FITZROY CROSSING

Health services

The Fitzroy Crossing Hospital provides high-quality hospital services and indigenous health care to residents of the town as well as 40 outlying communities. The new hospital opened in 2008 and is co-located with the Nindilingarri Cultural Health Service.

The hospital has 26 acute inpatient beds, emergency care facilities, primary health, aged care, mental health and a public dental service. The emergency bay has two treatments areas including a dedicated resuscitation room and five consulting rooms for outpatient clinics.

The Fitzroy Crossing Hospital is staffed by four doctors and 15 nurses and 13 primary health staff including nine community health nurses. An undercover ambulance bay has been built at the hospital and the Hospital has a two-chair dental facility staffed by a full-time dentist and clinic assistant.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of Fitzroy Crossing is 61.5 per cent. There is potential for doctors to incorporate additional procedural skills training at Broome and Derby Hospitals.

The community

Fitzroy Crossing is a small settlement that services local stations and acts as a stopover destination for those exploring the rugged Kimberley and its nearby attractions of Geikie Gorge, Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge, or those en-route to the Bungle Bungles Purnululu National Park, or Kununurra and Darwin.

The population of the Fitzroy Crossing area is approximately 1200 people. The current town site has expanded recently due to mining operations 80 kilometres southeast, the growth of Aboriginal communities and the increase in popularity of the Kimberley and Gibb River Road as tourist destinations.

The majority of residents in Fitzroy Crossing are Aboriginal and there are a number of Aboriginal-run non-government organisations, including Marra Worra Worra and Bunuba Inc. The Aboriginal population of Fitzroy Crossing contains significant linguistic and cultural diversity; there are four main Aboriginal language groups: Gooniyandi, Bunuba, Walmajarri and Wangkajungka.

The Fitzroy Crossing community also consists of non-Aboriginal residents who are employed in different service industries, including health, education, administration and various other trades.

The Yungngora people are recognised as the native title holders over the Noonkanbah pastoral lease west of Fitzroy Crossing. 

Housing

The average sale price of a house in Fitzroy Crossing is $455,000. Most houses are three or four bedroom, although there are ones available that are smaller and larger. The average rental price is $365 per week. 

Education

Fitzroy Valley District High School is a government-run and co-educational school catering for students from pre-primary to Year 12.