James Price Point

Pindan country near James Price Point

James Price Point (JPP[1]) is a headland in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is 52 kilometres (32 mi) north of Broome.

James Price Point was the proposed location of the Browse LNG gas terminal.[2] The controversial proposal by Woodside Petroleum and its joint venture partners Royal Dutch Shell, BP, Mitsubishi Corporation and PetroChina divided the Broome community. It was opposed by the Goolarabooloo people and part of the community, supported by conservation groups Environs Kimberley, The Wilderness Society, ACF[clarification needed], WWF[clarification needed], Sea Shepherd and local organisations — Broome Community No Gas Campaign and Save the Kimberley.[3] The Australian Greens also pushed for the protection of James Price Point. Support to protect the Kimberley coast was also provided by John Butler, Missy Higgins, Xavier Rudd, Jimmy Barnes, Rob Hirst, Paul Kelly and The Pigram Brothers.[4][failed verification]

The location is believed to be named after James Price, Minister for Works in Western Australia, who died in May 1910.[5] In 1909 a tour of north-west ports in SS Koombana was undertaken including Price, and the premier Sir Newton Moore.[6] It is possible that the place was named during this tour.

The name given by the Jabirr Jabirr and Goolarabooloo people is Walmadany.[7]

The Aboriginal people recognise fossilised footprints on the coast as being the footprints of Marella, the Emu Man, a creator being from the Dreamtime.[8]

A 2016 study of the footprints by the University of Queensland confirmed they are the largest collection of dinosaur footprints in the world and contain the world's largest single print.[9] Indications of 21 separate dinosaur species from the Cretaceous period have been identified.[10]

On 19 August 2013, the Supreme Court of Western Australia overruled Western Australian Environment Minister and the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority's decision to recommend approval of the Browse LNG project at James Price Point after a legal challenge by Goolarabooloo custodian Richard Hunter and the Wilderness Society.[11]

  1. ^ "The Battle For James Price Point". New Matilda. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Woodside Petroleum Cancels Onshore L.N.G. Project in Australia". New York Times. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  3. ^ Paris, Nicola (2014). "James Price Point/Walmadan: A Huge Win". Commons Social Change Library.
  4. ^ Patrick, Aaron (30 April 2018). "Judge to end bitter battle of James Price Point". Australian Financial Review. Sydney. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  5. ^ who was James Price?
  6. ^ "Notes of the week". Western Mail. Perth, Western Australia: National Library of Australia. 24 April 1909. p. 33. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  7. ^ Walmadany - James Price Point
  8. ^ "The Song Cycle". Goolarabooloo. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Dinosaur prints dicovered at James Price Point near Broome". Perth Now. West Australian Newspapers. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Photos: Remote Australian peninsula reveals richest collection of dinosaur tracks ever found". National Post. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  11. ^ - Victory for Australia’s nature: WA Supreme Court rules James Price Point approval ‘illegal’ 19 August 2013