Geelong - The City

Geelong - The City

Post
Subscribe

Posted 2014-10-18 by CassandraJoyfollow
on Corio Bay

Geelong is the biggest regional City in Victoria, it's my home town, and it's a City that offers so much. Great living, new estates, new suburbs, close to Melbourne, situated on Corio Bay, and the Gateway to the Great Ocean Road. Tourism is a big thing in Geelong and many Melbournites take day trips to Geelong to swim in our coastal beaches, or to dine along the Geelong Waterfront.

Geelong metropolitan city and surrounding suburbs is the second most populated area in the state of Victoria. Geelong is located 75 kilometres south-west of the state capital - Melbourne. Geelong is a port city situated around Corio Bay and the Barwon River.

Metropolitan Geelong runs from the plains of Lara (close to the You Yangs) in the north, to the rolling hills of Waurn Ponds (rolling hills surround the new Geelong Ring Road heading to Waurn Ponds) to the south. Corio Bay is close to the centre of the City of Greater Geelong. The administrative centre for the City of Greater Geelong is located within the CBD, at the Geelong Town Hall.

History of Geelong

In 1827 the city was named Geelong. The name was derived from the local Wathaurong Aboriginal name for the region, Jillong, which was thought to mean "land" or "cliffs".

Geelong area was first surveyed in 1838, three weeks after Melbourne had been surveyed. The population of Geelong in 1838 was 545. 1839 saw the first sale of Geelong town allotments. The Post Office was opened in June 1840 - the second post office to open in the Port Phillip District. The first issue of the Geelong Advertiser newspaper was published in 1840.

In 1857 Australia's first country railway line from Geelong to Melbourne was built. In 1859 Thomas Austin released 24 rabbits into the wild on his property "Barwon Park" at Winchelsea (just outside Geelong), introducing the rabbit to Australia. In 1862 the Geelong to Ballarat railway line opened. Geelong became known as 'the Pivot' in the 1860s due to being a central rail and shipping hub to Melbourne, Ballarat and the western district.

Geelong became the port for the wool industry of the Western District. During the gold rush era, Geelong experienced a brief boom as the main port to the rich goldfields of the Ballarat District. During the 1860's the city diversified into manufacturing, with wool mills, ropeworks and paper mills making Geelong one of the largest manufacturing centres across Australia.

Geelong officially became a city on the 8th December 1910. In 1902 Geelong gained electricity supplied by the Geelong Power Station. Electric trams began operation in 1912, travelling from the city centre to the suburbs. Sadly the trams stopped operating in 1956.

Geelong experienced industrial growth in the 1920's with woollen mills, fertiliser plants, the Ford Motor Company vehicle plant in Norlane, and the Corio Whisky distillery all established during this period. 3GL radio station commenced transmission in 1930. The Great Ocean Road opened in 1932. In 1934 the T & G Building opened on the corner of Ryrie Street and Moorabool Streets in the city.

Geelong is known as the home to the car manufacturer Ford Australia. It is also the home of the Geelong Football Club - The Cats, a team that plays for the AFL (Australia Football League).

Geelong has so many historical points, and I could go on with our history for pages. For the benefit of my audience, I will keep it short. You can find out more about our history by doing a search on Google, or by visiting the Geelong Wool Museum.

What to do and see in Geelong

The beauty and attraction of Geelong is that it is a large city, which offers relaxed coastal scenes, country hospitality and lots of entertainment that revolves around our waterways, the Corio Bay, the Barwon River, and the coastal beaches.

From fine dining in the city centre to dining in our nearby towns and villages, Geelong offers a mix of restaurants, hotel meals, fine dining, bed and breakfasts, caravan accomodation, and so much more in dining and accomodation.

Come to Geelong for the swimming, fishing, surfing, scuba diving, boating, yachting, walking and riding tracks, and more. Trek the Bellarine Taste Trail to try some of the gourmet offerings around the Bellarine area, including wineries, restaurants, cafes, beer, fresh produce, goats cheese, olive oil and seafood.

Walk along the waterfront paths from Rippleside Park to Eastern Park, follow the history of the Bollard Trail, view public artworks such as the Shark Fins and the Cargo Boxes, landscaped gardens, ice cream parlours and cafes and restaurants. Try a swim in the art deco-style pool at Eastern Beach or stroll around the promenade. Fish off the Cunningham Pier, or if you have no luck there you can try the Geelong Boathouse.

Geelong always has a packed calendar of events celebrating everything from music, film and theatre to food, wine and community events. Come for the Festival of Sails, or try the Toast to the Coast, or even the Queenscliff Music Festival.

Don't just take my word for it. Come to Geelong and experience country hospitality along the Bellarine and the Great Ocean Road, or dine and stay in the city and take in the sights and views within the city and surrounds. I have written a few weekend notes articles about Ocean Grove beach, Torquay Beach and some of the other tourism spots and events in Geelong.

#escape_the_city
#fun_for_children
#museums
#near_geelong
#performing_arts
#picnic_spots
%wngeelong
97548 - 2023-06-12 04:34:47

Tags

Free
Outdoor
Festivals
Music
Markets
Fundraisers
Nightlife
Family_friendly
Community
Educational
Arts_culture
Holiday
Random
Food_drink
Theatre_shows
Copyright 2024 OatLabs ABN 18113479226