kathndes: On the move again northward

PERTH TO KALBARRI

After spending 3weeks at some friend’s property just south of Perth, we set off again to head north. It is still quite hot and we will be taking it slowly. Our first stop was at the Pinnacles - where thousands of limestone pillars rise starkly from the desert sand. These appeared as recently as a few hundred years ago and wind continually changes the face of this fascinating landscape. The trip further up to coast was pleasant and we called into a few small towns one called Dongera where there was large numbers of fig trees in the streets and we overnighted at Jurien Bay - a lovely clean little town where they are doing great things along the foreshore to cope with increased numbers of visitors. The small hamlet of Greenough just south of Geraldton, is a village frozen in time. The National Trust maintains the restored heritage buildings. We travelled to Geraldton where we stayed a couple of nights with friends and visited the HMAS Sydney II memorial. This commemorated the 645 servicemen who lost their lives when the ship was sunk by the HKS Kormorant, a German raider, during World War II. Our photos show the dome containing 645 gulls (one for each sailor), the memorial wall, the Lady in Waiting and a pool showing the WA coast and a map of the War Grave site where the ship was found. We also visited St Francis Xavier Cathedral with it’s stained glass windows and it’s strange paint job inside. On our way to Northampton we had Devonshire Tea and a tour of a haunted property called Oakabella Homestead. A quite fascinating house. Our visit to Northampton was memorable because of the old convent and church buildings and the original railway station on the first line in WA. Just north is the Principality of Hutt River. This was declared in 1970 following a dispute with the WA Government over wheat quotas. Since then it has been challenged in court by both WA and Fed. Govt and due to some astute legal argument by Prince Leonard the Principality is still in existence to this day, and will be for as long as his family line exists. (He really stuck it up both Governments). Travelling north into Kalbarri gave us wonderful sights of the coastline. The coast is very rugged near Kalbarri with cliffs 100m plus high (very like the Great Australian Bight). We really liked Kalbarri and stayed 4 nights in the shaded van park a couple of minutes drive from the ocean. We decided to take the scenic flight over the cliffs and the gorges of the Murchison River. The weather was beautiful and we could see forever. We also went to the Rainbow Jungle parrot centre, a bird park where they have hundreds of different types of parrots, from Aust and other countries. Most of them are free flying as the place is very large and netted for the bird’s protection. Some species are being bred to prevent their extinction. The next section of highway is pretty barren and we plan to take a few days to get to Carnarvon where we will stay for two weeks in the hope that the weather will not be too hot further north. Hope you enjoy this part of our journey.

Des demonstrating the size of the sandstone structures that make up the Pinnacles.

A small section of the Pinnacle desert

Sunset over Jurien Bay (haven't seen a decent sunset yet)

Heritage church at Greenough, south of Geraldton. All the buildings are of similar construction.

HMAS SydneyII Memorial Dome at Geraldton. The structure has 645 seagulls, each one touching another, forming the dome. 645 seamen were lost when HMAS SydneyII was sunk by a German surface raider in WWII in the ocean west of here.

Half of the Memorial wall listing alll those who died in HMAS Sydney II.

"Lady in Waiting" statue at HMAS Sydney II Memorial in Geraldton. This woman represents all the women who looked to sea hoping and waiting to see their loved ones again.

The Memorial Pool at HMAS SydneyII memorial in Geraldton. Look carefully at the surrounds and you will see the 644 seagulls again (plus the large one in the middle marking the position of the ship making 645 altogether). The sandstone coloured area on the left represents the WA coastline around Geraldton. A very moving tribute to the men who died.

Geraldton Cathedral

Inside Geraldton Cathedral. Note the ugly paintwork. The entire inside of this Cathedral is painted in this striped pattern. Some Light & Dark Grey and trims in Orange and Grey. Never seen anything like it anywhere. Not what you expect when you walk into a Cathedral.

This National Trust listed property is near Northampton, nth of Geraldton. This grainstore was an amazing structure. The station is called "Oakabella". As you can see, the country is in dire need of rain.

Old Northampton Station. This was the first railway line built in WA.

Roman Catholic Convent in the main street of Northampton.

Hutt River Province Prince Leonard and Princess Shirley. Hutt River seceeded from Australia in early 1970's. We missed seeing Prince Leonard on our visit.

The welcome booth on Hutt River Province. They also have their own Government office building and Post Office. Look how dry and barren this property is today.