Oral History

The Geraldton Regional Library holds a comprehensive collection of some 400 Oral History interviews featuring local residents.

All recordings are in CD format and are available for loan from the Library. Some digital Oral Histories are available for download through Overdrive. Copies of discs are also available for purchase. 

Oral History recordings can be searched for through the Library Catalogue.  The State Library of WA also holds copies of many of our Oral Histories, which can be listened to via the SLWA catalogue.  

Yamaji Oral History

View a slide show presentation which includes live interviews with Charmaine Green, Graham Taylor and Joan Gray.  The interviews were conducted by Nola Gregory and Trudi Cornish during Reconciliation Week 2015.

Mining in the Mid West

Since the mid 1800's mining has played a significant role in the development of the Mid West.  Hear some Mining Stories from the people who lived them.  To learn more, read "Mining in the Mid West" by Mary Callaghan, for sale or loan from the Geraldton Regional Library.

Mullewa History Excerpts

Excerpts from oral history recordings featuring local Mullewa identities, extracted from recordings held in the Geraldton Regional Library Local History Collection. Collated by Trish Parker with support from the Mullewa Community Resource Centre and a Lotterywest grant.

Original Railway Station - Oral History Project

The original Geraldton Railway Station occupies a beautiful heritage building that has had many uses over the years. Built as Western Australia’s first Government Railway Station, the foundation stone was laid on the 21 August 1878. With the discovery of gold in the Murchison, a new Railway Station was built off Durlacher Street and the old Railway Station was given a new use. On 8 August 1900 it became the Geraldton Mechanic’s Institute Library, with a second storey added in 1908, remaining there until 1975. The new design allowed for a spacious balcony and superb view of the town and Champion Bay.

For more information about the original Railway Station building, copies of the booklet Original Railway Station – Geraldton by Gary Martin or The Original Railway Station Geraldton Oral History Collection (Audio and transcript) may be purchased from the Geraldton Regional Library. This project was a finalist in the State Heritage Awards 2015. 

Hear about the old Library from the last Librarian to work in this building Tui Allen