Women of Pearling Monument

Conti Foreshore, Bedford Park, Broome, 6725

Overlooking the waters of Roebuck Bay at Bedford Park stands a 3m statue depicting an Aboriginal woman emerging from the water holding a pearl shell. This statue is known as the Women in Pearling monument. 

The statue seeks to honour the contribution of women to the pearling industry and to acknowledge the Aboriginal women who were exploited as divers along the coastline south of Broome during the 'blackbirding' phase. The practice of "blackbirding” in the earlier days of the industry was the coercion and kidnapping of Aboriginal women to work on pearl luggers diving for pearl shells. .

The site chosen for the memorial is significant as the it was a lay-up site for pearling luggers, with camps for the indentured labourers set up along the shore. The families of the pearling crews would wait at the foreshore for the luggers to return from their time at sea.