Broome’s history is rich, shaped by diverse cultures, challenging industries, and remarkable events. It is often mistakenly thought that William Dampier was the first European to visit Broome. In reality, he only explored parts of the northern coast in 1688. It wasn’t until 1699 that he ventured further, traveling from Shark Bay to La Grange Bay. He did not linger long, heading northward and leaving Australia behind. Though Dampier never visited the town, many features of the surrounding coast now bear his name, reflecting his legacy.

The town’s official founding came much later. In 1879, Charles Harper proposed a government station at Cape Villaret, on the southern tip of Roebuck Bay. He believed this would serve as a port, facilitating the growing Pearl Shell Fishery, which was rapidly becoming an important industry. John Forrest, a man known for his keen eye, chose the site in 1883. Broome was then named after Sir Frederick Broome, who served as the Governor of Western Australia from 1883 to 1889.

The town quickly grew as settlers arrived, drawn by opportunities in pearling and agriculture. By the 1880s, Broome had gained international attention for its pearling industry. Pearls were prized, and so were the shells that could be shaped into buttons, jewelry, and decorative items. But the work was hard. Pearl diving wasn’t just a job—it was dangerous. Many divers came from Japan, others from Malaysia, China, and the Philippines. The labor was often forced, with many workers trapped in indentured contracts or, worse, enslaved. This brutal system created tension in Broome, especially as the different ethnic groups struggled for their place in the industry.

Nelly Samson was a local woman born in Broome in the late 1800s. Her father was a pearl diver, one of the few who had managed to rise above the harsh conditions. Her mother ran a small stall selling shells and trinkets to travelers passing through town. Nelly, from a young age, knew the rhythms of the ocean. She watched her father and other divers prepare for their dives, knowing the risks they took.

When Nelly turned twenty, she made an unexpected decision. She wanted to dive. Not just for shells, but for pearls themselves. This was unheard of for a woman. People in town talked. “A woman doesn’t belong in the deep,” they said. Her father told her to forget the idea. “It’s too dangerous,” he warned. But Nelly wouldn’t be swayed. She had seen the wealth that pearls brought. She knew that if she could find just one—one perfect pearl—her family would no longer need to struggle.

One day, Nelly approached a local diver, a Japanese man named Sato. He was old, with many years of diving behind him, and respected by everyone. She asked him to teach her. He looked at her and said, “The sea does not care if you are man or woman. It only cares if you are ready.”

For months, Nelly trained. She learned to hold her breath, to dive deep, to respect the tides. Finally, the day came when she would dive for the first time. The other divers watched as she prepared. Some laughed, others were silent, curious about what would happen.

She dove. The water was cold, but she had practiced for this moment. Nelly moved swiftly, searching the seabed for oysters. Time stretched on as she gathered her first haul. When she surfaced, everyone held their breath. She held out her hand, opening it slowly. Inside was a pearl. Not just any pearl—a large, iridescent one.

The town was in awe. Nelly had done what no one thought possible. She became the first female pearl diver in Broome, and her success didn’t stop there. Over time, she found more pearls, each more beautiful than the last. The money she earned from them changed her family’s life. They no longer had to scrape by.

But for Nelly, it wasn’t just about the pearls. She had proven something—women, too, could master the sea.

As she grew older, Nelly passed on her knowledge. She taught others how to dive, how to find the best oysters, and how to respect the ocean. And when people asked her why she had done it, she would smile and say, “The sea listens, if you do.”

Nelly’s story became legend in Broome. To this day, locals remember her as a trailblazer, a woman who defied the odds and made her own mark on the pearling industry.