The Two Towns of Derby
I was completely unaware that there were actually two towns named Derby in Australia until I travelled to Tasmania last year. As far as towns go they are polar opposites, with one being located in the rugged north west of Australia and the other at the south of our country in Tasmania.
Derby in WA is a largely indigenous town and is the stopping or starting point for the Gibb River Road trek through the Kimberley Region and has a large amount of Boab trees.
Derby in Tasmania is a small historical village which was renowned for its booming tin mining industry and is now boasts some of the best Mountain Bike riding to be had in Tasmania.
Derby West Australia
The first settled town in the Kimberley region, Derby is situated on King Sound and boasts the highest tidal variation in Australia which can reach up to 11 metres. You can see these high and low tides from the U-shaped Derby Wharf and throw a line or a crabpot in whilst you are there.
Derby Jetty
Other points of interest are the Old Derby Gaol, the Boab Prison Tree, Myall’s bore and cattle trough, Wharfinger House Museum, the Woolshed and Mowanjum Art and Cultural Centre. The most popular experience however is a scenic flight, fishing trip or sea safari to the Buccaneer Archipelago, made up of a thousand rugged islands, secluded beaches and the famous Horizontal Waterfalls.
Sights around Derby
Derby Tasmania
At the other end of Australia in the island state of Tasmania is Derby, a quaint ex-mining town on the winding country drive from Launceston to the East Coast. The town overlooks the Ringarooma River in a landscape of mountains and rainforest, and like a lot of towns in Tasmania, is classified as a historic town.
Once a booming mining settlement, Derby’s Tin Dragon Interpretation Centre tells of the town’s early days when it was known as Brother’s Home and was the setting for an epic tin rush that saw thousands of eager miners flock to the area.
In town, there are antique, second-hand and craft shops to explore and traditional Devonshire teas for a morning or afternoon treat.
I hope you enjoyed my tour of two entirely different Aussies towns. Australia, if you didn’t already know it, is a very diverse country!
I love all the pictures and learning about the two towns. And I would love to come and visit the old time buildings like the bank.
I imagine there are heaps of countries that have towns with the same names. These two however are so completely different. Derby in Tasmania is a beautifully restored historic town. Thanks for dropping by my blog :)
Ah the diverse beauty of Australia. How lucky we are! I think I’ve been to the Tasmanian Derby.
It’s about as diverse as you can get! I couldn’t think of two towns that are so completely different. If you have driven from Launceston to the East Coast of Tasmania you would have driven through Derby. :)
Visiting from the A to Z. I loved seeing your cities as I hope to visit Australia some day.
@ScarlettBraden from
Frankly Scarlett
Thanks Scarlett. I hope you get to visit Australia too. It is a wonderful country! :)
Wow I never knew there was a Derby in Tassy either.
Me neither Anne until we stumbled across it on our recent road trip around Tassie. It was a very interesting little town with such lovely buildings. :)
They do look like quite different towns. I love that photo of the jetty.
Entirely different places Rhonda. The jetty at Derby WA is a U-shaped one that you can actually drive your car on. We saw lots of fishermen here catching big fish.
Derby in Tasmania reminds me a lot of a place called Pilgrim’s Rest in South Africa. Nice to meet you!
I will have to Google Pilgrim’s Rest to check it out. Thanks for dropping by my blog. Nice to meet you too! :0
Wow, what an interesting contrast. I haven’t been to either but the photos look very tempting.
To travel from one to the other would be a mission, but I must say that everyone should experience the North West of Western Australian and also the little island state of Tasmania in the south of Eastern Australia. We live in such diverse lands. :)
Such diversity – it hardly seems possible. The Derby in Tasmania looks almost English.
Yes I’m amazed at how totally different the two Aussie Derby towns were. Derby in Tassie does remind me a little of England. Probably the English style cottage gardens and greenery everywhere. :)