Derby

Derby is a small town with a 50% indigenous population, crime rates are high. Derby was our staging point to Horizontal Falls and the Gibb River Road.

Derby has the huge Kimberly tides and mudflats as far as the eye can see. The jetty was closed for maintenance, no fishing so we discovered alcoholic ginger beer at the pub instead. Yep I am a convert.

Australia certainly has a chequered past with regard to the nations first people. I have included a picture of a prison tree. Aborigines were held in large boab trees on the way to Derby jail. The crime was normally being in the possession of beef. The penalty two years.

During the early pearling days young aboriginal men were kidnapped to work in the pearling industry, this was called Blackbirding. The kidnapped also spent time chained at the prison tree on route.

The water trough is over 100 meters long part of the overland stock route. Cattle were droved overland to be transported from Derby.Read more