Geraldton’s bright yellow submarine is back on display after a full restoration — and it’s now been a year since the quirky landmark was placed on the city’s foreshore, marking the return of a coastal favourite with an equally colourful history.
“We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine.” The opening line from The Beatles’ famous 1968 song could just as easily describe one of Geraldton’s most unusual landmarks, which was coincidentally launched around the same time on WA’s Coral Coast.
About Geraldton
Geraldton is a vibrant coastal city about 420km north of Perth, known for its stunning seascapes, great fishing and relaxed outdoor lifestyle. With a rich maritime and Aboriginal heritage, it’s a favourite stop for travellers exploring WA’s Coral Coast or heading inland. The redeveloped foreshore, lined with cafes, walking trails and art, has become a lively hub for visitors and locals alike. But among its many attractions, one of the most unusual is the bright yellow submarine now returned to its pride of place by the water.
Geraldton’s iconic yellow submarine
The iconic yellow sub: From fishing experiment to foreshore icon
Back in the late 1960s, local fishers came up with a bold plan to boost their catch of the highly prized green (tropical) crayfish that live on reef patches along this section of the WA coast. The traditional wood cray pots used at the time weren’t proving successful, so they decided to try something new by using a small submarine to locate and gather these well-loved crays directly.
Built in 1969 as a two-man vessel, the sub measured 8.4m long and 3.4m high from keel to the top of the conning tower, with a displacement of 9400kg. It featured a thick Perspex viewing port to enable the crew to operate external fishing equipment (like arms) from inside the sub.
Unfortunately, the experiment was short-lived and turned into a costly failure, plagued by electrical issues and dangerous battery emissions that made it unsafe for people to work in. The idea was soon abandoned, and the sub never went into active service.
However, the experiment turned into a quite expensive failure, with numerous problems including electrical issues and dangerous battery emissions that made it impossible and dangerous for people to work in. These problems were never solved, so the idea was abandoned and the sub never went into active service.
Originally painted grey, the submarine — after its virtually non-existent operational life — was subsequently painted bright yellow and sat outside the Geraldton Maritime Museum for many years. When this foreshore area underwent an extensive redevelopment years later, the sub was moved to a local council depot where it slowly rusted and faded away.
The yellow submarine before restoration
Restoring a local icon
Thankfully, the story didn’t end there. An enthusiastic team from the local Rotary Club recently undertook an extensive restoration project over many months to give the old girl (by now virtually a rust bucket) a new lease of life. The small, dedicated team needed to replace many of the sub’s corroded panels and other rusty parts and, of course, give it a brand-new yellow paint job. Once completed, the refurbished submarine was gifted to the City of Greater Geraldton, which now oversees its upkeep.
In October 2024, the iconic yellow sub found its new home on the Esplanade, part of the city’s Eastern Breakwater Jetty off Marine Terrace.
The yellow submarine being lifted into position for display on Eastern Breakwater Jetty
The Yellow Submarine, along the Eastern Breakwater Jetty
Just a short walk from the town centre, this unique part of local history is already proving a popular attraction and talking point for both locals and visitors exploring this fast-growing region on WA’s west coast.
Keep your Geraldton adventure going
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay close to the action, there are a limited number of free 24hr RV camping bays (RVs must be fully self-contained) available in the car park/boat launching area adjacent to the jetty where the iconic submarine is located.
While in Geraldton, it’s worth checking out a few more highlights:
1. HMAS Sydney II Memorial: Set on a hillside overlooking the CBD and ocean, this powerful memorial brings to life the tragic story of the 1941 sea battle between he disguised German raider HSK Kormoran and the Royal Australian Navy cruiser HMAS Sydney II off the coast north of Geraldton. While there were a number of German survivors from this battle, the entire crew of the Sydney II (42 officers and 603 ratings) were lost in what was Australia’s worst naval disaster. It took nearly 67 years before both wrecks were found in 2008, 2500 metres below the sea.
The Dome of Souls at HMAS Sydney II Memorial, Geraldton
Statue of the Waiting Woman and the Dome of Souls at HMAS Sydney II Memorial
2. Museum of Geraldton: Located at the splendid harbour development, the museum features a wonderful display of marine history along WA’s extensive coastline, including the infamous Batavia shipwreck in 1629 (where a mutiny on one of the islands in the Abrolhos Group saw the brutal murder of 125 passengers by the vicious mutineers) and other vessels which lost on the coast’s dangerous reefs, during those early years.
3. Foreshore walk trail: Running along the coastal foreshore adjacent to the CBD, this scenic trail features more of Geraldton’s marine history, picnic and recreation areas, as well as some creative artwork and sculptures.
Find out more:
Geraldton Visitor Centre
24 Chapman Road, Geraldton WA 6530
P: 08 9956 6670
E: info@visitgeraldton.com.au
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