Kuri Bay

Kuri Bay is a remote coastal bay in the far north of Western Australia in the Kimberley region, about 370 km (230 mi) north of Broome. The closest main town is Derby that is located 223 km (139 mi) southwest from the bay. The bay opens directly into the Indian Ocean and the Augustus Island is located just off-shore from the bay. The bay is part of the Prince Regent Nature Reserve and the Kunmunya Aboriginal Reserve.

History

It is the home to Australia's first cultured pearl farm and is named after the company's first principal, Tokuichi Kuribayashi (1896–1982). The Japanese-American-Australian company commenced operations in 1956 following the Western Australian Government repealing the Pearling Act that prohibited the production, sale and possession of cultured pearls.

By 1973 the Kuri Bay operation was producing 60% of the worlds large white South Sea pearls.Paspaley, the biggest supplier of South Sea pearls in the world, has one of their largest and most well-known pearl farms located at Kuri Bay.