A little bit about Geraldton for the visitor
The town of Geraldton is actually a city - 'Sun City' as it is
known, reflecting the wonderful weather. Situated on Champion Bay -
part of the Batavia Coast - it was established in 1851. Originally
called Gerald's Town after the Colony's Governor Sir Charles
Fitzgerald, this was later shortened to Geraldton. The
Aboriginal name for the town is 'Utikarra',
meaning 'one spring' and the name is reflected in the name given to
one of Geraldton's suburbs.
The port of Geraldton is a major export centre for the area and
industries north of the state, being rich in the mining, pastoral,
and tourism sectors, with lead being found near the Murchison
River.
The booming fishing industry includes a marine commercial centre
containing a crayfish factory while the waters offshore offer
snorkelling and tours of the 122 Abrolhos Islands off the
coast.
The Western Australian museum in Geraldton displays relics of
ships wrecked off the coastline while a magnificent memorial to the
crew of the ill-fated HMAS Sydney II is lit by a flame
sourced from the eternal flame at the King's Park War Memorial in
Perth.
Visitors are presented with a multitude of activities to pursue
and sights to see in Geraldton, including tours over the cathedral,
the fascinating old gaol (now a museum), flights along the Batavia
Coast and amazing Murchison River gorges, and magnificent
wildflowers (great features for visitors to the surrounding
countryside).