Geraldton Population 20,000
Geraldton is located 424km (263 miles) north of Perth on the Brand Highway.
It is the gateway to the Abrolhos Islands. The area is known as the
Batavia Coast, named after the Batavia which was one of many ships
wrecked off the coast.
Climate
Average temperatures: January max 32C (90F) - min 19C (66F); July max
19C (66F) - min 9C (48F). Number of days a year with temperature over
30C (86F) - 76; number of days a year with temperature over 40C (104F)
- 8. Average annual rainfall: 475mm (19 ins); wettest six months - April
to September.
Characteristics
Geraldton's boundary of safe beaches, its year long surf scene, the wildflowers,
scenic attractions and rich historical features, give it a magnetic appeal
to those who want a carefree holiday. It is known as Sun City, because
it boasts of an average of 8 hours sunshine a day, all year round.
How to Get There By Air
Skywest have daily flights from/to Perth.
By Bus
The Westrail bus departs East Perth Terminal six times weekly, with alternate
routes through Moora and Eneabba.
Geraldton is on the Greyhound Pioneer Perth/Broome/Darwin route.
By Car
From Perth, via the Brand Highway through Eneabba, or via the Midland
Road through Moora and Mingenew.
Tourist Information
The Geraldton Tourist Bureau is situated on the corner of Chapman Road & Bayly
Street at the Bill Sewell Community Recreation Complex, (08) 9921 3999.
The Bureau is hopen Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5pm.
Accommodation
As always with holiday resorts, there is plenty of accommodation available,
and bookings should be made ahead. Here is a selection with prices for
a double room per night, which should be used as a guide only. &The
telephone area code is 08.
Hospitality Inn Geraldton, Cathedral Avenue, 9921 1422. 48 units, licensed
restaurant, swimming pool, bbq $97-118.
Batavia Motor Inn, 54 Fitzgerald Street, 9921 3500. 76 units, licensed
restaurant, swimming pool $92.
Ocean Centre Hotel, cnr Foreshore Drive & Cathedral Avenue, 9921
7777. 51 rooms (private facilities), licensed restaurant $85 - 160.
Mercure Inn Geraldton, Brand Highway, 9921 2455. 60 units, licensed restaurant,
swimming pool $84-105.
Sun City Motel-Geraldton, 137 Cathedral Avenue, 9921 6111. 20 units,
licensed restaurant, swimming pool, spa, sauna, gym $60-80.
Mariner Motel Hotel, 298 Chapman Road, 9921 2544. 18 rooms (private facilities),
licensed restaurant, swimming pool $55-60.
Mercure Inn Wintersun Geraldton, 441 Chapman Road, Bluff Point, 9923
1211. 36 rooms, licensed restaurant, swimming pool $84.
Caravan Parks
Batavia Coast Caravan Park, Lot 3/89 Hall Rd, Waggrakine, 9938 1222.
(Pets on application) - powered sites $12 for two , on-site vans $25
for two.
Separation Point Caravan Park, Separation Point, 9921 2763. (No dogs
allowed) - powered sites $16 for two, on-site vans $30-35 for two.
Sunset Beach Holiday Park, Bosley Street 9938 1655. (No pets allowed)
- powered sites $17 for two, on-site vans $33 for two.
Eating Out
Whatever type of food you fancy, you will find the right place in Geraldton.
A stroll down Marine Terrace will take you past plenty of eateries, and
then it's only a matter of choosing the one that appeals most. Here are
some to consider.
Jade House, 57 Marine Terrace, 9964 1222 - licensed - open Mon-Sat 11.30am-2.30pm,
Mon-Sun 5-11pm.
Rose, 9 Forrest Street, 9921 5645 -BYO- hopen Tues-Sun 5.30-11pm.
China Moon, 198 Marine Terrace, 9923 9924.
OK Corral Mexican Restaurant, 185 Marine Terrace, 9964 5424.
The Boatshed Seafood Restaurant, 357 Marine Terrace, 9921 5500.
Picasso's Cafe Restaurant, 20 Chapman Road, 9965 5500.
La Famiglia, 1 Fitzgerald Street, 9921 8655.
Tanti's, 174 Marine Terrace, 9964 2311.
Skeetas Garden Restaurant, 9 George Road, 9964 1619.
Raphaels, 84 Marine Terrace, 9965 4441.
Lemon Grass, 18 Snowdon Street, 9964 1172.
Points of Interest
The Wishing Well Lookout in Brede Street overlooks the city with its
Norfolk pines lining the beach front.
St Francis Xavier Cathedral, cnr Cathedral Avenue & Maitland Street,
was built in stages from 1914 until the opening in 1938. The Byzantine
style architecture is one of Monsignor John Hawes' masterpieces.
Bill Sewell Community Complex, cnr Chapman Road & Bayly Street. Originally
this building was the Victoria District Hospital dating from 1887 to
1966, then it was used as a Regional Prison until 1984. The building
had major restoration work done, and was re-opened in 1988. The Geraldton
Tourist Bureau is situated in this beautiful building and the Old Gaol
Craft Centre is adjacent.
The Western Australian Museum Geraldton occupies two adjoining buildings
in Museum Place - the Maritime Display Building and Old Railway Building,
9921 5080. The Maritime Display Building overlooks a long sweep of coast
that has witnessed some of the earliest and bloodiest events in Australia's
European history. The museum contains finds from Australia's oldest shipwrecks.
Three Dutch ships, Batavia (1629), Zuytdorp (1712) and Zeewijk (1727)
were wrecked on route to Holland's fabulously wealthy trading empire
- present-day Indonesia. Cannon, coins, navigational instruments, pottery
and personal gear have been recovered after centuries under the surf.
The historic Old Railway Building was built for Western Australia's first
government railway. Inside, displays depict the region's intriguing variety
of plants, animals and minerals. This is interwoven with the absorbing
story of man in the region. The museum is hopen Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun
1-5pm, and admission is free.
The Lighthouse Keepers Cottage, cnr Chapman Road & Grenville Drive,
was built in 1870 and was the original lighthouse keeper's residence
for the Port of Geraldton. The Historical Society is based here, and
it is hopen Thursdays only.
Geraldton Art Gallery is located in the city's original Town Hall in
Chapman Road. The Town Hall was opened in 1907 and renovated in 1984.
Admission to the Gallery is free, and it is hopen Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun
1.30-4.30pm, 9921 6811.
The Point Moore Lighthouse is rather difficult to overlook, due to its
broad red and white stripes. It was built in 1879, and is 35m (115 ft)
high and its light is visible for up to 26km (16 miles).
Flora
Wattles dominate much of the plains and coastal dunes, but among them
are grevilleas, hakeas, one-sided bottlebrush, smokebush, honeymyrtles,
and of course, Geraldton Wax, an evergreen shrub with pink or white waxy
flowers.
Fauna
Mainly rabbits, kangaroos, foxes, some possums, emus, galahs, black and
white cockatoos, crows, grey doves and many varieties of small birds.
Fishing
Rock and beach fishing in the town itself is patchy for tailor, mulloway
and herring, etc. Drive south to Greenough River mouth for tailor, mulloway
and bream. North of Geraldton there is Drummond Cove for the same species,
and for the four wheel drivers, Buller River Mouth is great for tailor.
Coronation Beach off main highway is good for tailor and mulloway.
Festivals
The Sunshine Festival is held in October each year.
Outlying Attractions Greenough
Situated 25km (16 miles) south of Geraldton on the Brand Highway, Greenough
features many examples of early pioneering history dating from the 1850s.
The Greenough Village complex looks very much as it did in its heyday.
It was restored and is maintained by the National Trust (WA), and features
Pioneer Tea Rooms and an Art Gallery, where works by significant Mid-West
artists are displayed and sold. Guided tours through the buildings are
highly recommended.
Adjacent to the Village in Company Road is the Hampton Arms Historic
Inn (1861), and next door is the Greenough Wildlife and Bird Park, 9926
1171, a must for the kids where all kinds of animals can be seen.
Dongara/Port Denison
The Shire of Irwin has three townships: Dongara, Port Denison and Irwin.
The townsite of Dongara, 359km (223 miles) north of Perth on the Brand
Highway, was surveyed in 1852, and named Dhungarra. It is a little known
fact that the Brand Highway is within 2km of beautiful beaches and a
rustic, almost forgotten township, that was first settled nearly 150
years ago. For years Dongara and the adjacent townsite of Port Denison
have been popular retirement destinations for farmers of the surrounding
rural areas. Now tourists and holiday makers are discovering the delights
of this historic region. The Dongara Denison Tourist Information Centre
is in the Old Police Station Building, Waldeck Street, Dongara, (08)
9927 1404, hopen Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 10am-1pm. They are able to advise
on available accommodation, and attractions. The town caters for most
popular sports - bowls, tennis, yachting, golf, squash, basketball, badminton
and gymnastics.
Cervantes
Cervantes is a crayfishing centre, and appeals to anglers because of
the wide range of fish which can be caught from the shore, or from a
small boat in the local waters. The town is about 245km (152 miles) north
of Perth, and the Tourist Information is in the Shell Service Station,
cnr Aragon & Seville Streets, 9652 7041. Nearby is the Nambung National
Park, whose main attraction is the Pinnacles, an area of sand of varying
colours, where there are thousands of limestone pinnacles which range
in size from ankle high and pencil thickness to 5m high and 2m thick
at the base. Access to the park is difficult and care should be taken
to avoid vehicle damage. Visitors are requested to stay on defined tracks
and observe directional and warning signs.
Moora
Located on the Midlands Road, 190km (118 miles) north of Perth via New
Norcia, or 175km (109 miles) via Mogumber.
Tourist Information is in the Moora Shire Office, 34 Padbury Street,
(08) 9651 1401. Moora is recognised as the heart of the Midlands, and
is on the banks of the Moore River. The town stretches across the clay
flats deposited by an ancient waterway, and the area in its virgin state
was a large salmon gum forest. Pioneer, Walter Padbury opened up more
land in the area than anyone. He was Australia's greatest philanthropist
and Western Australia's first millionaire.
Attractions include: Watheroo National Park; Jingamia Cave; the Mill
Museum; Waddi Farms; and the Australian Flower Farm at Coorow.
Morawa
Morawa is the centre of a well established district. It was settled about
1905 and declared a townsite in 1912. It has a population of around 1350,
and the area is based on wheat and wool growing. Prater Airport which
accommodated Dove and DC3 aircraft, is now a regular port of call for
light aircraft. A fully illuminated strip allows for night landing of
the flying doctor and courier planes.
Tourist Information is available from the Morawa Shire Council, 9971
1204.
Attractions include: Koolanooka Springs; Bilya Rock Reserve; old mine
sites; Mingenew Coal Seam; the Historical museum; Holy Cross Church;
and wildflowers. Facilities for sports include golf, football, basketball,
badminton, squash, rifle shooting, tennis, bowls, swimming, gliding and
flying.
Mullewa
Situated 100km (62 miles) east of Geraldton, Mullewa is the gateway to
the Murchison pastoral and old goldfield area. The most direct route
is along the Geraldton Highway to Mingenew, then along the Mingenew/Mullewa
Road.
Tourist Information is in Mullewa Shire Council, Jose Street, (08) 9961
1007, email admin@mull ewa.wa.gov.au, internet www. mullewa.wa.gov.au
Attractions include: Murchison Goldfields; Tenindewa Pioneer Well; Glacier
Bed; St Andrew's Anglican Church; Pallottine Mission; and Tallering Peak
and Gorge. Northampton
Northampton has one of the richest histories in the State of Western
Australia, and is situated 52km (32 miles) north of Geraldton.
The hills of the town, drained by creeks with permanent pools attracted
game and proved a haven for Australian Aborigines. Evidence of their
ancient culture can be seen in cave paintings at the Bowes River turnoff.
Shepherds gradually moved into the area, and one of them, Thomas Mason,
discovered copper at Wanneranooka in 1842. The copper mine which subsequently
developed was the first in the State.
Lead was discovered in 1848 and the Geraldton mine was developed. The
labour shortage, acute throughout the State, was relieved to some extent
by the continuation of the transportation of convicts. A convict hiring
station was established at Port Gregory 1853-1856.
The Northampton Tourist Bureau is on the North West Coastal Highway,
(08) 9934 1488, and they will advise of the attractions, which include:
Chiverton House Museum, Gwalla Cemetery and Church; Wanneranooka Copper
Mine; Original Miner's Cottages; Alma School House; Warribano Chimney;
and Port Gregory.
Kalbarri
Kalbarri is one of the fastest growing holiday resorts in WA, and is
591km (367 miles) north of Perth. The climate is suitable for all year
round swimming and fishing, and the scenery is unique. The town is on
the mouth of the Murchison River and it is the river gorges which provide
much of the unique scenery in the area, not to mention spectacular coastal
scenery south of the town. Fishing from the beach or from boats is first
class, and the town's main activity, along with tourism, is the rock
lobster industry. Abundant and beautiful flora is just another attraction.
The history of Kalbarri is fascinating, though violent, as its treacherous
coastline has resulted in many shipwrecks. Australia's first white settlers
arrived here in 1629, though probably with a degree of reluctance. Commodore
Pelsaert marooned two conspirators here for their activity in the 'terrible'
Batavia mutiny.
Tourist Information is available from the Kalbarri Tourist Bureau in
Grey Street, (08) 9937 1104.
