GERALDTON

The wind is up, much cooler and now we arrive at Geraldton. Our first natural growth urban centre. The port, great beaches, mining, beef, wheat, oats and tourism drive growth in this city. Nearly 40,000 people live in Geraldton and is the fastest growing rural centre in Western Australia. Geraldton is also a very colourful town, where bright dynamic colours adorn the streets and buildings. All key services and shopping are available. The first European to explore the area was George Grey in 1839. A decade later the explorer Augustus Gregory travelled through the area. He discovered lead on the Murchison River and the mine which was subsequently established was named Geraldine after the Governor Charles Fitzgerald. The town of Geraldton was gazetted in 1850. The contrast between the Catholic and Anglican Cathedrals gives a great insight into differences that have occurred in a century of cathedral design. All denominations are represented in Geraldton. The HMAS Sydney Memorials in Geraldton are extremely moving and bold design epitaphs. Some 50 years earlier there were the ports and pubs. Now, most of those hotels are gone. Here are the remaining ‘pub’ institutions. The Geraldton Museum is a credit to the city. Included in the exhibits is an HMAS Sydney display. This Museum is a must visit. The nearby ‘old jail and police station’ museum is also worth a look over. Geraldton is a town, if the weather is a warm is worth an extended stop-over Diary notes