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THE IMPACT OF THE WARS AND THEIR AFTER EFFECTS
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The first World War provided a disaster with trade. Many tonnes of shell were left to rot in warehouses and although the industry resumed after the war it never regained the momentum of the early years.
In the 1930's Broome was badly affected by the Depression which was compounded by a horrific cyclone in 1935. 20 luggers were destroyed in the Lacepede Channel and another 16 were badly damaged. 142 men were drowned, 1 survived.
By the Second World War the Northern Australian Pearling Industry was barely alive. It survived mainly through government subsidies in the face of Japanese competition in oceans north of Australia. Ironically it was the war that saved Broome pearling from bankruptcy. During the war 500 Japanese divers and crew who worked in the Broome fleet were interned. If luggers fell into the hands of the enemy they were either sent south or burned. March 3rd 1942 was by far, Broome's blackest day. Broome was one of the main refueling points in Australia, and was consequently attacked by 10 Japanese aircraft who flew south from Timor to Broome.
Between 7000-8000 servicemen and refugees passed through Broome airport in less than
a month . There were no defenses except a few .303 rifles of the 'Homeguard'.
'Intelligence' believed Broome lay beyond the fuel range of Japanese aircraft however,
the flight of 10 aircraft carried long range fuel tanks which they jettisoned on arrival.
They struck at 9:30am and found a group of 16 Australian flying boats in the water along
with 7 aircraft.
The Japanese aircraft used tracer bullets to set all aircraft on fire. Only one plane escaped and tragically many flying boats were carrying women and children. It is still uncertain, but the death toll probably exceeded 100. The wrecks of some of these aircraft can still be seen at low tides at certain times of the year.
During the war all women and children were evacuated and Broome resembled a ghost town with a small military garrison. When the townsfolk returned after the war they had to start all over again.
However, the war did have one beneficial result. It put all the pre-war fleets of the
Japanese out of operation. With no major competition Broome Pearling Industry boomed
and a record price was paid for MOP on world markets.
The boom continued until the end of the 1950's; The plastic button was invented in America. Overnight, the pearl shell became worthless because the plastic button was stronger and cheaper.Many of Broome's luggers were left on the beaches to rot.
Whilst many pearling masters were leaving, Broome's future had already been secured. Since 1956 Kuri Bay had been under experimentation with cultured pearls. After it was discovered the Japanese had perfected the art of culturing pearls, Japanese experts were brought to Australia to try their skills on "pinctada maxima". The results were sensational.
Pearls cultured in Australia matured in two years instead of four and grew twice the size
of the Japanese pearls, some even reaching up to 18mm in diameter. In the 1970's the
pearling industry in Broome was producing 60-70% of the worlds cultured pearls.
 Photo courtesy of Paspaley Pearls, Australia | Copper helmets were replaced with modern "hookah" gear and many Japanese divers were replaced with Australians. It was a sad time in Broome in the 1980's when romantic wooden luggers were replaced with more efficient and functional steel and aluminum luggers. |
Most of Broome's future lies in producing the worlds finest cultured pearls but, over the next 10 years a major influx of tourists are expected to turn Broome into the gateway to Australia's most exciting area- The Kimberley.
