prejudice of the justice system. The Meatworks that dominated the town, is featured; the horror of the Japanese bombing raids in World War 2, and the not-to-be missed hilarious ‘Hello Girls’ installation about the women who ran the local telephone exchange. The Broome Museum also has an online catalogue and a series of educational resources that accompany the displays and deal with the tough issues of racism, White Australia and the restrictions placed on Aboriginal and Asian residents.