HAMAGUCHI PEARLING COMPANY

Hamaguchi Pearling Company established 1984. Location 35 miles south of Broome, Western Australia.

This company started with Mr. Hiroshi Hamaguchi and 2 sons (with 2 other employees). Quota allowed was 5000 shell per year. Currently has a crew of 16 (including 4 sons), a quota of 20000 shell and two pearling vessels.

Mr Hamaguchi came to Broome, Western Australia in 1955 and worked as a hard hat, deep sea diver in the pearling industry. He dived for 6 years, in the all enveloping canvas suit, heavy copper helmet and lead weight boots before becoming another victim of the bends, consequently he quit and worked at several shore jobs, including mining at Whim Creek in the Pilbara, and at the local power station. He had a Master Class 3 certificate from the Japanese Maritime College. All his life he had been involved in the sea, and it was the love of this that made him decide to persue studies in order to gain Australian recognition of his Japanese certificate. He sat for two exams before finally being successful. Mr Hamaguchi then became the Master of the transport ships that were responsible for transferring live shell collected from the luggers working on the shell grounds to the pearl farms at Kuri Bay and Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea).

He was then an employee of Pearls Pty. Ltd and Master of the 'Kuri Pearl' and in later years the 'Merindah Pearl'. 1983 was an unfortunate year for the pearling industry. A huge mortality rate (shell dying) for various reasons, together with management problems resulted in redundancies of staff. Mr. Hamaguchi being one.

It was here that Mr. Hamaguchi made the decision to take on the struggles and the risks of establishing his own Pearl farm, and with this be able to pass his vast knowledge and experience onto his 6 sons.

Mrs. Hamaguchi was born and bred in Broome. The daughter of a Chinese/Japanese father and an Aboriginal/Scottish mother. (Her mother was of the stolen generation that was taken from her Aboriginal mother at Ruby Plains Station in the east Kimberley and sent to Beagle Bay Catholic Mission, via Broome to be educated and assimilated!)

This particular family portrays the exact story of the Pearling Industry in Broome, being one of the most classic examples of the unique multiculturalism that Broome so often boasts. The Hamaguchi's have now been involved in Pearling in Broome for three generations, from the colourful days when hundreds of Asiatics together with Aboriginals working for European pearling masters toiled and gambled for the wealth from the vast and perilous sea floor to the industry that now uses the Pinctada Maxima oyster to produce the most beautiful pearls. Mr. Hamaguchi is now the last of the original that saw the onset of the culture pearl industry in Australia, He was then present and involved as an employee in the experimental days of the 1950's. He, together with his family is now a part of the industry that is responsible for producing the south sea pearl that has become renowned for being the best quality pearls in the world!