Snapshot in Time: Geraldton’s old Gem and Mineral Museum dazzled locals and tourists in the 70s and 80s

Located on the corner of Mark and Pope streets in the 1970s and 80s, the Gem and Mineral Museum was a fascinating destination all round. The museum was a Geraldton drawcard and was visited by thousands of tourists and locals over the years. Admission was just 20 cents, a small price to pay considering the Aladdin’s cave of items the museum contained. There were excellent specimens of gems, minerals and naturally occurring metals. There was a comprehensive array of geodes, agates, and crystals to rival most collections, as well as various other curios such as seashells, starfish, and corals. Many locals who visited the museum as children will remember the swordfish bills, trilobite fossils and huge purple amethyst clusters. One specimen which inspired particular awe and wonder among young visitors was the yellow uranium sample which every kid in those days knew went into atomic bombs. The collection also included many rare glass bottles and a range of other artworks. If anyone knows who owned the collection or what became of it, please consider writing a letter to the Geraldton Guardian. 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