Page 330 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

328  WESTERN A USTR ALIA

1New Norcia
* 150. @ n New Norcia Museum
and Art Gallery, Great Northern
Highway (08) 9654 8056.
One of Western Australia’s
most important heritage sites is
New Norcia, 130 km (80 miles)
northeast of Perth. A mission
was established here by Spanish
Benedictine monks in 1846, and
it is still home to a small monastic
community who own and run
the historic buildings. There are
daily tours of the monastery and
visitors can stay at a guesthouse. The extraordinary Pinnacles, Nambung National Park
The town, known for its
Spanish colonial architecture, Pinnacles, a region of curious the Dutch ship Zuytdorp was
has a pretty cathedral, built in limestone pillars, the tallest of wrecked, and it is thought that
1860, at its centre. Also of note which stand 4 m (13 ft) high. survivors settled here briefly.
are two elegant colleges built Visitors can take a 3­km (2­mile) Champion Bay was first mapped
early in the 20th century: St driving trail or a shorter walking in 1849, and a lead mine was
Gertrude’s Residence for Girls trail which leads to lookouts with established shortly afterwards.
and St Ildephonsus’ Residence stunning views of the Pinnacles Geraldton grew up as a lead
for Boys. The New Norcia and the coastline. Most of the shipping point, and now is a port
Museum and Art Gallery has park animals are nocturnal, but cit cit
city with a large rock­y with a large rock­y with a large rock lobster fleet.
some fine art treasures and arti­ some, including kangaroos, emus The city retains many of its
facts tracing the town’s history. and many reptiles, may be seen early historic buildings. The
in the cool of dawn or dusk. Museum of Geraldton includes
E New Norcia Museum the Shipwrecks Gallery, which
and Art Gallery contains relics of the area’s early
Great Northern Hwy. Tel (08) 9654 3Geraldton shipwrecks. The Old Railway
8056. Open daily. Closed 25 & 26 Dec. Building has exhibits on local
& 7 ground floor only. * 40,000. ~ @ @ n 46 Marine history, wildlife and geology.
Terrace (08) 9956 6670.
∑ visitgeraldton.com.au Geraldton has two cathedrals:
the modern Cathedral of the
The city of Geraldton lies on Holy Cross, with its beautiful
Champion Bay, about 425 km stained glass, and St Francis
(265 miles) north of Perth. It is Xavier Cathedral, built from 1916
known as “Sun City” because of to 1938, in Byzantine style. Point
its average eight hours of Moore Lighthouse, with its
sunshine per day. The distinctive red and white
pleasant climate brings stripes, was shipped here
hordes of sun­seekers from from Britain and has been
all over Australia who in continuous operation
take advantage of fine since 1878. The 1876
Minarets adorning St Ildephonsus’ swimming and surfing Lighthouse Keeper’s
Residence for Boys, New Norcia beaches. It can also be very Cottage, the town’s first
2Nambung windy at times, a further lighthouse, now houses
enticement to windsurfers,
Geraldton’s Historical
National Park for whom Geraldton Society. Also in town, the
(particularly Mahomets City of Greater Geraldton
n Pinnacles Visitors’ Centre, Cadiz St Beach) is a world centre. Reg
Regional Art Galleryional Art Gallery
Regional Art Gallery is one is one
(inside Post Office) (08) 9652 7700.
Open 9am–5:30pm Mon–Sat (to 5pm The history of European of the best galleries in the
Sun). ∑ visitpinnaclescountry. settlement in the area state, exhibiting the work
com.au extends back to the of local artists and pieces
mutiny of the Dutch ship from private and public
This national park is composed Batavia, after it was collections.
of beach and sand dunes, with wrecked on the nearby A number of lookouts
the dunes extending inland Houtman Abrolhos in such as Separation Point
from the coast. It is best seen in 1629. Two crew Lookout and Mount
spring when wildflowers bloom members were Tarcoola Lookout give
and the heat is not oppressive. marooned here as a Geraldton’s Point panoramic views of
The park is famous for the punishment. In 1721, Moore Lighthouse the city and ocean.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp490–91 and pp521–2