Lord McAlpine Statue – Cable Beach, Australia - Atlas Obscura
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Lord McAlpine Statue

Cable Beach, Australia

A bronze sculpture dedicated a man who transformed the town into a modern tourist destination. 

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The Lord McAlpine Statue Obscuravibes (Atlas Obscura User)
The Lord McAlpine Statue Obscuravibes (Atlas Obscura User)
The Lord McAlpine Statue Obscuravibes (Atlas Obscura User)
The Lord McAlpine Statue Obscuravibes (Atlas Obscura User)
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Located in the coastal town of Broome in Western Australia, the Lord McAlpine Statue is a significant landmark that commemorates the life and contributions of Lord Alistair McAlpine, a pivotal figure in the region’s development and tourism industry.

Lord McAlpine, or Robert Alistair McAlpine, was a British investor, author, and storyteller. He played a central role in Broome’s transformation from a remote coastal town known for pearling into a modern tourist destination. Arriving in the late 1970s, he purchased the struggling Sun Pictures. He returned frequently, and in the early 1980s, he bought land to establish the Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa. This transaction became famous for his signing the contract on a beer coaster in a pub. At the time, the property was deemed the ideal location for a resort.

In recognition of his contributions, he was made Freeman of the Municipality of Broome in 2012. A year later, Broome’s business community funded a bronze statue of the entrepreneur, costing $36,000, as a tribute to his impact on the town. Lord McAlpine passed away in 2014, but his statue still overlooks Cable Beach today.

bronze statue tourism statues
Nearby
Broome Japanese Cemetery
2.14 miles
Sun Pictures
2.73 miles
Gantheaume Point
3.76 miles
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