I am sure its just coincidence but after leaving Mount Gibson Sanctuary and its animals behind I set out for Shark Bay. The roads took me via Geraldton and as I drove into town I was impressed by the large church, which I later found out was the cathedral. The coincidence was that it was dedicated to St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals!
The church was designed by Monsignor haws who arrived there as parish priest in 1915. The building commenced in 1916 and it was completed in 1938. What caught my attention was that it seemed to be a mixture of different architectural styles. There were elements that were Roman, Mexican mission church and even classical Florence. Inside the cathedral it is just as striking with column, the cupola dome and a colour scheme of grey and orange stripes.
NOTE: OK so I got it wrong. In my feeble attempt to make a tenuous link between the church and the wildlife work I ascribed this church to Francis of Assisi. However it is actually St Francis Xavier.
