Fri. 21st Sept., 2012 - Exploring Geraldton

The weather became unsettled & unreliable - it seemed that our long spell of constant sunshine was coming to an end (where did I put the umbrella & the long-sleeved tops?)  Fortunately, it only rained at night, so we were still able to enjoy going out & about.  We continued to wear shorts & sleeveless tops but I'm not sure for how much longer that will be the case.

Geraldton is an interesting town, with some impressive places to visit.  We began by driving to the HMAS Sydney II War Memorial, which is a wonderful tribute to the ship & the 645 men who lost their lives in November 1941 when attacked by a German vessel, off this coast.  A stunning monument has been built on Mount Scott, from where visitors can see all over Geraldton.

Next, we moved on to St Francis Xavier Cathedral, which has been described as "a poem in stone".  Although modern by European standards (it was begun in 1916 & completed in 1938), it is imposing,  impressive & beautifully designed.

There was a treat in store for us at the Regional Art Gallery, where we were able to enjoy an exhibition of Mary Durack's work.  She was the lady whose family home we visited near Lake Argyll.  Mary was multi-talented, having also written books, short stories, poetry, plays & film scripts.  Her exhibition, at the Gallery, consisted of numerous sketches depicting people, in & around Geraldton, going about their daily tasks.  The work appeared to be spontaneous & introduced us to many characters of the 1960's.

We moved on to the Old Gaol, which once housed convicts, but is now maintained by the Geraldton Crafts Association, who display their work in the former cells.



Lighthouse Keepers Cottage



Finally, we visited the Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage, which was built in 1870 & also incorporates the original lighthouse for Geraldton.  The first lighthouse keeper lived there with his wife & seven children in two rooms!  How times have changed.

As the day drew to a close, the wind became very strong & blustery.  We were glad to return to our cosy caravan before the rain arrived.