Greenough's Leaning TreeTuesday 31 August we arrived in Geraldton, a relatively short distance to travel from Horrocks, and that gave us the chance to settle in before catching up with Brisbane based friends, Syd and Lorelle who are also doing the big round trip having left home about six weeks prior to us. A barbecue and exchange of travel notes at the Farina/Wilson camp was on the agenda that night. It was great to see familiar faces!
Wednesday our first port of call was Coronation Beach, a short drive north, and well known for windsurfing and kite surfing. We could see three ships lined up on the horizon waiting to go into the Port of Geraldton to load grain for export but I would have preferred to see colourful sails tearing across the water! The coastline is a continuation of beautiful beaches and the 122 island archipelago of the Abrolhos Islands lie off the coast which is another marine sanctuary and is also known for harvesting of pearls.
Wednesday our first port of call was Coronation Beach, a short drive north, and well known for windsurfing and kite surfing. We could see three ships lined up on the horizon waiting to go into the Port of Geraldton to load grain for export but I would have preferred to see colourful sails tearing across the water! The coastline is a continuation of beautiful beaches and the 122 island archipelago of the Abrolhos Islands lie off the coast which is another marine sanctuary and is also known for harvesting of pearls.
South of Geraldton are the horizontal trees, or 'Leaning Trees of Greenough', River Gums with strong trunks and weak branches which can survive against the powerful southerly winds; the Greenough River where the waters meet the Indian Ocean at Cape Burney, and a step back in time of restored sto
ne buildings part of the Historic Settlement of the area, circa1865.
ne buildings part of the Historic Settlement of the area, circa1865. Point Moore Lighthouse
Geraldton's marina and port with its bold red and white stripe Point Moore Lighthouse is in close proximity to the city centre, and then a must see, the HMAS Sydney II Memorial on a hill overlooking the city . The beautiful silver dome of 645 seagulls is a moving tribute to the same number of men who lost their lives when the WW II German raider, the Kormoran attacked and sunk the warship Sydney on November 21, 1941. The Kormoran was disguised as a Dutch merchant vessel and was also sunk but 340 of her 393 crew survived. Both wrecks were found 150 kilometres off Shark Bay in March 2008.
As well as the dome there is a a bronze statue of a woman gazing hopefully out to sea waiting for news of a loved one, and a stele - a single dramatic shape representing the bow of the ship which soars into the sky. The names of the men lost, photographs and the sto
ry are part of the display at the memorial.
ry are part of the display at the memorial. HMAS Sydney II Memorial
Time to leave the coast for a while and travel east to see the wildflowers for which Western Australia is world renowned.
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