Want to live near the beach?

Expressions of interest have been strong for the City of Greater Geraldton’s soon-to-be-released Olive Street Residential Development at Mahomets Flats.

Interest continues to rise with a significant number of parties contacting the City’s agent, Activewest Real Estate to register their name, with some having picked out blocks from the first release of 70 lots, and others requesting to be contacted when the final plans are available.

This development fits the location, location, location criteria in more ways than one. Bounded by Willcock and McAleer Drives and Olive Street, it is almost absolute beachfront with nine 800m2 lots ready for immediate release on land with a rich historical legacy.

Activewest Real Estate principal, Phil Sorgiovanni, said he was not surprised by the initial response due to the location as a rare opportunity for buyers not only for its close beach proximity but also its historical background.

“Enquiries have been high and not just because it’s within walking distance of some of Geraldton’s best beaches, close to the CBD, but also because it sits on a piece of Geraldton’s iconic history,” he said.

The original Olive Street Reserve was gifted to the Council of the day via a land swap in 1961 by the late Frank Green of Geraldton.

The three access roads in the subdivision – Berringer View, Tannery Way and Yoxall Way - have been endorsed by Landgate’s Geographic Names Committee honouring the legacy of the Green family and the founder of a tannery that was established on the site in the 1880s; Carl Anton Berringer.

Carl Anton Berringer was born in 1833, and emigrated from Germany to Australia in the early 1860s. Berringer and his young family arrived in Geraldton in 1877. By 1879, Berringer had established the Victoria District Tannery at Mahomets Flats. He used wind power to operate the tannery and was very successful until the late 1880s when the wattle growing areas became infested with acacia trees. Berringer suffered a back injury which is believed to have led to his death in 1894. His three sons had chosen to be trained as carpenters so the tannery passed into other hands and was closed, the date is uncertain.

Yoxall Way commemorates Yoxall in England, the birthplace of Leonard and Frank Green. Frank Green built the first family home in Geraldton named ‘Yoxall House’ on land where St Francis Xavier Primary School now stands.

For information on the Olive Street Residential Development contact Brian Robartson at the City of Greater Geraldton on 9956 6600 or to register interest contact Activewest Real Estate on 9921 4455 or www.activewestrealestate.com.au