Geraldton is a town in Western Australia located 424 km north of Perth. According to the 2001 census, Geraldton has a population of 29,996.
The first European to explore the area was George Grey in 1839. A decade later the explorer A. C. Gregory travelled through the area. He discovered lead on the Murchison River and the mine which was subsequently established was named Geraldine after the Governor Charles Fitzgerald.
The town of Geraldton was gazetted in 1850.
Today the town is an important centre for fishing, wheat, sheep and tourism. It is also a major port.
Near the town is also a station of the spy-system Echelon.
North of Geraldton is the city of Northampton, as well as the Hutt River Province, an area which claims to be an independent nation, since its self-proclaimed secession from Western Australia in 1969.
