Broome Library invites former staff of Pearl Coast Zoo to share and collect memories of iconic landmark

The Broome Public Library is inviting former staff of the iconic Pearl Coast Zoo to participate in a community gathering aimed at preserving and sharing the zoo’s unique history. Once a major attraction in the Kimberley, Pearl Coast Zoo — which operated from 1988 to the early 1990’s — was known for its impressive collection of native and exotic wildlife after being established by English entrepreneur Lord Alistair McAlpine. The event will be held at the Broome Public Library on November 19, with former employees and locals invited to bring valuable stories, insights, and archival materials to aid in a research initiative celebrating the zoo’s legacy. Event organiser and researcher Thomas McIlwaine began researching Pearl Coast Zoo’s history after discovering his workplace stands on its former grounds, inspiring him to write a Wikipedia page dedicated to the landmark. “I’m interested in Broome, including Shinju Matsuri, so I’m slowly biting away at bits of history and trying to learn more, and the zoo was the first place I became interested in,” he said. “If there is a subject I’m interested in, like a historical building that I always wanted to know more about, I would do the research and tangentially as a side product, I’d write a Wikipedia page. “It’s a good place to store the information and I’ve satisfied my curiosity about the place.” Mr McIlwaine is working with library staff to accumulate as much information and materials about the zoo to ensure it is comprehensive and accurate, as well as preserve the library’s archive for future generations. Library co-ordinator Alison Morris and her team have been assisting Mr McIlwaine on his mission and recalls the first time she went to the zoo when first arriving in Broome. “It was an extraordinary experience, very unique. It was a massive undertaking to create that facility here in this remote corner of the world,” she said. “I think one of the great things about doing the event will be that people who worked there and can come will be able to provide valuable information. “They can come along, we can record the stories and with (Mr McIlwaines’) skills, we can edit it for our archives and the page.” Light refreshments will be provided.