Derby, on the edge of King Sound in the Kimberley, is often known for its huge tides, the Boab Prison Tree, and the Gibb River Road. It is a place where tourists come to see the sunset over the mudflats or take flights over the Buccaneer Archipelago. But for First Nations people—particularly the Nyikina, Warrwa, and Bunuba peoples—Derby is not just a stop on a travel itinerary. It is a place of deep cultural connection, survival, and struggle.
For thousands of years before colonisation, this land and sea provided everything needed for life—freshwater from the Fitzroy River, fish and bush foods from the mangroves, and strong songlines connecting people to Country. Every tree, river bend, and tidal movement had meaning, woven into the stories, law, and kinship of the Traditional Owners.
Then came colonisation. The arrival of pastoralists, pearlers, and government forces in the 1800s brought violence, slavery, and dispossession. Aboriginal men, women, and children were forced to work on stations for little or no pay, captured for the pearling industry, and brutally punished for resisting the invasion of their lands. The Boab Prison Tree, now a tourist site, was once a holding place for Aboriginal people taken against their will.
The Stolen Generations left deep scars here, with government policies ripping children from their families, sending them to institutions like Moola Bulla and Beagle Bay Mission, where they were punished for speaking their language or practicing culture. Many families in Derby are still healing from this trauma.
Yet, despite everything, Nyikina, Warrwa, Bunuba, and other Kimberley peoples remain strong. The fight for land rights, cultural revival, and justice continues today. Aboriginal people are leading language revival programs, community-controlled health services, and environmental conservation projects, proving that while Derby carries painful history, it is also a place of resilience and strength.
For visitors who come to Derby, the challenge is this: Will you just see the jetty and the Boab trees, or will you take the time to learn the real history? Will you listen to the stories of the Traditional Owners, support local Aboriginal businesses, and respect the deep spiritual connection to this Country?
Because Derby is more than just a town with big tides—it is Aboriginal land, always was,...
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