Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Fitzroy Crossing is a small town in the Kimberley region
of Western Australia
, 400 km east of Broome
and 300 km west of Halls Creek
. It is approximately 2,524 km from the state capital of Perth
.
It is 114 m above sea level and is situated on a low rise surrounded by the vast floodplains of the Fitzroy River
and its tributary Margaret River
. In 2006 the population of the Fitzroy Crossing town-site was approximately 1,500, with a further 2,000 or so people living in up to 50 aboriginal communities scattered throughout the Fitzroy Valley. About 80% of the Fitzroy Valley population were indigenous Australians
with a split of closer to 60/40 (aboriginal/settler) in the townsite. Tourism, cattle stations and mining are the main industries in the area.
. The Bunuba are the River and Hill people.
Another group in the area stretching on the other side of the Fitzroy River from GoGo, Fossil Downs and Louisa Downs Station
and on either side of the Margaret River
, are the Gooniyandi People. The plains Aboriginal people are the Nyigina and further south are the Walmakarri, the people of the Great Sandy Desert
.
The area was finally settled in 1886 by Mr McDonald when he set up the Fossil Downs cattle station. This was following a three-year, 3,500 mile trek from Goulburn, New South Wales.
Fitzroy Crossing received its first bridge in 1935; which was built up into a more substantial structure in 1958. However this bridge could be closed for months during the monsoonal summer. In 1974 a new bridge was built 200 meters south of the crossing which moved the focus of the settlement from its original site.
The town was gazetted in 1975, but had been shown on maps since 1903.
In February 2008, a Coronial inquest described the living conditions for aboriginal people in the Fitzroy Crossing area as "a national disaster with no disaster response". Though the Coroner noted a co-ordinated government response, to the problems of Fitzroy Crossing, to be lacking; local leaders have taken some action. In 2007, a restriction on alcohol sales was campaigned for by members of the indigenous population: early indications suggest the restrictions have been positive for the town.
The Rudd Federal Government
announced in mid-April 2008 that it supported the continuation of the alcohol ban beyond its expiry date of 23 May 2008. citing that:
Kimberley region of Western Australia
The Kimberley is one of the nine regions of Western Australia. It is located in the northern part of Western Australia, bordered on the west by the Indian Ocean, on the north by the Timor Sea, on the south by the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts, and on the east by the Northern Territory.The region...
of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, 400 km east of Broome
Broome, Western Australia
Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...
and 300 km west of Halls Creek
Halls Creek, Western Australia
Halls Creek is a small town situated in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is located between the towns of Fitzroy Crossing and Turkey Creek on the Great Northern Highway...
. It is approximately 2,524 km from the state capital of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
.
It is 114 m above sea level and is situated on a low rise surrounded by the vast floodplains of the Fitzroy River
Fitzroy River (Western Australia)
The Fitzroy River is located in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia.-Discovery:The Fitzroy River was discovered by the West in 1837 by George Grey in the H.M.S. Beagle. The river was subsequently named by Lt J L Stokes on 26/2/1838 after Captain Robert FitzRoy R.N...
and its tributary Margaret River
Margaret River (Kimberley region, Western Australia)
The Margaret River is a river in the Kimberley of Western Australia.The headwaters of the river rise in the King Leopold Range West of Halls Creek and flows in a westerly until it merges with the Fitzroy River of which it is a tributary...
. In 2006 the population of the Fitzroy Crossing town-site was approximately 1,500, with a further 2,000 or so people living in up to 50 aboriginal communities scattered throughout the Fitzroy Valley. About 80% of the Fitzroy Valley population were indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
with a split of closer to 60/40 (aboriginal/settler) in the townsite. Tourism, cattle stations and mining are the main industries in the area.
Pre-european History
Fitzroy Crossing and the lands and valleys around it were the home for a number of Aboriginal language groups. When Fitzroy Crossing was established the main group was the Bunuba People, their land stretching from the present day Brooking Springs and Leopold Downs Station to the Oscar, Napier and King Leopold RangesKing Leopold Ranges
The King Leopold Ranges are a range of hills in the western Kimberley region of Western Australia. Crossed by the Gibb River Road about east of Derby, part of the ranges are covered by the King Leopold Ranges Conservation National Park, managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation...
. The Bunuba are the River and Hill people.
Another group in the area stretching on the other side of the Fitzroy River from GoGo, Fossil Downs and Louisa Downs Station
Louisa Downs Station
Louisa Downs, also commonly just referred to as "Louisa" is a large cattle station midway between Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek in the Kimberley Region in Western Australia.-Description:...
and on either side of the Margaret River
Margaret River
Margaret River is a river in southwest Western Australia. Although small and unremarkable, it is the eponym of the iconic town and tourist region of Margaret River, famous for its surfing, caves and wine....
, are the Gooniyandi People. The plains Aboriginal people are the Nyigina and further south are the Walmakarri, the people of the Great Sandy Desert
Great Sandy Desert
The Great Sandy Desert is a desert located in the North West of Western Australia straddling the Pilbara and southern Kimberley regions. It is the second largest desert in Australia after the Great Victoria Desert and encompasses an area of...
.
European History
One of the first European explorers of the Kimberly area was Alexander Forrest and his party in 1879, following the Fitzroy River to its junction with the Margaret River at Geikie George. The party then travelled east as far as Darwin. Following this exploration, around 1882, the first sheep stations were established around the mouth of the Fitzroy and the next couple of years saw the stations move out west with Noonkanbah and Quanbun opening up in 1886.The area was finally settled in 1886 by Mr McDonald when he set up the Fossil Downs cattle station. This was following a three-year, 3,500 mile trek from Goulburn, New South Wales.
Fitzroy Crossing received its first bridge in 1935; which was built up into a more substantial structure in 1958. However this bridge could be closed for months during the monsoonal summer. In 1974 a new bridge was built 200 meters south of the crossing which moved the focus of the settlement from its original site.
The town was gazetted in 1975, but had been shown on maps since 1903.
Indigenous Issues
From 1951-55, S Preston Walker, a missionary with the United Aborigines Mission (UAM) on-loan to the Department of Native Affairs, WA, opened up a novel Fitzroy Crossing Feeding Depot-Mission which was handed back to the Junjuwa Community in February 1987. He and other UAM missionaries setup a basic school and a health centre which was later taken over by the WA Government and expanded to where it is today (2008).In February 2008, a Coronial inquest described the living conditions for aboriginal people in the Fitzroy Crossing area as "a national disaster with no disaster response". Though the Coroner noted a co-ordinated government response, to the problems of Fitzroy Crossing, to be lacking; local leaders have taken some action. In 2007, a restriction on alcohol sales was campaigned for by members of the indigenous population: early indications suggest the restrictions have been positive for the town.
The Rudd Federal Government
Rudd Government
The Rudd Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia of the Australian Labor Party from 2007 to 2010, led by Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister. The Rudd Government commenced on 3 December 2007, when Rudd was sworn in along with his ministry...
announced in mid-April 2008 that it supported the continuation of the alcohol ban beyond its expiry date of 23 May 2008. citing that:
- the alcohol ban has led to a 50 per cent fall in the number of people seeking treatment at the Fitzroy Crossing Emergency Department.
- a 27 per cent reduction in alcohol related domestic violence, and
- a 14 per cent increase in high school attendance.