Mount Scott.
The city is home to the Port of Geraldton, a major west coast seaport. Geraldton is an important service and logistics center for regional mining, fishing, wheat, sheep and tourism industries.
We arrived in Geraldton on August 23, 2015, and found a caravan park easily down by the sea. So it's along time in fact it's 10 years since we visited there.
There is a hill in Geraldton called Mount Scott, we could see it but be hanged if we could find it. Two days of driving around the city sightseeing and we stumbled across the hill.
On this hill is the 'Rotary Memorial, World War 11 cruiser Sydney.
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.
(Note, this vessel is the second Australian warship to be named HMAS Sydney, and is sometimes referred to as HMAS Sydney (II))
645 steel seagulls
The Waiting Women. Waiting for her child to return, but of course, he never does!
The Point Moore Lighthouse, located south of the Geraldton Port is a cultural and historical attraction. It is the oldest surviving Commonwealth lighthouse in Western Australia and was also the first steel tower to be constructed on the mainland of Australia. The Point Moore lighthouse stands 35m tall and its 1000w Tungsten Halogen Lamp can be seen for 23 nautical miles. It began operation in 1878.
A very long way from home.
Hi! The lighthouse is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteFor me it's a very different light house.
DeleteSuch a grearh lighthouse! It will a landmark in Gascoyne region of Western Australia. I also like the 645 steel seagulls. Information I didn't know about the fight that took place during WWII in November 1941 in that beautiful corner of the world.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is a good lighthouse, Giorgio. So many things about Australia in World War 11 that we don't about yet.
DeleteSad moments that I hope will not be repeated.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too...too sad.
DeleteI'm always pleased to refer to a map, Australia and Tasmania are so big!
ReplyDeleteI do like the lighthouse, that sculpture of the woman is so good too.
May the new week be a good one for you.
All the best Jan
Gorgeous sculpture Jan. Australia is a big country, one doesn't realize at times.
DeleteBoth sculptures of waiting woman and seagulls are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIndeed they are Angie.
DeleteI like both of the scultures and the lighthouse is a beauty.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly are Bill. I didn't know they existed until we visited.
DeleteThe sculptures are great and sad that she waits there for a son who will never return.
ReplyDeleteYes a sad place for the lady to be, so many women would have stood in many parts of this world back then looking for their sons to return, and they never did. Sad, Mary.
DeleteThe sculptures are fantastic to look at
ReplyDeleteThey are indeed. It's an interesting place with so much history attached.
DeleteI liked these photos, those sculptures do look amazing
ReplyDeleteThank you Jo-Anne.
DeleteI believe that the crew of the "Kormoron"
ReplyDeletewho managed to get to shore were interned
for the duration of the war.
Whatever happened to HMAS Sydney remains one of the mysteries
of WW2.
Maritine experts have speculated that the navigation section of the ship
was destroyed and thus steering was impossible and that the ship eventually
exploded as it was on fire.
I guess we will never know.
Cheers
Colin
PS: The weather here is to say the least unpredictable.
Theodor Detmers (22 August 1902 – 4 November 1976)
DeleteThis is the story of the German captain - just google his name.
Quite an interesting person.
I also read that many of the crew returned to Australia after the war with
wives or families and settled here. I dare say with German integrity they
did very well.
I just love history and have quite a lot of history books on my shelves at home.
Cheers
Colin
Interesting Colin. I too enjoy history and have done for a long time.
DeleteLovely day here.
The memorial to the destroyed ship and all its young men is perfect for a maritime setting. But what was the ship's connection to Geraldton?
ReplyDeleteThe ship the Sydney ll was fighting with the ship Kornoran..I hope the links help and there is certainly some interesting reading of both of the ships.
DeleteThe ship the Kornoran sank in Shark Bay area , interesting history Hels. A couple of link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-03-16/kormoran-wreck-found-off-wa/1073856
https://museum.wa.gov.au/explore/sydney/history-hmas-sydney-ii/battle-hsk-kormoran
Yes, you couldn't get much further away from home.
ReplyDeleteThe sculpture is terrific and the statue is very moving and beautifully done.
It's a beautiful area and so well done and care for there Andrew. Such a sad time in history and much is written about it.
DeleteLinda estatura. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteThank you and it certainly is wonderful.
DeleteNice memorials. I love boats and lighthouses.
ReplyDeleteThey are all lovely there R. Much to be read about that area.
DeleteThe monument for the wrecked ship and crew is really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Irma
I agree Irma. A lot of thought went into it before building it.
DeleteBeautiful photos, thank you for bringing your beautiful country, your beautiful continent closer.
ReplyDeleteHappy week.
Best regards
You are welcome Jose.
DeleteGostei muito das imagens apresentadas e das informações históricas a elas associadas.
ReplyDeleteBoa semana.
Abraço de amizade.
Juvenal Nunes
Thank you Juvenal. You have a good week too.
DeleteOh!! The Waiting Woman is heartbreaking.... but what beautiful country!
ReplyDeleteHappy week...
hugs
Donna
Thank you Donna. Yes, the lady waiting and her son never comes is heart breaking and brought tears to my eyes standing there looking at her all those years ago.
DeleteWe love ports and walking the marinas looking at all the different boats. How many women over the years have looked out upon the seas waiting for their loved ones to return.
ReplyDeleteWe find it pleasant looking at the marinas too.
DeleteI bet millions of women have looked out to sea looking for their sons to return but never do.
Beautiful photos Margaret! A very moving memorial, the dome of birds is beautiful and the lady’s statue waiting touches the heart. I enjoyed learning about the lighthouse and seeing the marina. And always, thank you for the map. I am improving my geography. Have a great week :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Denise. It's a bit difficult to know where places are without that map.
DeleteLooks like a very interesting area. I am sure you have many happy memories.
ReplyDeleteWe sure do have many memories of our travels as you would too David.
DeleteFascinating. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome.
DeleteFascinating! Keep sharing
ReplyDeleteThank you, and I will.
DeleteInteressante und schöne Bilder von dem Denkmal und der Küste im Westen von Australien. Ist ein weiter Weg bis nach Hause.
ReplyDeleteGruß
Noke
Thank you Noke, and yes, a long way from home.
DeleteWhat an interesting recount of your visit to Geraldton!
ReplyDeleteThe HMAS Sydney (II) Memorial sounds deeply moving, especially with the 645 steel seagulls and The Waiting Woman—such a powerful tribute to those lost at sea.
Beautiful photos as always, Margaret!
Thank you. It's makes you stop and think when seeing these things, Veronica.
DeleteThank you for sharing from your visit to such historically significant place dear Margret !
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the glimpse thoroughly 👍
The memorial has powerful and sentimental appearance with 645 seagulls wow such a great way to give tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the country!!!
The waiting mother is heart melting statue 🥹
Best wishes to you and loved ones ♥️
You are welcome Baili. It's heart wrenching to see this memorial when you stop and think about it.
DeleteQuerida amiga, paso a dejarte un saludito y desearte Feliz mes de Marzo, se feliz. Gracias por todos los momentos compartidos
ReplyDelete♥️Abrazos y te dejo besitos♥️
Thank you and you are most welcome.
DeleteMe encantaron tus fotografías. Besos.
ReplyDeleteThank you Teresa.
DeleteBeautiful and interesting place.
ReplyDeleteThe Rotary Memorial is impressive!
Thanks for sharing.