Derby-West Kimberley: See
1 Boab Prison Tree stands at the entrance to town. It's a 1500-year-old hollow Boab (Adansonia gregorii) with a girth of 14.7 m. It was used by the Aboriginals as an ossuary, but in spite of the legend was never used as a jail, though the Boab near Wyndham was. The real jail is 500 m southeast.
Frosty's Pool on the highway by the Boab turn-off is a rusting swimming pool, built in 1944 by Corporal Frost and a couple of mates. Hard to see how a Guardsman would ever fit in it.
2 Mowanjum Culture Centre, Gibb River Road, ☏ +61 8 9191 1008. Tue 9AM-5PM, Wed-Fri 9AM-3PM, Sat 9AM-2PM. The Mowanjum comprise the Worrorra, Ngarinyin, Wunambal and Gaambera people. The centre displays their art and crafts, hosts events and has a museum. Adult $5. (updated Mar 2024)
Norval Gallery, 28 Loch St (by bus stop and visitor centre), ☏ +61 458 110 816. Temporarily closed. This displays Aboriginal art, some is for sale. (updated Mar 2024)
3 Wharfinger's House Museum, 3 Loch St, ☏ +61 8 9191 1426. Key from Visitor Centre. The "wharfinger" was the wharf manager, and his bungalow on stilts is now a local history museum. (updated Mar 2024)
4 Derby Jetty is the place to come line-fishing or watch the sunset. It's a curious horseshoe built in the 1960s, replacing the original of 1885 which was connected to town by a horse-drawn tram. As elsewhere on the Australian west coast, the problem for early European settlers was the lack of safe harbours and a big tidal range, which here reaches 12 m. Great expanses of mud flats disappear remarkably quickly as the tide floods, don't be caught out them.
Mary Island North and South are the low scrubby archipelago seen 8 km west of the jetty. Their waters and mud flats are popular for fishing.