The Midwest region also known as the "wildflower region" the "Sun City" or the "Batavia Coast". The midwest region boasts eight hours of daylight everyday. The region reaches from the shores of Dongara, Geraldton and Kalbarri to the inland towns of Meekatharra and Sandstone brushing upon the desert.
The Midwest region is also home to one of the world's finest collections of wildflowers. Kalbarri National Park also has spectacular gorges some which has fantastic names describing them. Hawks Head and The Loop are just 2 of them.
Many a ship has flounded on the rocks around the coastline of the Midwest region including the "Batavia".
The Batavia sailed from Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, on October 27, 1628. and during the night of June 4, 1629, the Batavia struck Morning Reef, part of the East Wallabi Island, which is one of the Houtman Abrolhos group of islands about 40 miles off the coast of Western Australia.
The Batavia became lodged on the reef, and most of the passengers dis-embarked in long-boats and reached the small and barren islands to the north. Some barrels of water were washed ashore from the wreck, but at first the islands seemed to have no natural supplies of fresh water.
During the next few weeks, 125 survivors, including women and children, were killed by Cornelisz, the merchant in charge of the trading aspects of he voyage, and his close supporters, in a systematic orgy of terror. Finally, on September 16, the ship was found and the remaining crew and passengers rescued. Cornelisz was later hung for his part in the massacre.
Geraldton Lighthouse
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