First footsteps in Australia Sept 1963

by John Salter
(Sydney)

Long settled in Sydney, last year I visited Broome but had great difficulty in orienting myself to what I remembered going ashore from the Old Jetty from Blue Funnel's 'MV Charon' over 50 years ago. I rediscovered the old theatre but little else.

Back then there appeared to be little else - a pub, a post office and to me, fresh off a voyage from Singapore en route to Fremantle, this was what I took to be the real outback that I had seen in Alan Whicker's amazing BBC TV documentaries in the late 50's or early 60's in the UK.

Perhaps I am lucky to be able to tell this story as after we docked at Broome late at night, a group of us went in the dark for a swim in the enclosure and next morning were astonished and very sobered to realise that at the top of the netting the high tide was well over it.

In case you might think had a shark been in the enclosure that night, Australia might have been better off with one less 10 pound Pom. But, uncharacteristically for that time, my brother and I had paid our fare from Singapore having travelled overland from England.
Didn't whinge and like the place!

Click here to post comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Broome, Australia.


Travelling to the Kimberley?


The FREE Kimberley Pocket Guide
A great introduction to travel in the Kimberley region and along the Gibb. This free resource will answer all the questions you might have in the early stages of planning a trip.


Destination Kimberley
The full Kimberley travel guide shows you how to make the most of your adventure at Australia's last frontier. Destination Kimberley includes the most detailed and most current guide to the Gibb River Road available anywhere. Also called "The Bible" by its readers.


Travelling to the Northern Territory?


Destination Top End offers the same comprehensive, detailed insider information for the tropical regions of the Northern Territory. Be the best informed traveller in the Kakadu, Litchfield and Katherine Gorge national parks and beyond!

A must have if you travel to or from Darwin.


NEW! Destination Red Centre is the latest addition in this popular series. Monica Coleman takes you through Australia's red Outback heart, offering all the detail and insider tips that you have come to know and love about our guides. With special emphasis on Aboriginal communities and culture.

A must have if you travel to or from Alice Springs/Uluru.




Return to top

Return to home page