"Proceedings of the Kimberley Society, Kimberley History Seminar held at the University of Western Australia, 27 March 2010".
In March 2010, the Kimberley Society convened a seminar at the University of Western Australia on the people, exploration and development of the region. The contributions reflect the broad nature of research on the Kimberley by members of the Society, and add considerably to our knowledge about the forces, events and episodes that have shaped the region since colonisation. (Review Malcolm Allbrook).
This volume considerably deepens our understanding of Kimberley history, particularly the period of exploration and initial attempts to settle and exploit the region. Chapters by Mark Bin Bakar and Mike Morwood establish the long connection of Aboriginal people to the region, pointing the way to a deep history of human occupation.
The volume includes articles on little known aspects of early Kimberley history, such as the extractive industries of guano on Browse and other islands as told by Tim Willing and Alison Spencer, and the chapter by Phillip Playford on the gold rushes of 1885 – 6. It is surprising, given the profile of Old Halls Creek as a tourist destination and its rich archival and oral record, that more has not been published about Halls Creek, so Playford’s article on the events behind the discovery of gold at Halls Creek and the men who drove its development is welcome. Two articles by Kevin Kenneally present intriguing perspectives of the Kimberley, the first discussing the overland exploits of Joseph Bradshaw and others, and the establishment, with Aeneas Gunn, of a place on Prince Regent River he named ‘Marigui’; the second Aboriginal and European perspectives on the contact zone of Marigui. Michael Cusack also writes about the overland exploits. Christine Choo’s article on the missions provides important information on an aspect of Kimberley history which had a deep impact both on the Aboriginal people they were designed to help, and the missionaries who went to places such as Beagle Bay, Forrest River, Lagrange and Lombadina. Finally, Bill Bunbury’s article on impacts of settlement and development on the people of the region gives an overview of some of the key processes of Kimberley history, particularly the pastoral industry.