Kalumburu, Western Australia
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| Kalumburu Western Australia |
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| Population: | 500 | ||||||
| Established: | 1937 | ||||||
| Postcode: | 6740 | ||||||
| Elevation: | 23 m (75 ft) | ||||||
| LGA: | Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley | ||||||
| State District: | Kimberley | ||||||
| Federal Division: | Kalgoorlie | ||||||
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Kalumburu (postcode 6740), previously known as Drysdale River Mission, is the northernmost settlement in Western Australia. It has a population of about 400 people, and is inhabited mostly by Aboriginal people from the Wunambal and Kwini language groups. Kalumburu is remote from any main roads — the nearest is the Gibb River Road, 270 km to the south. It was the site of a World War II airbase, which was attacked by Japanese planes in 1943.
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[edit] History
In 1905, the Order of Saint Benedict (OSB) decided to establish a mission near the Drysdale River. The mission was established in 1908, 20 kilometres north-east of the present site, at Pago, near the southern end of Napier Broome Bay, by Benedictine monks from New Norcia. In 1937, water supply problems forced the missionaries to move to the present site at Kalumburu Pool, on the King Edward River.
[edit] World War II
Following the outbreak of World War II, the Australian government commissioned an airfield at the mission. After Japanese forces occupied the Dutch East Indies in 1942, Drysdale became a frontline Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base, acting as a staging post for Allied squadrons based further south. The airfield was a refuelling and ammunition depot for the RAAF anti-submarine aircraft operating between Darwin and Fremantle. On February 19, the mission provided assistance to the crew and passengers of the merchant vessel Koolama, which had been attacked by Japanese planes.
In February 1943, Allied signals intelligence suggested that Japanese aircraft would be built up in Timor for attacks on Darwin. Eight Beaufighters from No. 31 Squadron RAAF were despatched to Drysdale River, to prepare for a pre-emptive strike.[1] On February 28, it was confirmed that the enemy aircraft had arrived at Penfui, near Kupang. An early morning strike destroyed 12 Japanese aircraft on the ground and damaged another 10. Two Beaufighters were damaged by Japanese fighter aircraft but returned to Drysdale River.
On September 17, 1943, the base and settlement were attacked by 21 Japanese Kawasaki Ki-48 bombers, based at Kupang, Timor, with a fighter escort. The Superior of the mission, Father Thomas Gil OSB, was among several civilians killed. Many buildings at the mission were also destroyed or severely damaged during the raid.
In April 1944, Flt Lt D. S. Askew, the commanding officer of No. 58 Operational Base Unit, reported 367 aircraft movements during that month, the busiest period since operations had begun. He also wrote: "Approximately 250 operational hours were flown from Drysdale resulting in approximately 60,000 lb. of bombs being dropped on enemy territory".[2]
The military significance of the airfield declined once Truscott Airfield was constructed, about 32 km (20 mi) north, in 1944.
[edit] Post-war
In 1951, Drysdale River Mission was officially renamed Kalumburu. Management of the community was later taken over by Kalumburu Aboriginal Corporation, on behalf of the Kalumburu Community Council. The community retains strong links with the OSB, including a priest and several Benedictine nuns.
[edit] Further reading
- Choo, Christine.(2001) Mission girls : Aboriginal women on Catholic missions in the Kimberley, Western Australia 1900-1950 Nedlands, W. A. : University of W.A. Press, 2001. ISBN 1876268557
