7am
24 degrees, clear sky. Off early to explore Geraldton.
First
to Point Moore Lighthouse which is the oldest maintained lighthouse in WA and
is the tallest ‘metal’ lighthouse in Australia.
Two
Osphrey chicks are in their nest on the top of the pole near the beach before
the lighthouse.
Continued
south along the coast to Separation Point Lookout. Looking south over Back
Beach and Tarcoola Beach.
Further
south to the sand dunes at Southgates.
Lots
of seagrass piled on the beach in front of us – bit smelly.
Back
around over Greys Beach to Point Moore and the lighthouse.
Continued
back towards town – looking across to white Pages Beach.
Drove
out onto Fisherman’s Wharf past the marina.
There
are 5 walking trails so we decided to head north to the Bluff Point Trail
first. Looking from St Georges Beach over Champion Bay to Geraldton and the
port. We can see the top of the lighthouse behind the shed. Big cloud band on
the horizon.
Good
info boards in the park.
A
bob-tailed skink tried to hide from me.
The
site of the original lighthouse now replaced with the beacon in the background.
A
plaque marking the shipwrecks around here.
The
new beacon lines up with the beacons and markers of the channel.
Continued
along the trail – great letterbox.
Next
info board about all the produce grown in this area.
St
George’s Church.
Lighthouse
Keeper’s Cottage.
Another
church designed by Monsignor Hawes.
Bluff
Point School.
Continued
down the road to Two Mile Well at Bluff Point Junction. Sealed up and covered
with little snails.
This
small (278sq m) block is up for sale for $285,000 – wow.
Back
down to the beach where Catalinas landed.
Back
to the truck for a cuppa overlooking the beach. A few people are out on their stand-up
paddle boards.
Headed
back into town. Stopped to check out the old railway station.
The
railway lines are still visible.
Inside
we found some old photos. This was Geraldton’s third station.
Historical
buildings – the Bluff Point lighthouse.
Out
to the front of the station.
Walked
across to the Court House. The foundation stone was laid on October 1st,
1897.
Next
trail is around the Victoria Hospital and Gaol precinct.
Grand
looking buildings.
On
the other corner of the block is the original gaol (1856-1985) area.
This
building was added in 1980s as the maximum security wing. Interestingly there
aren’t any big fences – maybe they were removed.
The
police station was on the corner.
The
top of the walls here have the broken bottles impeded in the concrete to stop
escapees.
The
gaolers’ quarters.
Nurses’
quarters.
Around
the block to the other side - Geraldton Hospital.
Across
the road was the maternity house – Rosella House. My ancestor in England back
in the early 1800s was born in a ‘Lying-in Hospital’ – interesting name.
Continued
past the hospital buildings and around to the carpark in the centre of the
complex.
The
other side of the hospital buildings.
The
front of the Nurses’ Quarters.
The
other side of the gaol.
Another
billboard about the National Parks etc as we head south on our way back to
Perth. Erica had mentioned a tunnel at Stockyard Gully – will check that out.
Drove
up the hill to the HMAS Sydney Memorial. Beautiful and very sad to think of all
those lost lives.
Fabulous
view from up here.
The
pool shows where the ship went down (the brown is the WA coast showing Steep
Point etc) and the lady waiting for the loved ones to come home.
Some
fish pens and big ships waiting to come into the harbour.
Back
into town. Parked beside the Queens Park Theatre – what a terrible looking
building. No pride for whoever built that!!
Out
front is an Iris Sundial – we couldn’t figure it out.
Across
the road to St Francis Xavier Cathedral, designed and built by Monsignor Hawes.
He certainly was an amazing man.
It
is being refurbished but I got a peek inside. Interesting décor!!
Back
to the van for lunch then off for another walk around the West End – getting
lots of exercise. Much of the early development of Geraldton took place around
here. Spotted this Bicentennial plaque near the port office.
The
Residency.
Fishing.
Grain.
The
footy oval.
Lovely
old building – was probably a corner store.
Flagstaff Hill.
Cordial
factory.
Gregory
Street.
No
63 built in 1876, down the street and No. 53 built in 1890s.
The
Gregory brothers.
Forrest
Lodge.
The
Town Well.
This
is believed to be the oldest building in Geraldton.
Across
the road is the Mission to Seamen Building built in 1864.
Back
to the van – it has been a beautiful warm day. Shame the forecast is for rain
on Monday so it will go cold again. Hooked up and drove over to the water tap
to fill up the tanks. Another Qld couple were there. They were from Townsville
and doing the Big Lap. They asked if we heard all the commotion last night – we
didn’t. Apparently the first van in the row left his door unlocked and an
aborigine came in and attacked them. Luckily there are good cameras here and
the police got him straight away. The people were unhurt but it is certainly a
reminder to us to lock up all the time.
Headed
out of town – only about 20km to Fig Tree Campground. Nice spot but only 24
hour stay. Great view of the Chapman Valley from Waggrakine Cutting.
Parked
by the fence line near the ‘Teddy Tree’. Nothing saying why they are there.
Cuppa
in the shelter near us. Info about why it is called Fig Tree as there are no
Fig Trees around here.
Chatted
with a lady who is doing the night rotation with the one in town to get things
fixed, see doctors etc.
Worked
on my blog – lots of photos etc again. The white-tailed black cockatoos arrived
making a racket. Chopped off a few branches then moved to another tree further
away for the night – thank goodness.
We
had bought new flyscreens for our 4 Season Vents as one had a hole in it. Steve
pulled them out, cleaned all the metal vents and the other flymesh and then put
the new ones in – looks like new now.
Good
TV reception here so Steve started flicking channels!! Cooled off as the sun
set so closed up the van again. Only a couple more vans/motorhomes arrived for
the night.
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