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 _small.JPG)
Diary notes  
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