Once fished for the purpose of making buttons, the Mother of Pearl shell is now at the forefront of medical innovation. Willie Creek Pearls is collaborating with MedTech company Marine Biomedical to supply shell for the development of groundbreaking medical products.

Marine Biomedical is using nacre from our pearl oyster shells to create a medical device that mimics human bone formation, offering a promising alternative to synthetic materials in orthopaedic trauma medicine. Robert Banfield, Director of Willie Creek Pearls, is a shareholder and serves on the Marine Biomedical board.

In 2023, the Banfields, through their property development capacity, built the first Goods Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility in Broome - the first of its kind in regional Western Australia. This state-of-the-art facility is now producing Marine Biomedical's innovative PearlBone™ technology.

Recently, Marine Biomedical won the Leading with Innovation award at the 2025 WA Regional Business Excellence Awards, adding to their remarkable success at the 2024 Love Broome Business Awards. There, they were awarded the Winner of Business with 3-6 FT Employees Award, Winner of the Innovation Award, and Business of the Year 2024.

This collaboration not only promotes sustainability but also highlights the potential of repurposing pearl industry by-products for life-saving advancements. Learn more on our Willie Creek Pearl Farm tour.