Beagle Bay Community, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Beagle Bay is a medium-sized Aboriginal
Community on the western side of the Dampier Peninsula
, north of Broome
.
. Beagle Bay is the gateway to communities further north such as Djarindjin Community, Bardi Community
, Bobeiding Community and Ngardalargin Community. The main access road from Broome is unpaved and so becomes inaccessible during the 'wet season
', although it remains connected to other towns on the peninsula to the north by a bitumenised road.
Monks around 1890. Beagle Bay has a history of caring for stolen children
. The church features a famous pearl shell altar.
and comprises the Australian standard three phase 415/240 volts system 24 hours a day. There are frequent power surges and interruptions.
called the 'Beagle Bay (Peninsular) Bombers'.
Bush walking, some fishing and camping are the dominant pursuits for tourists visiting. Visitors are required to apply for a permit prior to entering the Community
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
Community on the western side of the Dampier Peninsula
Dampier Peninsula
The Dampier Peninsula is a peninsula located north of Broome and Roebuck Bay in Western Australia. It is surrounded by the Indian Ocean to the west and north, and King Sound to the east...
, north of Broome
Broome, Western Australia
Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...
.
Background
The community is situated adjacent to the Indian OceanIndian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
. Beagle Bay is the gateway to communities further north such as Djarindjin Community, Bardi Community
Bardi people
The Bardi people are the Indigenous Australians from the area north of Broome and parts of the Dampier Peninsular in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.Djarindjin, Lombadina and One Arm Point are three Bardi communities in the area....
, Bobeiding Community and Ngardalargin Community. The main access road from Broome is unpaved and so becomes inaccessible during the 'wet season
Wet season
The the wet season, or rainy season, is the time of year, covering one or more months, when most of the average annual rainfall in a region occurs. The term green season is also sometimes used as a euphemism by tourist authorities. Areas with wet seasons are dispersed across portions of the...
', although it remains connected to other towns on the peninsula to the north by a bitumenised road.
History
The community was established by TrappistTRAPPIST
TRAPPIST is Belgian robotic telescope in Chile which came online in 2010, and is an acronym for TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope, so named in homage to Trappist beer produced in the Belgian region. Situated high in the Chilean mountains at La Silla Observatory, it is actually...
Monks around 1890. Beagle Bay has a history of caring for stolen children
Stolen Generation
The Stolen Generations were the children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who were removed from their families by the Australian Federal and State government agencies and church missions, under acts of their respective parliaments...
. The church features a famous pearl shell altar.
Education
Beagle Bay Community has a school, Sacred Heart School, which caters for students from ages K-10. The school was established in 1892 by the Trappist Monks.Electricity supply
Electricity is generated and supplied locally by Horizon PowerHorizon Power
Horizon Power is a commercially focused, State Government-owned power company that provides power supplies to Western Australia. It is responsible for generating, procuring, distributing and retailing electricity to residential, industrial and commercial customers and resource developments in its...
and comprises the Australian standard three phase 415/240 volts system 24 hours a day. There are frequent power surges and interruptions.
Water
There are two bores which pump into the ground tank. A transfer pump station then pumps the water into the high level tank.Cemetery
The community has a functioning cemetery. As per Aboriginal custom it is insensitive to mention the name of deceased persons. The Shire of Broome Health Regulations stipulate that bodies must be buried at least six feet below ground level; however, this cannot be achieved at the Beagle Bay cemetery because the ground water level is too high.Sewerage
There is a sewer system in place in the community which comprises three pump stations and treatment ponds on the eastern outskirts of the community.Recreation
The community has basketball courts and a football oval. Beagle Bay fields a team in the West Kimberley Football AssociationWest Kimberley Football Association
The West Kimberley Football Association is an Australian rules football competition in the far North West of Western Australia.The league covers an area from Bidyadanga in the West to Derby in the East. Games are played during the day in Broome and Derby with the majority of games and all finals...
called the 'Beagle Bay (Peninsular) Bombers'.
Bush walking, some fishing and camping are the dominant pursuits for tourists visiting. Visitors are required to apply for a permit prior to entering the Community