The largest group of people to come to Broome for pearling were the Japanese. Pearling luggers were run by crews from Asia and the Japanese were considered the best helmet divers in the world. Broome's population in 1910 was so exotic that the oriental town was called a microcosm of the universe.
The architecture, including Chinatown and a cemetery with both Chinese and Japanese sections and the population of Broome are unique in Australia.