BIDYADANGA

Largest Aboriginal town in the Kimberley region of north western Australia. Population 600

Location: 200 km south of Broome, 400 km north of Port Hedland. 11 km west of the North West Highway, at LaGrange Bay.

INFRASTRUCTURE / SERVICES

ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES - MARINE
LaGrange Bay is where most pearl shell is collected, for Australia's largest pearling industry. When the tide goes down, 10 metres sometimes, it reveals square kilometres of mud plains, reefs covered with natural oysters, abundant perfect beautiful shells, colorful lipped Giant clams, blue ringed octopi, colorful soft corals, huge mangrove (mud) crabs, pools of stranded fish and turtles, . The water abounds with turtles. In the creeks you can see a turtle surface every 30 seconds, within 5 metres of your boat. Dugongs (sea cows), unusual, huge sea mamals and the smaller dolphins are common in the Bay, as are flying fish. At night the most intense phosphorecent aglae, light up the fish chases and boat waves. Many migratory birds feed on the tidal planes before their flight to Siberia. Crocodiles are very very rare and once a local spots tracks up a creek, that creek is avoided for a while.
AQUATIC: The many wet season lakes are waded by long legged Brolgas and visited by lots of ducks.
FISHING: A variety of excellent fishing locations in this very remote part of Australian waters, makes for the best fishing in the world if you know what you're doing. 10 metre tides mean careful planing is requied, especially if by boat. In the short time I've been here, I have had great sucess at fishing in the mangrove lined creeks both day and night; reef fishing for big exotic fish and trowling the boils full of: tuna, spanish mackerels and diving birds.

In the 70s high school students from Bidyadanga went to Nulungu College in Broome GETTING HERE:
Airlines: Qantas, National Jet (a subsidiary of Qantas) and Ansett fly into Broome. National Jet fly from Singapore, Christmas Island and Bali. GreyHound coaches run the 200 km trip south daily from Broome @A$25 or 2000 km trip north from Perth to the LaGrange Bay, highway turn off. Phone ahead to your contact at Bidyadanga, to collect you from the highway. Alternatively there are many car hire places in Broome, and if you can afford it, I recommend a 4 wheel drive camper, for exploring the many interesting and good fishing places around the Bay.
ACCOMMODATION
THE WOMENS CENTRE for both men and women has got secure, single units for the amazing price of only A$16 per night. There is a communal kitchen and lounge/conference room with a new satelite TV system. It is 1 minute walk from the Bank, store, fast food outlet and administraion centre, and 15 minutes from the ocean beaches.
THE CATHOLIC MISSION rent units @ A$100 per week. Contact Fr. Matt on fax/tel: +61 91 924950

Founder of Lagrange Bay Mission

LAND
Hundreds of sqare kilometres of land are claimed by the Karajarri Aboriginal people. This claim extends South of Roebuck plains down along the 80 mile beach towards Port Hedland and inland for hundred of kilometres.
FRAZIER DOWNS CATTLE STATION is owned by the Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community Inc. It is stocked with Brahman cows and horses. Camels and donkeys also here.
BIDYADANGA: There are over 100 houses in the 3 main suburbs of Bidyadanga, the western suburb being the largest. The list at the top of this page sumarizes this main settlement of LaGrange Bay. Three very tame donkeys are often seen round town.
The flying doctor assists the 3 resident, registered, clinic nurses, each Tuesday morning.
CLIMATE
November to March is the wet season. Fine and humid most most days but when low pressure systems linger, rain is continuous and heavy for about a week at a time. Day maximum temperatures are in the mid 30's in the perfect, cloudless dry season. In both seasons the temperature ranges between 30 and high 40s degree celcius. When the easterly wind blows off the Great Sandy desert (predomenently in the dry season) the air is dry and hot in summer or dry and cool in winter. Wind blowing off the ocean is humid any time of the year accept July to September.
ECONOMY
in 1996, was mostly dependent on wealfare support. The major labour market program operating is the Community Development Employment Program (CDEP). Participants are employed by the Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community Inc.
Large scale cotton production has been proposed for the region by diverting dammed water from the Fitzroy River to the desert east of Bidyadanga. The potential economic benefits for the land owners and other stake holders are huge. These are currently being weighed up in public debate with other factors such as employment and environmental change being discussed.
Tourism is a potential economic base. Just north of Bidyadanga, Eco Beach is doing well at promoting the region and and serving tourist needs.

ABORIGINALs
of the Bay area are very friendly. At the momenent many are shy because of limited contact with people from outside the community.

Ethnic Groups

  •  Karajarri,
  •  Nyangumarta,
  •  Juwaliny,
  •  Mangala,
  •  Yulparija,


Can you pick the boys from Bidyadanga?

SPORTS
Fishing is the most common activity but is not considered a sport. Basketball and Australian rules football are most popular. Some tennis and cricket is played. Some of the boys are keen on horse riding.