Australian Traveller — Issue 75 — June-July 2017

THE VERY THOUGHTof Broome conjures

striking imagery: an awe-inspiring contrast

of dusty red earth, sparkling blue water and

pearly white sand. That rich palette grows

even brighter each September with the Shinju

Matsuri, the annual Festival of the Pearl.

A celebration of Broome as a world-famous

producer of South Sea Pearls, Shinju Matsuri is

ƒ…ƒ”‹˜ƒŽ‘ˆ…‘Ž‘—”•ǡβŽƒ˜‘—”•ƒ†•‘—†•ǡƒ†

a microcosm of the multiculturalism that has

Š‡Ž’‡††‡β‹‡”‘‘‡ˆ‘”‘”‡–Šƒƒ…‡–—”›ǡ

originating from three separate festivals:

Japanese Obon Matsuri, Malaysian Hari

Merdeka, and the Chinese Hang Seng.

Now in its 47th year, the nine-day festival

is jam-packed with long-held traditions,

hallmark attractions and community events,

all bolstered by the remarkable landscape.

Program highlights include the Floating

Lantern Matsuri (8 September), a unique

experience focusing on remembrance and

”‡βŽ‡…–‹‘Ǥƒ—…Š›‘—”•’‡…‹ƒŽŽ›…”‡ƒ–‡†

lantern into the outgoing tide and feel at

’‡ƒ…‡ƒ•›‘—”–”‹„—–‡βŽ‘ƒ–•‘ˆˆ‹–‘–Š‡•—•‡–Ǥ

The following evening, the Sunset Long

Table Dinner is a delicious multi-course feast

held on the iconic sands of Cable Beach as the

sun dips below the horizon. The dinner is only

in its third year, but is already one of the

festival’s most popular events.

Showcasing art, music, food, dance and

heritage, the program attracts thousands of

visitors each year and recreates the very spirit

Shinju Matsuri seeks to honour: the spirit that

epitomised Broome’s peak pearl-farming days.

Global demand for pearls – both the shell

and the jewel – enticed both Asians and

Europeans to the region from the late 1800s,

joining the local Aboriginal people working

in the harsh but lucrative industry.

Combinevibrantinternationalcolour,aleisurelyfeastrightonthebeach,

and the warm tropical waters of Broome with a festival rich in history

andtradition,andyouhavethemakingsofanextraordinaryescape.

From top left:Floating

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‘‰ƒ„Ž‡‹‡”ƒ–ƒ„Ž‡‡ƒ…ŠǤ

The pearl in

”‘‘‡ǯ• …”‘™

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Š‡ϔ‹”•–‹…Ž—†‡•–Š”‡‡‹‰Š–•ƒ–ƒ•”‘‘‡‹ƒŠ‘–‡Ž”‘‘ǡ”‡–—”ƒ‹”’‘”––”ƒ•ˆ‡”•ǡƒ†

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Such multiculturalism was unique at the
time and the resulting harmony laid the
foundations for the friendly, laid-back
ƒ–‘•’Š‡”‡›‘—ǯŽŽβ‹†‹”‘‘‡–‘†ƒ›Ǥ
That warm welcome, with Broome’s tropical
clime, has established the region as one of
the country’s most sought-after destinations.
The 22-kilometre Cable Beach, synonymous
with sunsets and camel rides, also helps, as
does the adjacent Kimberley region, a vast
expanse of extraordinary wilderness.
Shinju Matsuri captures this essence of
Broome, its history and its people, to deliver
a genuine treat for the senses.
Š‹Œ—ƒ–•—”‹͸Ͷͷͽ™‹ŽŽ„‡…‡Ž‡„”ƒ–‡†‘˜‡”
JULIA RAU PHOTOGRAPHY (FLOATING LANTERN MATSURI, FIRE DANCER, SUNSET LONG TABLEDINNER); STEVE CUTTS (SAMMY THE DRAGON, FLOAT PARADE) ‹‡†ƒ›•ǡ„‡–™‡‡‡’–‡„‡”͸ƒ†ͷͶǤ

Š‹Œ—ƒ–•—”‹ǣ

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