About Willie Creek Pearls

Willie Creek Pearl Farm is situated 38km out of Broome, on a picturesque tidal estuary. The Willie Creek Pearl Farm is a commercial pearling operation in Broome and has been hosting tours for visitors to the North West for more than two decades. Thousands have received an in-depth education on one of WA’s most beautiful gems and gained an understanding of why pearls are so revered. Visitors on the Willie Creek Pearl Farm Tour gain an insight into how the modern pearl industry operates and discover how the rare and beautiful Australian South Sea Pearl is produced. There are many exciting ways to travel to Willie Creek Pearl Farm and with an array of things to do, you are ensured a fantastic day out. For more information about Willie Creek Pearls and available activities; including helicopter flights, scenic eco-cruises or enjoying lunch at our Harvest Café simply visit www.williecreekpearlfarm.com.au or click here to see a 30sec promotional video of the tour.

The Banfield Family

Willie Creek Pearls is owned and operated by the Banfield Family. The Banfield family moved to Broome in 1989, during the time when Lord MacAlpine was developing the town, they purchased the small operation of Broome Buslines, which they successfully developed into a tour company that offered bus tours throughout the Kimberley region. Since their arrival,  the Banfields have established and operated many different businesses within Broome and now concentrate on the core business of Willie Creek Pearls. After operating tours to Willie Creek in the ‘early days’, the Banfields decided to acquire the Willie Creek Pearl Farm and deliver the tour experience themselves. Over the past decade Willie Creek Pearl Farm has been abundantly recognised as the most awarded tour attraction in Western Australia. The business has also expanded to include five pearl retail showrooms. In Broome, showrooms are at the idyllic and remote location of the Pearl Farm, in the Broome township at ‘Chinatown’, and at Cable Beach. In Perth, the showrooms are located in the exclusive suburb of Subiaco and at Hillarys Boat Harbour in the northern seaside suburb of Sorrento. The opening in 2010 of the sophisticated Autore Boutique has enabled the Banfields to present to the Broome audience stunning jewellery that is both innovative and unique, and at the forefront of jewellery design throughout the world. Since 2006, the Banfields have also owned and operated Pearl Luggers – the heritage attraction in Chinatown which was first established by the Arrow family. In 2010, they acquired Broome Sightseeing Tours and have continued to present this tour as a “must do” attraction for visitors to Broome.

Awards

Willie Creek Pearls is one of the most awarded tour companies in Western Australia. These prestigious awards recognise excellence within the tourism industry which firmly establishes Willie Creek Pearls to be one of the best.

In 2021, Willie Creek Pearls was awarded a gold medal in the Tourist Attractions and bronze in Tourism Retail & Hire Services categories. Previous to this, in 2018, they were awarded a gold medal in the Specialised Tourism Services and silver in Tour & Transport Operator categories, in 2017 they were awarded bronze in Tourism Education & Training and Major Tour & Transport Operator categories, in 2016 they won gold awards in the Specialised Tourism Services and Tourist Attractions categories and in 2015, they were awarded silver in the Specialised Tourism Services category.

In 2010 Willie Creek Pearls was inducted into the Hall of Fame which was awarded for winning the same three categories for three consecutive years. Also in 2010 Willie Creek Pearls won the coveted Sir David Brand award for tourism, which is the pinnacle of the awards program and recognises outstanding achievement in the WA tourism industry.