Geraldton is an affluent, coastal port town in the mid-west region of Western Australia.
Being a central point between the resource rich Pilbara, the growing Kimberley region and the States capital city of Perth, provides Geraldton with a host of different economic opportunities – all of which the region intends to capitalise on.
Traditionally an agricultural region, the Mid West is now attracting unprecedented investment interest from a range of other industry sectors. It supports a diverse range of industries based around mining, agriculture, fishing and tourism. The mining industry has quickly become the main economic driver of the region with strong international demand, and diverse in nature these industries will provide both short and long term employment opportunities in the region.
Geraldton is in the midst of a massive economic expansion and has significant capacity for further growth. Land availability is good, housing prices are affordable and existing infrastructure is well-established. Cutting edge science and technology will complement mining activity in the region and bring a variety of economic, training and education opportunities for its residents.
The vision is for Geraldton to be a city that is built around a rich fabric of diversity, attractive to people from all walks of life. It will become a vibrant economic, cultural and social hub in its own right but will also still be the idyllic seaside city that people recognise as Geraldton.
Geraldton is recognized world-wide as a popular surfing and windsurfing destination. The tourism industry continues to grow at rapid pace with people flocking in from all over the world to catch a glimpse of the scenic beaches such as St George’s beach that surround Geraldton. It also serves as a fantastic base for those wanting to dive the famous reefs and ship wrecks off the coast, along with the fantastic opportunity to arrange charter flights to the Abrolhos Islands, Murchison River Gorges and Monkey Mia. The town foreshore has recently been redeveloped to host a modern playground complete with water activities, Basketball court and shaded play areas for different age groups.
With a population of over 35,000, the City of Greater Geraldton is the administrative hub for the Mid West region of Western Australia.
One of Australia’s best kept secrets, Gerladton will undoubtedly, continue to grow and provide plenty of opportunities to residents.
Local Landmarks
- HMAS Sydney memorial site – located on top of Mount Scott, the memorial recognises the loss of the light cruiser during a mutually destructive fight with the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran off Shark Bay in November 1941, with none of the 645 aboard surviving. A temporary memorial, consisting of a large boulder, a flagpole, and a bronze plaque, was erected in 1998.A permanent memorial (made up of four major elements: a stele based on the ship’s prow, a granite wall listing the ship’s company, a bronze statue of a woman looking out to sea and waiting in vain for Sydney to return, and a dome made up of 645 stainless steel seagulls) was dedicated on 18 November 2001, the day before the 60th anniversary of the battle. In May 2009, the memorial was recognised by the Australian government as being of national significance.
- Moore Point Lighthouse– The first all steel tower built on the mainland of Australia, The light was first exhibited in 1878. It is the oldest surviving Western Australia lighthouse under Federal control and was recently established as another cultural attraction of Geraldton.
- St Francis Xavier Cathedral – Completed in 1938, the St Francis Xavier Cathedral was designed by famed architect Monsignor Hawes, and is situated in the middle of Geraldton’s town Centre. The cathedral is today known as one of Hawes finest creations. Guided walks through the cathedral are available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10am for a minimal fee.