Derby, Western Australia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Derby
Western Australia

Boab tree at Derby.

Population:

3,688

Established:

1880s

Postcode:

6728

Elevation:

8 m

LGA:

Shire of Derby-West Kimberley

State District:

Kimberley

Federal Division:

Kalgoorlie

Mean Max Temp	Mean Min Temp	Rainfall
33.9 °C ^{93 °F}	21.7 °C ^{71 °F}	622.4 mm ^{24.5 in}

Low tide at the Derby warf on King Sound

Derby ( 17°18′11″S, 123°37′44″E; post code: 6728) is a town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Along with Broome and Kununurra, it is one of only three towns in the Kimberley to have a population over 2,000. Located on King Sound, Derby has the highest tides in Australia, with the peak differential between low and high tide reaching 11.8 metres.^[1]

During World War II, Derby was bombed by Japanese planes because of an air base and jetty that was steadily used by Australian forces. More recently, refugees were housed at Royal Australian Air Force Base Curtin which is located to the north of Derby.

Boab week is a week long festival that includes traditional events such as mud football, the Mardi Gras and other festivities.

Historically, Derby has played a major role in the Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service for the Kimberley Region. Also, the boab tree featured above was actually used as a prison, hence the name the "Prison Boab".