Broome (pop. 14,660) is a port on the northwestern coast of Western Australia. It stands on Roebuck Bay, more than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) northeast of Perth. A packing house in Broome processes beef for export. Pearlers established a settlement on the site in 1883. By 1912, more than 350 pearling luggers operated from Broome. The industry later declined, and by the late 1970’s, only about 10 pearling ships remained. Today, Broome is a center for the cultured pearl industry. It is also a tourist center.
