Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Fitzroy Crossing


caption = Location of Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia (red)
lga = Shire of Derby-West Kimberley
est = 1900s
postcode = 6765
pop = 928 (2006 census)
fedgov = Kalgoorlie
stategov = Kimberley
state = wa
maxtemp = 35.6
mintemp = 19.1
rainfall = 541.2
elevation= 114coord|-18.178|125.591|type:city(928)_region:AU-WA_scale:100000|format=dms|display=title

Fitzroy Crossing is a small town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, 400 km east of Broome and 300 km west of Halls Creek. It is approximately 2,524 km from the state capital of Perth.

The town was gazetted in 1975, but had been shown on maps since 1903. It is 114 m above sea level and is situated on a low rise surrounded by the vast floodplains of the Fitzroy River. In 2006 the population of the Fitzroy Crossing town-site was approximately 1,500, with a further 2,000 or so people living in up to 50 aboriginal communities scattered throughout the Fitzroy Valley. About 80% of the Fitzroy Valley population were indigenous Australians with a split of closer to 60/40 (aboriginal/settler) in the townsite. Tourism, cattle stations and mining are the main industries in the area.

From 1951-55, S Preston Walker, a missionary with the United Aborigines Mission (UAM) on-loan to the Department of Native Affairs, WA, opened up a novel Fitzroy Crossing Feeding Depot-Mission which was handed back to the Junjuwa Community in February 1987. He and other UAM missionaries setup a basic school and a health centre which was later taken over by the WA Government and expanded to where it is today (2008).

In February 2008, a Coronial inquest [ [http://news.theage.com.au/wa-coroner-slams-kimberley-disaster/20080225-1uk6.html WA coroner slams Kimberley 'disaster'] (The Age)] described the living conditions for aboriginal people in the Fitzroy Crossing area as "a national disaster with no disaster response". Though the Coroner noted a co-ordinated government response, to the problems of Fitzroy Crossing, to be lacking; local leaders have taken some action. In 2007, a restriction on alcohol sales was campaigned for by members of the indigenous population: early indications suggest the restrictions have been positive for the town. [ [http://www.dao.health.wa.gov.au/IntheMedia/tabid/105/DMXModule/443/Default.aspx?EntryId=991 DAO - Media ] ] The Rudd Federal Government announced in mid-April 2008 that it supported the continuation of the alcohol ban beyond its expiry date of 23 May 2008. [ [http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/jennymacklin.nsf/content/alcohol_ban_fitzroy_09apr08.htm Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | Extending the alcohol ban at Fitzroy Crossing ] ] citing that:
* the alcohol ban has led to a 50 per cent fall in the number of people seeking treatment at the Fitzroy Crossing Emergency Department.
* a 27 per cent reduction in alcohol related domestic violence, and
* a 14 per cent increase in high school attendance.

References