Who owns willie creek pearls

We look forward to taking you on a journey of pearl discovery. Willie Creek Pearls is owned and operated by the Banfield Family. Their path to Willie Creek has been filled with many twists and turns. It began, much further south when as a young couple Valda and Don Banfield left Perth in to buy a farm in Tincurrin, a small community near Narrogin. In after years of fluctuating wheat and sheep prices the family made the decision to leave the farm. They moved to Perth where Don, alongside his two sons Robert and Darren, drove for a limousine company.

Whilst in this job, Don met and formed a strong bond with Lord McAlpine. Just as the Banfield family were beginning to establish themselves in Broome, tragedy struck. Whilst driving one of their buses to Fitzroy Crossing Don had an unexpected heart attack. He was aged 51 and left his wife Valda a widow with four children.

Valda and her sons Robert and Darren, together with the rest of their family continued on and worked to grow the business. After running a bus service out to Willie Creek Pearl Farm, the opportunity arose to take over the tour operation at Willie Creek Pearl Farm and so began their journey into the pearling industry.

The Harvest was highly successful due to the quality and quantity, defiantly the most exciting thus far. A new family tradition was introduced where Valda received the first pearl of the harvest. Being a natural gem, each pearl is unique. Visit www. Toggle navigation. I still get up there as often as I can. After reflecting on the last 30 years of business, what are the things that you feel have most contributed to your success? These not only include our hundreds of influential staff members, but also customers and loyal supporters along the way.

The family, including our extended family, also needs to be thanked for the sacrifices they have made for the greater good and future of the business. It's actually very rare for a family to be in business as long as we have, and to still be enjoying the process and the challenges that come our way. I would also like to acknowledge the original founders of the Willie Creek Pearl Farm concept.

The initial concept was developed by Dave Rae with some help from his partners. As Broome Buslines we first took tourists to meet Dave in an old tin shed in But it was Mark and Sue Walsh and Larry and Tracey House who first envisaged the tourism concept that you see as part of our operations today. Today we're grateful for not having to play such a big part in the day to day activities. By having a talented management team in place, it's enabled the family to work on the business rather than in the business.

This has allowed some different thinking operationally as well as strategically which has only enhanced what we are currently achieving. I'm looking forward to seeing what the next 30 years brings for Willie Creek Pearls. Loved reading your story it was very inspirational. We have been lucky enough to visit Broome twice and do the Willie Creek Pearl Farm tour on both occasions. Your tour guides are excellent and very informative and value for money.

Your shop staff are also excellent and very helpful and obliging when I purchased my beautiful pair of drop earrings. Have never been to Broome unfortunately, but have had a love affair with pearls from an early age. I have many purchases of your beautiful pearls from you boutiques here in Perth….

Greetings from Raleigh, N. He owned a pearl diving company in the early s. The visit was truely amazing and very educational. I purchased a beautiful pearl and wear it often and peoplealways coment on it,I gladly tell them you have to go to Willi Creek in Broome to get one of these.