Economic development in the Kimberley region of Western Australia: a history and dependency theory perspective

Abstract

[Abstract]: The focus of the research undertaken for this dissertation is the economic development of the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The period studied is, approximately, the one hundred years from 1900–2000. The region has many of the characteristics of an underdeveloped area and of a low income economy. This research used dependency theory as a framework for examining the causes of underdevelopment in the Kimberley. The development that occurred in the region during the relevant period has been catalogued by the creation of a database. This has enabled the collected information to be examined and manipulated in many ways. The database has allowed the detail of development in the Kimberley to be studied with respect to time, place and type of activity. This made it possible to examine the five hypotheses proposed by A. G. Frank which he considered likely to lead to fruitful research. The detailed study of these hypotheses would not have been possible in the way described without the database. It was found that dependency theory does help to explain and understand the development experience of the Kimberley region of Western Australia during the twentieth century. This was the clear and positive result of this study. The extension to Frank’s core dependency theory, the five hypotheses, were not found to be applicable to the Kimberley region nor supported by the data. The hypotheses, therefore, do not add to our understanding of the nature of Kimberley development during the period examined. This does not invalidate or devalue the usefulness of dependency theory in this study.