Months of toil for historians and miniature enthusiasts will come to fruition as a depiction of Broome's history hits television screens across Australia tonight.
ABC's Tiny Oz features craftspeople from around Australia who re-create their local history — in miniature.
Tonight's episode of Tiny Oz will shine a spotlight on the northern WA town through a handmade model built by local carpenter and hobbyist Lachlan Fraser.
The model portrays Broome's Indigenous heritage, pearling industry, and multiculturalism depicting the area now known as Chinatown.
"It's been my fascination within my 37 years of living here," Mr Fraser says.
To make hulls for his miniature pearl luggers, Mr Fraser carved beechwood from the planks of an old lugger.
Other figures and items are mostly made from light gauge wire and gap filler, while corrugated iron roofs are made from corrugated cardboard and spray-painted.
The model includes genuine local pindan soil.
Mr Fraser and his assistants worked seven days a week for nearly six months and he is "both terrified and hopeful" about finally seeing it on the screen.
"Terrified because I've put my heart and soul on the sleeve here, but I'm excited for the fact that, in making this, I may answer some questions, but I hope to invoke a thousand more," he says.
Broome-based filmmaker Paul Bell was involved in the production and says it was "a great project to work on".
"We went out with [Yawuru man] Bart Pigram to pick out some of the actual wood that was used in the making of [Streeter's] Jetty … to make the pylons exactly as they would have been with the correct timber, but miniaturised," he says.
"It's just such an interesting history that goes with the model.
Co-host and miniaturist JoAnne Bouzianis-Sellick came to Broome for the episode.
"Lachie's piece has just got this beautiful tactile handcrafted feel to it, using everyday objects," she said.
"He's very, very passionate about Broome's history and you can see it throughout the whole model.
"The scenes that are created are actually from historical photographs."
After filming the program, the producers donated the model back to Mr Fraser and it is now on display in the University of Notre Dame library in Broome.
"It is an ongoing legacy," Mr Fraser says.
"Hopefully it will outlast me."
Tiny Oz airs at 8:30pm Tuesday on ABC TV and ABC iview.
