Bill Sewell Complex - Geraldton

The Bill Sewell Complex is a series of beautiful historical buildings in the centre of Geraldton.  This was formerly the Victoria District Hospital and later the Geraldton prison and has quite an interesting history.  The Visitor Information Centre is located within the complex and Geraldton Voluntary Tour Guides run regular tours of the surrounding buildings. We joined one of these tours and enjoyed learning about the various uses of these buildings which were reopened after major restoration in 1988. The complex is managed by the National Trust.

The tour of the old gaol is quite interesting as it now houses a gemstone display as well as locally made arts and crafts.  It is quite funny out the front because the different crafts are advertised as being in certain cells - eg used clothes see cell 7.   Some of the cells in the original part of the gaol are very small with the adjoining exercise yard allowing very little space to move around.

This 40 minutes guided tour of the complex (including the Old Gaol & Craft Centre) operates on Tuesday and Thursday at 2 pm, donations are welcome.