McAlpine House
Kimberley, Western Australia

"Beautifully renovated and surrounded by the lush tropical gardens populated by exotic birds, historic McAlpine House is a magnificent boutique 6 bedroom guest house".

McAlpine House is situated in quiet, relaxing surrounds in the centre of Old Broome. Beautifully renovated, McAlpine House was built in 1910 for Pearling master Herbert Kennedy. Made from iron ore and timber, the house has an ambience of tranquillity and comfort.

Lord Alistair McAlpine purchased the house from the original family in 1982. Keeping with the architectural style of the original house, he carried out extensions and planted an extensive garden and housed exotic birds, which still reside at McAlpine house.

Your host today is Liz Leigh, who has transformed McAlpine House into one of the most exclusive guesthouses Australia has to offer. It boasts historic warmth coupled with modern features. All suites are exclusively furnished with Javanese furniture and named after Lord McAlpine's favourite birds.

From McAlpine House visit the town of Broome and take time to explore the unique history and sights. Do this at your own leisure or with your own private guide. Broome is a tropical oasis nestled between the blue waters and white sandy beaches of the Indian Ocean and the red and green landscape of the Kimberley wilderness. Established as a pearling port in the 1880's, Broome has a romantic and often flamboyant history. Pearling remains one of the town's main industries today.

During your stay a visit to Cable Beach is a must. The famous Cable Beach is one of the most stunning beaches in the world with 22 kilometres of white sand and clear tropical water. Cable Beach takes its name from the telegraph cable that was installed between Broome and Java in 1889. It's ideal for swimming, picnicking and relaxing.

For keen divers and fishermen, private charter vessels are available to host wilderness expeditions to the Kimberley Coastline and Rowley Shoals. We can recommend boats that are ideal to charter for diving and fishing adventures.

Back in Broome, guests have a huge variety of restaurants to choose from.Whether your tastes lean toward Indonesian, Thai or Chinese flavours, you'll find authentic cuisine to your liking. Fresh seafood is available year round - much of it caught offshore.

McAlpine House is the ideal spot to stop for a few days on your journey and be indulged.

Accommodation: Described as living history with modern luxury McAlpine House boasts historic warmth coupled with modern features. Offering a choice of home-style lodge accommodation in six air-conditioned double rooms, McAlpine House has an executive suite, two ensuite rooms and three verandah rooms. All are exclusively furnished with Javanese furniture and named after Lord McAlpine's favourite birds.

Special Activities:

- Private experiences with your own personal guide can be customised to suit you. Here are some ideas.
- Chinatown is a delightful reminder of the early multi-cultural mix of people in Broome. Take a wander through the original commercial centre of Broome, which was once the bustling hub of pearl sheds, billiard saloons, entertainment houses and Chinese eateries. Chinatown is now home to some of the world's finest pearl showrooms, along with a variety of retail outlets. Sidewalk cafes add a splash of colour to the pavements.
- The Dampier Peninsula is a unique area north of Broome featuring spectacular red pindan cliffs, azure waters and an amazing variety of flora and fauna.
- Beneath the sparkling tropical waters that surround Broome is a diverse aquatic habitat that is fast developing a reputation as a unique diving experience. Situated approximately 260 kilometres west of Broome on the edge of the Continental shelf, the Rowley Shoals is one of the best diving areas in the world where the magnificent coral gardens, giant clams and large reef fish astound visitors.
- Broome waters boast an abundance of different varieties of fish including the elusive sailfish.
- Pearls - As the home of some of the most precious pearls in the world, Broome has a superb selection of pearl shops. Experience more than 140 years of Broome's unique maritime heritage. Take an historical journey through the life and times of the pearl divers on two of the last surviving perfectly restored pearl luggers.
- Sun Pictures was officially opened in 1916, it is believed to be the oldest operating picture garden in the world. This unique indoor/outdoor theatre has withstood the ravages of war, cyclones and king tides. Housed in the foyer is an excellent display of movie memorabilia. Taking in a movie under the stars at Sun Pictures is a must do when visiting! Located in Chinatown. Current movies are shown every night.
- The Staircase To The Moon is natural phenomenon caused by a full moon rising over the exposed mudflats of Roebuck Bay at extremely low tides, creating a beautiful optical illusion of a staircase reaching to the moon. Occurs March to October for 3 nights every month. This is great to see if you time your visit correctly.