Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia
Fitzroy Crossing is a village in the Kimberleys / Western Australia, about 400 kilometers east of Broome and 300 km west of Halls Creek. The place where the Great Northern Highway crosses the Fitzroy River, is located about 114 m. 2006, Fitzroy Crossing about 1,200 inhabitants (90 % Aboriginal ).
In addition to tourism and the mining industry and cattle ranches are important industries in the Kimberley.
History
The land belonged to the time of its discovery by Europeans, the Aboriginal tribe of Bunuba whose territory northwest of the Fitzroy River from the limestone formation of a Devonian reef (Napier Range) extending to the drip line of the geologically older Kimberley Plateau (King Leopold Ranges).
East of the Fitzroy River - around the farms Fossil Downs and Louisa Downs - survived the Gooniyandi that Nyigina and further south, on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert, the Walmakarri.
One of the first Europeans who came to the Fitzroy River near the mouth of the Margaret River was Alexander Forrest in 1879. Expedition For the teams that searched the land from west to east, the Fitzroy River during the rainy season proved as impassable barrier. 1886 was the first cattle ranch - Fossil Downs - by WNM (Bill) MacDonald built. 1897 is the first hostel - documented - the Crossing Inn.
The place appears on maps since 1903. A first river crossing in concrete was created in 1935 on the site of a natural ford. But it was only in 1974, completed in Highway Bridge enables an all-season crossing of the Fitzroy River. Only in 1975 the town was officially measured.
Infrastructure and tourism
On the connection between the tourist centers Broome and Kununurra on the southern edge along the Kimberley's Fitzroy Crossing is an important stopover on the Great Northern Highway for travelers.
Main attraction about 20 kilometers north is the Geikie Gorge National Park, with its deeply cut into the soft limestone Fitzroy River Canyon, which is navigable by boats.
Fitzroy Crossing has all the necessary utilities ( gas station, hospital, shops, police station ) and a combined motel and camping ground ( Fitzroy River Lodge).