Sunday, 9 August 2015

Day 90. Geraldton. 09/08/2015

A cold night last night but this morning was much improved on yesterday. Did some laundry before heading off to town to visit the Geraldton Sunday Market that was held in beautiful old railway station, a quite unique place for a Market. This would probably be the best market we have been to on this journey and we have been to many! The produce was plentiful and very fresh, the food stalls all had a wonderful variety of foods on offer, and the craft stalls were very impressive.
We spent a very enjoyable time at the Station before leaving to visit the HMAS Sydney 11 Memorial, a truly fitting tribute to the 645 lives lost on the Sydney when it was sunk off the W.A. coast in 1941, and its resting place was only discovered in 2008. It is a comprises a stunning dome that is made of metal seagulls representing each one of the 645 seamen. There is also a magnificent bronze statue of The Waiting Woman depicting a wife or mother looking at the ocean waiting for a loved one, then a water feature that illustrated the coast line and the exact co-ordinates of where the HMAS Sydney is at the bottom of the sea. Surrounding the memorial are beautiful marble walls with every one of the 645 names engraved for eternity. The memorial is magnificent and something all Australians should be extremely proud of. 
We drove around the town and the foreshore for the last time and because the weather today was better we got an entirely different impression of the very lovely foreshore and surroundings. We also saw the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral that was designed by a priest who was also an architect - a very impressive Cathedral set in magnificent grounds. The Queens Park Theatre, Geraldton's premier entertainment venue that has live performances in theatre, dance music, comedy or film was also a  very interesting building set in lovely gardens.
Returned to the park for lunch then we both caught up on some chores and then we had a Happy Hour in the late afternoon sunshine although it was very cold.
We depart tomorrow further down the coast to Port Denison.


At the Geraldton Sunday market
Undercover at the old railway station platform.
The railway station as it is now.
The old station back in 1915 when completed.
The old gaol house.
The new waterfront and marina.
Entrance to the HMAS Sydney Memorial.
History of the HMAS Sydney.
The travellers showing their respect to the lost sailors.
665 names of lost sailors were engraved on the memorial walls.
The view of Geraldton from the Memorial.
The beautiful Queens Park Theatre. A landmark in Geraldton.

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