So much has changed about our fabulous City in the last decade and if you are not familiar with Geraldton it’s time you paid us a visit. Many places boast a great “Lifestyle” and although we are probably a little one eyed, Geraldton really has so much more than most. Our team have put together their top 10 reasons why you might like to consider coming to Geraldton and some of these reasons may have never crossed your mind;
❑ Not too big and not too small. There isn’t much to want for here and the region is growing constantly however, the local Supermarket and Bunnings are still places where you seem to know so many people. With a population of around 38,000, there are plenty of people you know and always plenty of new ones to meet.
❑ Sport. People in Geraldton have the best of the best and we love our fitness. 3 Well equipped gyms, 2 great Golf courses, 2 awesome bowls clubs, exceptional footy ovals, Basketball and Netball facilities, Tennis, cricket grounds, surf life saving, hockey and just about every sport you can think of is catered for from nippers to the die-hards.
❑ The Weather. Our sea breeze is pretty famous up here and between October and February we are a kite and wind surfing mecca. The rest of the year is postcard perfect. Our average rainfall is about 440 mm and that falls over about 60 days. We have over 300 days with no rain so how good is that? The mean average daily temp is about 26 degrees and the mean minimum about 13.6. The extremes can be as low as about 3 to as high as 45. Overall though, if you are looking for great weather all year round, is there anywhere better?
❑ Our Beaches. So blue, so clear, so clean and so beautiful. We are spoiled for choice! Protected bays, great surf breaks for water sports and plentiful reefs for snorkeling and diving.
❑ Fishing. Crayfish, Dhufish, Snapper, Groper, the list goes on! From beach to boat, delicious fish abound! Geraldton has a couple of excellent boat ramps and if you have a decent enough boat, the Abrolhos Islands beckons. There are 122 islands over a 100km stretch just 60 kms off the coast of Geraldton.
❑ History. From mutiny’s to shipwrecks to convicts we have many tales to tell. There is our fascinating history from when the Batavia ran aground on the Abrolhos Islands in June 1629 and a mutiny took place. Well before Captain Cook’s day and such an intriguing story. The HMAS Sydney memorial is a very serene and beautiful memorial to the 645 lives lost. Convict holding stations dotted throughout the Midwest link our towns together and weave a lot of our local history and shaped our agriculture and fishing past.
❑ Our foreshore is world class. Miles and miles of pathways along our coastline from the Port right up to Bluff Point. Cafe’s, kids playgrounds, free bbqs and even drinking stations for the pooch. Bike, people and pet friendly.
❑ Cuisine. The food here is amazing! We have trendy café’s, pubs and fine dining. Every palate is catered for. The coffee scene has really taken off and you will find us out having a delicious brunch on any day!
❑ Schooling. If education is a priority, Geraldton has what you need. 11 primary, 3 secondary, 2 primary to secondary, an expanding Uni, a Maritime Institute and a large TAFE.
❑ Diversity. Geraldton is definitely a multicultural society and all contribute significantly to our way of life. From the original settlers and convicts from the 1840’s to the Italian influence in the tomato growing and fishing industries to our Aboriginal history, we are a melting pot of cultures and ideas.
❑ Opportunity. In a growing region there is always room for people to “have a go” and we have seen many successes over the years.
There is plenty that just doesn’t fit into the list like our Museum, year round Aquatic Centre, our Lighthouse, the giant ball on the beach, some of the best farming country in Australia, concerts in the park, the towns around us like Dongara and Kalbarri, our Wildflowers, our tip is no cost and most of our parking is free. We can’t possibly tell you everything about Geraldton so we suggest visiting the following websites for the latest information about this beautiful place we call home.
https://www.progressmidwest.com.au/
https://www.hmassydneymemorialgeraldton.com.au/ h ttps://www.cgg.wa.gov.au/
https://www.visitgeraldton.com.au/