Snapshot in Time: The evolution of Geraldton’s four versions of the famous merry-go-rounds by the sea

The merry-go-round that we see sitting in the shade of a Moreton Bay fig tree on our foreshore is, in fact, the fourth version of this beloved local attraction. The first two merry-go-rounds were made by local foundry owner Daniel Marsh from gas lamp posts and were installed in 1921. At the time they were called ocean wave swings. The second was erected in 1929 but was removed the same year as several children were injured, one seriously, when it collapsed. A replacement was erected in 1930 in a new position, adjacent to the Geraldton Railway Station, and remained in place until the 1950s when it had to be removed due to deterioration. In 1988, the fourth swing was made from an old gas lamp post sourced from Perth. The 1988 replica of the original swing, which was immortalised in literature by Randolph Stow in his novel The Merry-Go-Round in The Sea, was unveiled by the author’s mother, Mary Stow, in a ceremony on June 20, 1988. Continuing concerns regarding the safety of the swing led to it being anchored to the ground in 2010. Although immobilised, it is still a popular feature of the foreshore and is referred to by many locals as the Fifty-Cent Swing. Snapshots is an initiative of Geraldton Regional Library. For more information, or to donate a historical photo or slide, contact 9956 6659 or library@cgg.wa.gov.au