Snapshot in Time: Bishop’s Place a local landmark for more than 80 years before making way for SGIO building

Bishop’s Palace, built on the corner of Elwys and Eleanor streets (now Cathedral Avenue and Chapman Road respectively) was designed by architects Henderson and Jeffries of Perth, who in 1903 also designed the Stella Maris Convent. The contract was let to Messrs. Watson and Wilson of Perth, who in turn sub-let to W. Martin. Bishop’s Palace was built in 1900 for the first Bishop of Geraldton, Bishop William Bernard Kelly (1898-1921). Author M. A. Bain described the building: “The work created much interest in the settlement with its 12 rooms and an outside tank that supplied rainwater to the kitchen and bathroom. The outer buildings were comprised of the housekeeper’s rooms, stables, chaff shed and buggy house with a good well for water close by. It was generally agreed that Bishop Kelly would be ‘agreeably surprised’ when he returned from Rome.” The Christian Brothers School (the first St Patrick’s College Junior School in Geraldton) was located adjacent to Bishop’s Palace. The building dominated the Cathedral Avenue streetscape until the 1970s when Town Towers was constructed. In 1984 the building was demolished to make way for the SGIO building. An excerpt from City of Greater Geraldton Heritage Place Record #40. Snapshots is an initiative of the Geraldton Regional Library. For more information or to donate a historical photo or slide, contact 9956 6659 or library@cgg.wa.gov.au