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Geraldton
Geraldton is Situated in the heart of the Batavia Coast, the city offers a near-perfect lifestyle year-round. Surrounding Geraldton are a number of fabulous attractions, unique coastline and a large amount of heritage and history to discover. Geraldton is a perfect location to stop and stay for a few extra days and travel out each day to explore the region.
Geraldton is a well know destination for adventure water sports men and women. With it’s strong winds, it is one of the worlds best locations for windsurfing and kite-boarding. With a huge variety of quality accommodation, excellent restaurants, and great nightlife you can use Geraldton as more than a stopover, you can use Geraldton as your holiday headquarters.
We have all the major cultural, entertainment and banking, shopping facilities of a rural city but with the relaxed tempo of a country town. Add to this our picturesque seaside location and near-perfect year-round weather, Geraldton soon becomes the obvious base for your next mid west holiday.
Located 424 km north of Perth (via the Brand Highway), Geraldton is the largest town in the Central West region and one of the most attractive centres in Western Australia. It has the double advantage of being the seaside resort for the wheat farmers from the dry hinterland and, with an average of 8 hours sunshine every day, being Western Australia’s most popular winter resort. Equally, while small townships like Cervantes, Jurien and Port Gregory have lobster fleets, Geraldton has the largest lobster fleet on the west coast.
From Geraldton a popular day trip is out to the Abrolhous Islands, which are just off of the coastline. You can also head inland to the gorgeous hinterland, or take a scenic flight over the area.
Kalbarri
The town of Kalbarri itself is a well known tourist spot for holiday makers in Western Australia and a popular destination for the residents of its nearest major City, Geraldton. Kalbarri National Park covers 183 004 hectares. The park is located on the lower reaches of the Murchison River, which has cut magnificent red and white banded gorges for 80 kilometres, as it carves its way to the sea. The many and varied features of Kalbarri provide visitors with an array of things to see and do. Marvel at nature’s ability to carve the landscape. Explore the depths and heights of the river gorges and sea cliffs. Admire the floral beauty of the vast, rolling sandplains. Discover the intriguing cultural history of the area. Kalbarri is situated at the mouth of the Murchison River, whose sandbar shelters its beach.
The Kalbarri Entertainment Centre on Porter Street has mini-golf, trampolines and mini-carts and also rents bicycles for a day. Rainbow Jungle 4km south of town, is the place to visit on a bike. A minor architectural work of art, filled to bursting with tropical fauna, it’s a superb and imaginative display of stunningly colourful parrots and includes a walk-through aviary.
Denham-Shark Bay
Denham is the main town in the area and received its name from Captain Henry Mangles Denham who charted the bay in 1858 in HMS Herald. Shark Bay area is one of Western Australia’s most loved and revered holiday destinations. Scores of visitors pour into the region each year not only for the opportunity to play with the friendly dolphins of Monkey Mia. Monkey mia is the home of the famous Dolphins and is only 25 kilometres from Denham. Monkey Mia is world renowned for the visiting dolphins which interact with humans. A visit to Monkey Mia is a must.
Visitors can enjoy the town’s easy going lay back life style. Several buildings have been built from the local shell block. The town has clean safe swimming beaches, restaurants and takeaway food outlets, boat ramp, resort, hotel, caravan parks, self contained villas and backpackers.
Lovely coastal villages are surrounded by spectacular coastal scenery at the Zuytdorp cliffs, Shell Beach and Cape Peron and unique natural phenomena such as the Hamelin Bay Stromatolites and Wooramel Seagrass Bank, habitat to many endangered species.
Carnarvon
Carnarvon is situated 904kms north of Perth on the mouth of the Gascoyne River overlooking a picturesque inlet known as the Fascine. First settled in 1883, the town has had a colourful history and was the first port in Australia, and probably the world, where livestock was transported regularly on a commercial basis by sea.
Banana plantations now form the basis of a thriving agricultural industry. A large range of produce including exotic fruits are available direct from the plantations for you to enjoy. Thriving prawning and scallop industries also operate from Carnarvon. Lake Macleod Salt Mine situated 65km north of Carnarvon producing up to 1.5 million tons of salt per year.
Attractions
Lighthouse Keepers Cottage Museum: Was built around 1900 as the home of the lighthouse keeper and his family and was used until the 1970’s when the lighthouse became electric. It is located on Babbage Island near the One Mile Jetty and is open to the public.
The Coast: Between the Blow holes, Point Quobba through to Gnarloo Station is well worth viewing. The road is not sealed but can be accessed with a 2WD vehicle though a 4WD vehicle is recommended. This stretch of coast is virtually untouched providing spectacular views of Cape Cuvier and exceptional fishing. At 3 Mile Camp and Gnarloo Bay you will find pristine beaches with excellent coral outcrops. If surfing is your passion, 3 Mile Beach has been rated by many as having the best left break in the world
The Blowholes lie 70km north of Carnarvon and are a spectacular sight for visitors as they marvel at the jets of water which can reach heights of up to 20 metres.
Activities
Chinamans Pool: This billabong is a popular picnic spot boasting an abundance of birdlife.
Pelican Point Beach: Was originally the southern mouth of the Gascoyne River and is now a popular fishing, swimming and surfing spot.
Leeman
Located 88 km south of Dongara and 295 km north of Perth, Leeman is a typical sleepy little fishing villages which, with the inevitability of all charming and unspoilt places, is in the process of changing into a tourist destination and a commuting zone for miners working for Western Titanium near Eneabba which is only 40 km to the east. The townships of Leeman and Greenhead are a comfortable three hours drive north of Perth via the Brand Highway. They experience some of the strongest summer winds that windsurfers will encounter in Western Australia, and as a result are great sailing sites.
Leeman is named after the intrepid Dutch upper steersman and navigator Abraham Leeman van Santwits who, in 1658, was shipwrecked on the Fishermen Islands to the southwest of the tiny settlement.
Leeman was a member of the crew of the Waeckende Boey (it means the Watch Buoy) which was searching the Western Australian coast looking for survivors of the Vergulde Draeck which had disappeared two years earlier.
Green Head
Green Head was first gazetted on 7th January 1966. In 1969, the first freehold lots in the Green Head Townsite were auctioned at the Coorow Shire Hall.
While there is no conclusive evidence of aboriginal activity in the Green Head area, it is known that in the 1600’s the first known white men to visit the Green Head coast were Dutch sailors sailing to Indonesia for trade. Several Dutch ships were wrecked on the West Australian reefs, among them the Gilt Dragon. Abraham Leeman and crew from the Waeckende Boey, while searching in the ships small boat for survivors of the gilt Dragon, were marooned on Fishermans Island just south of Green Head in 1658.
The coastal strip with its masses of wildflowers has been visited by Beekeepers since the 1930s with many a tale of being bogged in treacherous sand.
There are many personal accounts from inland families, particularly the Bates family from Three Springs, who holidayed at Dynamite Bay in the early 1920s. They came from Three Springs in a truck and carried all they needed with them including water.
The 25th Battalion of the Army were based in Green Head in 1941 on Coast Watch for enemy craft. Captain Kemp and Johnny Della created a useable track pushed through with a Bren Gun Carrier. The first fishermen to settle in Green Head were Chris Russell, Les Wilkes, and Ken Walton. Prior to building shacks on the mainland Chris and Les lived in tents on Fishermans Island. Later Keith House and Doug Morphett moved to the area, and as more fishermen moved in more shacks were constructed.
Wiluna
Wiluna is an outback town with friendly people and a real bush atmosphere. The town is the starting or finishing point for the Canning Stock Route (an 1,800 kilometre track from Wiluna to Halls Creek) and is located on the Goldfields Highway, joining Meekatharra, Leonora and Kalgoorlie.
The town prospered with the discovery of gold in 1891, however today it is chiefly an administrative centre. Citrus orchards and emu farms are some of the successful local industries.
Wiluna offers visitors counter meals and accommodation at the local hotel/motel, and accommodation is also available at the Wiluna caravan park.
The most eastern edge of the Mid West region, Wiluna is predominantly an Indigenous community with close links to the Goldfields. For much of its existence, Wiluna has only been accessible via dirt or gravel roads. Recently however, the Kalgoorlie to Wiluna road was sealed, opening up access to the Goldfields, and plans are well advanced for the sealing of the Meekatharra to Wiluna road.
Wiluna has a proud Indigenous heritage and is a stop off on route to outback adventure drives such as the Canning Stock Route
The Shire of Wiluna covers an enormous area of some 184,000 square kilometres, which is predominantly a mining and pastoral area. The weather conditions are very harsh in the area with average rainfall of approximately 250mm (10 inches) per annum and extreme temperature variations between summer (over 40 degrees) and winter (below freezing).
The town of Wiluna is the principal centre in the Shire, and there are also a number of mining villages and aboriginal communities. The township of Wiluna is 966 kilometres northeast of Perth and is situated on the edge of the desert at the gateway to the Canning Stock Route and Gunbarrel Highway.
Murchison
Murchison is a small rural town of some 600 people situated on the Goulburn River in the Lower Goulburn Valley Plains. Murchison East is located 145 km north of Melbourne on the Goulburn Valley Highway, between Nagambie and Shepparton. Murchison itself is just to the west, off the highway.
The town benefitted greatly from the river trade which began with the arrival of the first paddlesteamer in 1875. At that time it had six hotels, a number of general stores, two flour mills, a post office, a sawmill, cordial factory, two blacksmiths and numerous other stores and services.
Meekatharra
Situated 650 kilometres north-east of Perth and 470 kilometres inland from Geraldton, Meekatharra is one of the most isolated regions in Western Australia. Located approximately 500 kilometres inland from Geraldton, Meekatharra is the centre of a mining, sheep and cattle district. The area has many old worked out gold mines and old machinery relics.
Main Attractions
One gold-era architectural remnant is the Court House (1912) on Darlot St. One of the Flying Doctor Service bases is open for inspection, as is the local School of the Air (only during school term).
Nearby Attractions
An interesting rock formation, Peace Gorge (The Granites) is found 5km west. Bilyuin Pool, 88km NW, becomes a swimming hole when filled in late winter and spring and wildflowers bloom prolifically in season. Mount Goulds restored historic police station is 156km west.
This old gold mining area abounds with remnants of its historical past. First settled by prospectors in 1896, mining still continues today on a small scale. A visit to the ghost towns of Peak Hill and Nannine is a must for the visitor, where the ruins and old mines can be explored.
Visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service, enjoy a video presentation of the Royal Flying Doctor Service operation and you can listen to ‘School of the Air’.
The Meekatharra Community Guide is part of the Community Guide Network of websites and is designed to help residents and visitors find information about Meekatharra , its facilities, businesses, community groups, events, attractions and services.
It brings together information from a wide range of sources and provides free online services to the local community and a range of services for businesses and people who live in, work in or visit the Shire of Meekatharra
Mount Magnet
Mount Magnet, the oldest surviving gold settlement of the Murchison, is 567km north of Perth on the Great Northern Highway. It is a small township which now survives on a combination of gold mining and services for the surrounding pastoral area which boasts some of the largest sheep stations in Western Australia. There is much to see here, remains of the early Goldrush era, magnificent granite breakaway country and, in season, spectacular carpets of wildflowers.
Mount Magnet History
Gold was first discovered here in July 1891 and amazingly rich areas around the settlement were found, including Poverty Flats ‘where they dug it up like potatoes’. Mount Magnet was proclaimed a township soon after the gold discoveries. The remains of other settlements nearby, such as Lennonville, can still be seen.
The prominent hill rising above the township was first in 1854 by surveyor Robert Austin who named it West Mount Magnet after its magnetic qualities. It has since had its Aboriginal name reinstated – ‘Warramboo’, meaning campfire-camping place.
The first pastoralists, Watson and Jones, walked their sheep from Geraldton to Mount Magnet in the late 1870’s and settled at Yowergabbie and Boogardie stations respectively. The pastoral industry and goldmining still remain the main industries.
Things to do & see
Historical Society Museum
Historic Buildings
Mt Warramboo Tourist Lookout
The Granite – 6km north, scenic picnic spot, see aboriginal art
Amphitheatre
Heritage Walk Trail
Heritage Drive
Gold detecting
Self drives
Wildflowers
Bird watching
Mingenew
Mingenew is located in the heart of wheat belt and wildflower country on Midlands Road, five hours’ drive north of Perth. Mingenew is a typical northern wheatbelt town with a railway line, a bulk handling wheat silo, a single pub which has motel-style accommodation, a couple of service stations and a caravan park. Mingenew has a wealth of assets not always obvious at first glance. The change of seasons brings on a whole new landscape including climatic changes. There are a number of drives well worth undertaking throughout the year to gain a real perspective of Mingenew.
Nobody knows exactly what Mingenew means, some popular beliefs are either the Aboriginal work ‘Mininoo’ meaning place of many waters or ‘minyanoo’ meaning place of many ants.
Mingenew Hill is a tree covered red rock monolith. The summit affords breathtaking views of the Irwin Valley and is well worth the climb.
The main local industries in Mingenew consist of wheat (largest inland grain receival point in Western Australia), sheep, pigs, lupins and stock carriers. Mingenew is also renowned for its many historic buildings, magnificent wildflowers and a host of local events held throughout the year, the main event being the Mingenew Lions Midwest Expo, which is held on the third Thursday and Friday of September each year.
Coorow
Located 262 km north of Perth on the Midlands Road, Coorow is a typical northern wheatbelt town with a tiny service centre which includes a hotel, a caravan park, a single main street and the inevitable bulk handling grain silos and railway line.
The Coorow area was first settled in 1852 when William and Sara Long arrived in the district. They raised sheep and horses. The horses were shipped to Singapore where they were used by the British forces and the wool was taken by dray to Dongara and Perth.
The name ‘Coorow’ was first used by Surveyor John Forrest who recorded a nearby feature as Coorow Spring in his field book. Predictably no one knows for certain what the word ‘coorow’ means but the popular versions are either a corruption of the Aboriginal word ‘curro’ used to describe a portulaca (a local plant with pink flowers) or a word meaning ‘place of many mists’.
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