Moving To Broome

by Bonnie
(Sydney, Australia)

We are thinking of moving to Broome. Can you advise about work and residential availability? Me, that is my girlfriend and I and two dogs, are thinking about moving to Broome to get away from the rat race in Sydney.

Your help would be much appreciated.

Moving To Broome Response

Hi Bonnie!

The whole Kimberley is booming. Building land is scarce as most of the land here is Aboriginal owned and can't be built on. Both renting or buying is expensive, very expensive, especially in Broome.

Actually, finding something at all can be a challenge during the busy time of the year.

On the other hand there is always plenty of work available. Many people move to Broome for the dry season or come to the Kimberley for seasonal work.

A hundred times as many tourists descend upon Broome every dry season, so everybody is scrambling for workers. Finding a job should not be a problem during the dry season.

Of course, it may be different for people who live a corporate lifestyle in the city and expect to do exactly the same kind of work up here. The Kimberley or Broome lifestyle is different and the high profile corporate jobs are not so plentiful. I depends what you are looking for.

The tourism and hospitality industry is obviously a big one in Broome and has plenty of openings during the dry season. But all shops and many other businesses look for extra staff for the dry. Such a job could tie you over until you find something more suitable, permanent.

The mining industry is huge and growing and is scrambling for workers, too. The money in the mining industry is of course excellent.

So in the end it all evens out.

The best time to find somewhere to live is at the start of the wet season when everybody is leaving.

The best time to find a job is the start of the dry season when everything is exploding again.

Toss a coin!

Hope that helps you in some way.

All the best! (Leaving the rat race is a smart thing to do!).

B.

PS.: It's an awesome life for dogs up here. Just ask mine :-).

For more Broome info see the main Broome page.

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Moving To Broome

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moving too..
by: clinton..

Hi i also em thinking of moving up to broome just b4 xmas and iam hoping to find work straight away, but iam looking forward to it, does anyone have any info on the mining industry because i would like too join with them.. well great page ..

The mining industry in Broome
by: Birgit

Unfortunately I don't have specific details on who to contact in Broome, but that should be easy to find out. Just grab a West Australian newspaper and scan the job listings.

Do you have any skills or experience? Industrial background? A trade? If yes you'll have no problem at all.

In Kununurra I could help. Ring Kimberley Industries (08 9168 2176). That's the way to get a foot in the door at Argyle Diamond Mine. And they need qualified local people badly. (They even did fly a crane driver/scaffolder in and out of Broome, but they do prefer Kununurra based people.)

They also have an office in Perth now (08 9592 6787), but I'm not sure if they work with any of the mines in the west Kimberly yet. Can't hurt to ring them.

Other mines in the Kimberley area are:
Ellendale (Kimberley Diamonds): 130 km east-south-east of Derby
Sally Malay (nickel): 120 km north of Halls Creek
Cockatoo Island mine (iron ore)
Koolan Island mine: that just reopened, now owned by Mt. Gibson Iron

And then you have of course oil and gas, in the Canning Basin, Blina and a few other sites. And plenty of exploration and construction going on so there'll be even more in the future.

So, check out the newspapers. Also try to find out who the labour hire providers in Broome are. And once you get there, just talk to the people in the pub, they'll point you in the right direction. Even if you have no industrial background whatsoever, it's not hard to get a foot in the door up here.

If you're not afraid to work and want to earn good money you can't go wrong by moving up here.

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Submitted by: Birgit

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Unfortunately I don't have specific details on who to contact in Broome, but that should be easy to find out. Just grab a West Australian newspaper and scan the job listings. Do you have any skills or experience? Industrial background? A trade? If yes you'll have no problem at all. In Kununurra I could help. Ring Kimberley Industries (08 9168 2176). That's the way to get a foot in the door at Argyle Diamond Mine. And they need qualified local people badly. (They even did fly a crane driver/scaffolder in and out of Broome, but they do prefer Kununurra based people.) They also have an office in Perth now (08 9592 6787), but I'm not sure if they work with any of the mines in the west Kimberly yet. Can't hurt to ring them. Other mines in the Kimberley area are: Ellendale (Kimberley Diamonds): 130 km east-south-east of Derby Sally Malay (nickel): 120 km north of Halls Creek Cockatoo Island mine (iron ore) Koolan Island mine: that just reopened, now owned by Mt. Gibson Iron And then you have of course oil and gas, in the Canning Basin, Blina and a few other sites. And plenty of exploration and construction going on so there'll be even more in the future. So, check out the newspapers. Also try to find out who the labour hire providers in Broome are. And once you get there, just talk to the people in the pub, they'll point you in the right direction. Even if you have no industrial background whatsoever, it's not hard to get a foot in the door up here. If you're not afraid to work and want to earn good money you can't go wrong by moving up here.

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any advice for cheap living?
by: clinton

hi again, i wrote to u about getting work in broome a few months back and u gave me some good advice, so i'm back again to ask for your help again hehe...

everywhere i look on the internet for a place to stay it's too expensive, maybe i've been looking in the wrong area, i don't no, so i'm asking for advice on some cheap places to stay, 4 a week... if i can find work within the week and a permanent place to stay it should all work out good... thanks again.. CLINTON..

The million dollar question
by: Birgit

You're asking the million dollar question... No, you haven't been looking in the wrong area. Broome IS ridiculously expensive.

The cheapest place to stay would be Roebuck Bay Backpackers. They're near the centre on Napier Terrace. A bed in a dorm sets you back $95 for a week I believe (more in smaller dorms). If you want your own room you are looking at $50 a night. And that is the cheapest place I know of. I don't think they have a website or that you can book online at all. Their phone number is 08 9192 1183.

The place is a bit rough around the edges, but has everything you need, including a bottle shop and good pub right there. The good thing is that you'll meet lots of long termers there who are all working, so they should be able to point you in the right direction.

The only other option would be Broome's Last Resort which is only slightly more expensive (at least between Nov and March, prices are higher now). It also has a lot of long term residents but I think they are more focussed on your typical backpacker crowd. They have a website at www.broomeslastresort.com.au

dont burn your bridges!!!!!
by: Anonymous

to all you mob thinking of moving to Broome, especially with pets!!!
if you have around $850.00 per week for rent, thats what you will need, or $500.00 for a basic unit, no yard, $4.50 for a coffee, $25.00 for breakfast, great place for rich and famous !!!