Lap Around Australia: Geraldton Part Two

Geraldton: Part Two HMAS Sydney, Cathedral St Francis Xavier

After a visit to the Information Centre in Geraldton we were somewhat reassured that there was going to be quite a lot to see and do in this area. We are limited somewhat by having a 100 kilometre per day (average) limit on our hire car, and definitely no off road driving, but at least we have wheels to get around. We were given a list of the local tourist sites and we'll work our way through them.







First on the list is the HMAS Sydney II memorial that sits atop a hill in town. It is certainly a magnificent tribute to the 612 lives lost at sea when the HMAS Sydney was sunk during combat in WW2 off the West Australian coast. We drove up the hill and before we could even get to the site we were accosted by an elderly lady, a volunteer who wanted to tell us all about the history of the site and the building of the memorial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dome of seagulls represents all the souls lost at sea. Apparently a flock of seagulls flew over a memorial gathering for the HMAS Sydney and it was considered a significant sign. There is also a bronze statue of a waiting woman, representing all the loved ones at home who waited anxiously for news of the fate of the ship and never knew what happened to them until the wreck was found fifty years later. Alongside the statue is a wall with all the sailors names and a pool of remembrance and a tall edifice meant to represent the bow of the ship. It is very tastefully done.















Not far from the Sydney memorial we came upon the striking Catholic Cathedral, St Francis Xavier. We could see that there was restoration work underway, so we were not surprise to be unable to enter the building, so we wandered around the outside. The forecourt of the cathedral has just been paved in a labyrinth pattern and there is some excavation work beyond the museum which will house a wall for cremated remains and a Australian native garden of flowers found in this area. It should be lovely when it's completed.















Barb went into the museum which is dedicated to Monsignor Hawes. She was immediately accosted by another elderly lady who couldn't wait to show her around and tell her all about the amazing life and exploits of Monsignor Hawes. John Cyril Hawes was born near London in 1876. He qualified as an architect in 1897 and was ordained as an Anglican Deacon in 1903. He later converted to Catholicism and was ordained as a Catholic Priest. He came to Geraldton in 1915 and undertook many building projects of which he did the architectural plans around the surrounding area while he was a parish priest. There are at least 18 buildings on the Hawes Heritage trail. An impressive accomplishment.













Across the road from here is the Queens Performing Arts theatre. There doesn't appear to be anything on while we're in town. What a shame!




By this time we were tonguing for a drink and to sit down. We headed to the foreshore and found the Jaffle Shack. It's a pop up café in a converted shipping container. They do the BEST hot chocolates we've had in WA. The setting is lovely too. It is in a grassy park with lots of picnic shelters and the nearby public loos are in buildings that look like large Rubik's cubes.




















We felt that maybe we need to have a break from sightseeing today. No sense over-doing it. So we went to the movies instead. The cinema is rather nice and very centrally located in town. We could both also use our Senior's cards. Bonus! We saw "Victoria and Abdul". Love Judi Dench...the story was a bit unexpected but there were some amusing moments. It was a nice way to spend a lazy afternoon together. We rarely get the opportunity to go to the movies together at home. That might change now John's retired.