Kalumburu

The Aboriginal community of Kalumburu is the most northern settlement in Western Australia. Situated on the banks of the King Edward River, access is by a rough dirt road during the dry season only, with light aircraft access year round.

The area has been home for many thousands of years to the local aboriginal people. The community is currently home to approximately 400 residents with around 25 non Aboriginals, who help provide the community with essential services.

Sacred Earth Safaris Scheduled Tours

David from Sacred Earth Safaris has been visiting Kalumburu for many years now and has established a good relationship with the community as well as a friendship with local guides. We are fortunate to be able to take groups into the community to camp and to take an Aboriginal Rock Art & Cultural tour with one of the local guides. During these tours, we see ancient Aboriginal art, learn of traditional hunting skills, painting and bushtuckers as well as visiting wreckage of aircraft shot down during WW11. Depending on road conditions, we either camp in the mission grounds or on the beach.

Father Anscar, the parish priest, also has an interesting collection of artifacts and Aboriginal items, which he displays in the museum. He offers regular tours of the museum to visitors, whether on a Kimberley tour with Sacred Earth Safaris or travelling independently.

It is also possible to purchase art directly from the Kalumburu artists and Lily Kareda is the most prolific with an individual style, recognized Australia-wide.

Sacred Earth Safaris Private Tours

During our 13 day Kimberley safaris, we spend 2 days and nights in Kalumburu but for people who would like to stay longer and get to see more of the locals and the surrounding area, we recommend a private charter safari. We can arrange visits to Truscott airbase, further rock art exploration and activities with the community during a private charter, depending on your particular interests.

Kalumburu is also an excellent spot for fishing and we always allow time on our Kimberley safaris to do some fishing here. We also carry fishing rods with us as none are available from the community. Barramundi, Reef fish and pelagics can be caught year - round.

Self Drive Options

So if you’re travelling independently, bring some rods with you and then you can choose to fish from the beach, or get a local to take you out in a boat. For those people visiting Kalumburu independently, high clearance 4WD vehicles are nesseccary and we recommend that you carry spares, safety equipment and plenty of water. The community welcomes visitors but you do need 2 permits be able to visit. The first of these is free and can be obtained from the Department of Indigenous Affairs in Perth. Tel - 08 9235 8000 or apply online.

The second permit is issued by the Kalumburu corporation and you can buy it from the community office (monday to friday) or organize it in advance by email.

Please feel free to visit the Kalumburu Community website.

Camping is available in the Mission grounds, which has a lawn area, with facilties and a BBQ area. Basic air-conditioned rooms are also available at the mission with shared bathroom and kitchen facilties.

Charter flights also operate from Kununurra or Wyndham, which are both approximately 1 ½ hours away by plane.

History Of Kalumburu

Kalumburu has an interesting and varied history.

In 1908, Abbot Fulgentius Torres, from the Benedictine Abbey of New Norcia, established the Drysdale mission. He chose Pago, in Napier Bay, Broome, which had a plentiful supply of water and a good location. The camp lasted for nearly 30 years but by the time the Benedictine sisters had arrived in 1930, plans were already in place to move the mission to Kalumburu. Kalumburu is approximately 30km from Pago, overland, and it took 5 years to move the entire mission and camp to it’s new location.

The community played an important role in World War II, with it’s strategic location and two airfield landing strips, which the mission and local Aboriginals built by hand. Accommodation huts and radio transmitters followed and were used by American, British, Dutch and Australian squadrons in the fight against the Japanese, who had occupied Timor, less than 600km away.

An array of aircraft used the airstrip, including Spitfires, Wirraways, Mitchells, Beaufighters and Hudsons and the wreckage of a C-53 (a military version of the DC-3) can be found outside the community.

Father Gil and the locals also rescued passengers and crew from the MV Koolama, in 1942, which had been attacked by Japanese fighters and become grounded at Cape Rulhieres, some 50 miles ENE of the mission. Only 1 person died in what was a lengthy and difficult rescue, overland and by sea.

That same year, the Japanese bombed Kalumburu, after realizing it’s military importance. They destroyed many buildings and killed several locals as well as Father Gil.

The airstrips were used for the last time in 1944, when Truscott, 35km away, replaced the mission as the main airbase in the area.

In 1951, the mission change it’s name to the “Kalumburu Mission” and today the mission still plays a vital role in this unique community.