Derby, WA

High Tide, Derby, WA

Tuesday, 22 May 2012 to Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Derby was our destination today. Derby has incredibly high tides ranging from low tide of 1.86 to 11.5 metres at high tide and ranks amongst the nine highest tides in the world. The water looked like liquid chocolate as the flood water entering from the Fitzroy River is very muddy. We were lucky enough to see the tide change on Wednesday morning and the dirty water made this very easy.

Low Tide, Derby, WA

We also visited the Old Derby Gaol, a covered caged area which was used to hold aboriginals in atrocious conditions.
Our next stop was Myall's Bore and Cattle Trough which is 120 metres long and could handle 500 bullocks at one time.

The Prison Boab Tree is believed to be about 1500 years old. It is hollow in the middle and was used to hold mainly aboriginal prisoners or those captured for slave labour for a night on their way to Derby.

Prison Boab Tree, Derby, WA

Myall's Water Trough, Derby, WA

Fonty's Pool, built in 1944 as a bathing pool for the troops stationed in the area is alongside the road into Derby.
It is very small and was used by the officers for part of the day and the non-coms had use of it at other times. Derby played a significant part in the Second World War and was bombed by the Japanese several times.