Celebrating a monument and a milestone

Peter Aarts and Doreen Dawson dance at the Geraldton Town Hall circa 1958, image courtesy of Gilda Studio and Niel Bertelsen.

Geraldton Regional Art Gallery will soon be rolling back the years with two reflective exhibitions set to open at the end of this month.

The Town Hall 1907-1984 draws from the City of Greater Geraldton’s Civic Archive Collection, Local History Collection and Art Collection as well as a combination of generous contributors to portray the importance of a building at the heart of the Greater Geraldton community- the Old Town Hall.

The Banksia Ball 50th Anniversary shares a collection of photographs from the Abdullah family that celebrates the first time local and state governments, local businesses and an Aboriginal organisation worked together to successfully orchestrate a community event at the Town Hall. 

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn is looking forward to stepping back into this period of Geraldton’s past.

“Both The Town Hall 1907-1984 and The Banksia Ball 50th Anniversary exhibitions display important elements of Geraldton’s history that deserve to be celebrated,” he said.

“The Old Town Hall was nearly lost and it was only through the efforts of a small group of passionate locals that this beautiful building was preserved for generations of future Geraldtonians.

“Meanwhile the Banksia Ball represents a significant milestone on the journey toward reconciliation within our community.

“I encourage everyone to head down to the Gallery and experience this snapshot of times gone by.”

The Town Hall 1907 – 1984 and The Banksia Ball 50th Anniversary will open at 6pm Friday 30 September. Tickets to the opening night event are limited, so patrons are requested to register their attendance via Eventbrite. Both exhibitions will remain on display until Sunday 20 November 2022.

The Town Hall 1907-1984 and the Banksia Ball 50th Anniversary have been made possible through the generous contributions of the Abdullah Family, Niel Bertelsen, Rita Stinson, Geraldton Historical Society, Geraldton City RSL Sub Branch, Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation, Geraldton Guardian, West Australian Newspapers Ltd, Nola Gregory, Geraldton City Band and the State Library of Western Australia.