Beagle Bay Community, Western Australia

Geography

The community is situated adjacent to the Indian Ocean. Beagle Bay is the gateway to communities further north such as Djarindjin, Lombadina, Bobieding and Ardyaloon.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325221105/https://www.dplh.wa.gov.au/getmedia/cd9b5748-8bd0-448c-91ac-67f933a3fbff/ABL_Aboriginal_Communities_Map2_A4 |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 March 2019 |access-date=2019-05-26

History

The community was established by Trappist monks around 1890. Beagle Bay has a history of caring for stolen children. In 1884, the first priest arrived to serve the Catholics in the Kimberley, and to try to convert the Aboriginal people. Bishop Matthew Gibney founded the Beagle Bay mission, developed in the land of the Nyul Nyul people; this became a site for the Aboriginal people in 1890.

The first Catholic school was established by the Trappist Fathers at Beagle Bay in 1892. In 1895, the Trappist monks of Sept-Fons in France extended their missionary work from Beagle Bay to Broome.

In 1901, Pallottine fathers from Germany took over the Beagle Bay Mission with two priests and four brothers. In 1907, the St John of God Sisters began to run a mission school at Beagle Bay and in 1918 the famous church was opened.{{cite web

|access-date=2019-05-25

In her autobiography, Last Truck Out, Betty Lockyer recalls the Beagle Bay mission in the 1940s as a "Garden of Eden", in which;

Author and ethnographer Daisy Bates began her life's work at Beagle Bay Mission in the early 1900s.

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.

Facilities

Electricity supply

Electricity is generated and supplied locally by Horizon Power 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.

Church

Beagle Bay's church was built by interned local Germans during World War I, and officially opened in 1917. It is famous for its interior decorated with mother of pearl, cowrie, volute and olive snail shells.

The church was a filming location for the 2009 musical Bran Nue Dae.

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 an Australian rules football oval. Beagle Bay fields a team in the West Kimberley Football Association 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.

Governance

The community is managed through its incorporated body, Beagle Bay Futures Indigenous Corporation, incorporated under the Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976 on 17/04/2014.

Town planning

Beagle Bay Layout Plan No. 1 has been prepared in accordance with State Planning Policy 3.2 (Aboriginal Settlements). Layout Plan No. 1 was endorsed by the community on 15 November 2012 and the Western Australian Planning Commission on 28 May 2013. The Layout Plan map-set and background report can be viewed at Planning Western Australia official site.

Notes

References

References

1. (26 February 1891). "Beagle Bay Mission.". [[The W.A. Record]].
2. [http://www.shsbeaglebay.wa.edu.au/history.htm History of Sacred Heart School] {{webarchive. link. (29 April 2012)
3. "Last truck out". Magabala Books.
4. "Digital Daisy Bates".
5. (27 July 1929). "Trappist Mission at Beagle Bay (W.A.)". [[The Australasian]].
6. (3 August 1929). "Trappist Mission at Beagle Bay (W.A.)". [[The Australasian]].
7. (10 August 1929). "Trappist Mission at Beagle Bay (W.A.)". [[The Australasian]].
8. (17 August 1929). "Trappist Mission at Beagle Bay (W.A.)". [[The Australasian]].
9. (24 August 1929). "Trappist Mission at Beagle Bay (W.A.)". [[The Australasian]].
10. Meacham, Steve. (7 July 2017). "Beagle Bay, Mother of Pearl Church: A piece of Germany, in the heart of the Kimberley". [[WA Today]].
11. (6 October 2011). "Beagle Bay Layout Plan No.1". Western Australian Planning Commission.
12. (2020-02-20). "Layout plans". Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.