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Geelong is the second largest city in the state of Victoria, Australia. It is a port city with an urban population of 190,000 people (Source ABS) *. Geelong is located on Corio Bay, 75 kilometres south-west of the state's capital, Melbourne.

The city is a gateway to many renowned tourist attractions, namely the scenic Great Ocean Road, the Shipwreck Coast and the Bellarine Peninsula. Geelong is also home to the second oldest Australian Rules football club in the world, the Geelong Football Club, known by locals as The Cats.

Geelong is covered by the municipality of the City of Greater Geelong.

History

1800's: White settlement

Prior to white settlement in the early 1800's, the area of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula was originally occupied by Aboriginal tribes, notably the Wathaurong people .

The first non-aboriginal person recorded as visiting the Geelong region was Lt. John Murray, who commanded the brig Lady Nelson (Refer external link below). After anchoring outside Port Phillip Heads (The narrow entrance to Port Phillip, onto which both Geelong and Melbourne now front) on 1 February 1802 he sent a small boat with six men to explore .

Led by John Bowen they explored the immediate area, returning to the Lady Nelson on 4 February. On reporting favourable findings, the Lady Nelson entered Port Phillip on 14 February, and did not leave until 12 March. During this time, Murray explored the Geelong area and, whilst on the far side of the bay, claimed the entire area for England. He named Port Phillip Bay, Port King, after Philip Gidley King, Governor of New South Wales. Governor King later renamed the bay Port Phillip Bay two ells after the first governor of Australia .

Hot on Murray's heels was Matthew Flinders, who entered Port Phillip Bay on 27 April 1802. He charted the entire bay, including the Geelong area, believing he was the first to sight the huge expanse of water, but in a rush to reach Sydney before winter set in he left Port Phillip on 3 May. In December 1802, Surveyor-General Grimes and Lt. Charles Robbins walked around Port Phillip Bay, but finding no fresh water in the Geelong area reported it as uninhabitable. Staying close to the bay, they had completely missed the Barwon River, which, flowing into the ocean and not the bay, passes through present day Geelong on the inland side of a ridge .

The next visit to the Geelong area, apart from a short-lived settlement at Sorrento, on the far side of the bay (1803/4) was by the explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell. They reached Corio Bay - the area of Port Phillip Bay that Geelong now fronts - on 16 December 1824, and it was at this time they reported that the Aborigines called the area Corayo, the bay being called Jillong. Hume and Hovell had been contracted to travel overland from Sydney to Port Phillip, and having achieved this they stayed the night and begun their return journey the following day.

William Buckley, an escaped convict, lived among the Wautharong people for 32 years in areas of the Bellarine Peninsula. In 1835, Buckley was pardoned, and given the position of interpreter to the natives and as a guide for Captain Foster Fyans .

1830's

In March 1836, three squatters, David Fisher, James Strachan and George Russell arrived on the Caledonia and settled the area. By 1838, when Geelong (By this time the Aboriginal names for the land and water had been swapped) was first surveyed, the population was 545. There was already a church, hotel, store and wool store; and by 1841, the first wool had been sent to England. A regular steamer service was also running between Geelong and Melbourne .

Captain Foster Fyans was commissioned as the local Police Magistrate and established himself on the Barwon River at the site of the area of present-day Fyansford. Fyans constructed a breakwater to provide a sheltered harbour that became the premier wool-exporting port of the colony, and which gave name to the area now known as Breakwater, today an eastern industrial and residential suburb of Geelong .

Fyan's ford stopped the inflow of salt water to the fresh water river, thus supplying Geelong with fresh river water. The Fyansford Hotel is located nearby to the site of Fyan's first camp. In 1849, Fyans was nominated as the inaugural Mayor of the Geelong Town Council. An early settler of Geelong, Alexander Thomson, for which the area of Thomson in East Geelong is named, settled on the Barwon River, and was Mayor of Geelong on five occasions from 1850 - 1858 .

1850's: Victorian gold rush

In 1851, gold was discovered in nearby Ballarat, causing the Geelong population to grow from 8,000 to 22,000 during 1851 - 1853. The first issue of the Geelong Advertiser newspaper is published in 1857. HM Prison Geelong, built using convict labour was opened in 1864 . In 1866 Graham Berry started a newspaper, the Geelong Register, as a rival to the established Geelong Advertiser. When this proved unsuccessful, he bought the Advertiser and made himself editor of the now merged papers. Using the paper as a platform, he was elected for West Geelong in 1869. In 1877 he switched to Geelong, which he represented until 1886 .

1900's: 20th century

The town of Geelong officially became a city on December 8, 1910. Electric trams began operation in 1912, travelling along Pakington St, Geelong West and the city centre until their demise in 1956. Between 1922 and 1925 Geelong's industrial growth began: three woollen mills, fertilizer plants and the Ford Motor Company's vehicle plant at Norlane. The Corio whiskey distillery (1928) and the Geelong Advertiser's radio station 3GL (now K-Rock) (1930) were opened .

In 1938 one of the last Port Phillip Bay steamers, Edina, made its final trip to Geelong, ending a romantic period of seaside excursions and contests for the fastest trip. Government housing was constructed in the northern suburbs of Norlane, North Shore and Corio during the 1950s to provide accommodation for many low income workers at nearby Ford Motor Company, International Harvester, Pivot Phosphate and Jackson's Abbatoirs factories. On the eve of the second world war the International Harvester works were opened beside Ford at North Shore, and a grain elevator terminal was built at neaby Corio Quay. During 1952, the banks of the Barwon River burst, flooding nearby Belmont Common .

The Geelong Football Club won premierships in 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952 and 1963. Major city shopping centre Market Square, Geelong was constructed in 1985, with Westfield Bay City (formerly Bay City Plaza) built in 1988 .

2000's

In 2004, Avalon Airport was upgraded and provides for interstate travel for the first time to Geelong residents, who previously travelled to Melbourne for air transport. Geelong expands towards the coast, with Mount Duneed becoming a suburb. The Geelong Bypass ring road is planned to bypass the city of Geelong. Construction of the bypass began in 2006 with the first section from the end of the existing M1 in Corio to the A300 (Ballarat Road) in Bell Post Hill. Two other sections will be built progressively: from the A300 to the B140 (Hamilton Hwy) in Fyansford; and from the B140 to the A1 (Princes Hwy) in Waurn Ponds.

2006 can be marked as the year of city construction. Bold plans have been set up by the City of Greater Geelong to upgrade and update the chaos of navigating city streets, to be completed by 2008. Market Square expanded with new shops occupying the former site of the city centre's only Safeway (Woolworths) store; and the contentious and often controversial expansion of Westfield Bay City has been given the green light including the major sore point of a 'flyover' crossing Yarra Street.

Demographics

As of 2006, there were 79,000 households, and 190,000 people residing in Geelong. The average household size is 2.67. The racial makeup of the city was 79.1% Australian born and 20.9% overseas born. Of those residing in Geelong born outside Australia, the remaining were born in United Kingdom (28.7%), Italy (6.4%), Netherlands (5.1%), Germany (4.6%), Croatia (4.5%), and New Zealand (3.1%) City of Greater Geelong.

Geography and climate

Geelong is located on Corio Bay, a south-western inlet bay of Port Phillip. Geelong is surrounded by many kilometres of developed farmland and is noted for its many wineries and nearby surf beaches along the Great Ocean Road. During clear weather, the Melbourne skyline is visible from areas of Geelong when viewed across Port Phillip. The Barwon River flows through the city to the south before entering Bass Strait at Barwon Heads.

Geelong is well-connected by roads to all of south-west Victoria. It is connected to other cities such as to Melbourne by the M1, to Warrnambool by the A1, Ballarat by the A300 and to Hamilton by the B140.

Many materials used to construct notable Victorian buildings were quarried from Geelong, such as bluestone, used to construct the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne and sandstone, used to construct the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bendigo.

Climate

Average temperature in Geelong peaks at 25.6 Celsius (maximum) during February to a low of 14.1 (minimum). Winter temperature averages from 13.9 Celsius (daily maximum in July) to 5.1 (daily minimum). Average yearly rainfall is 551.8 mm. *

Economy

Geelong's major industries and employers include the Ford Motor Company, which was founded in Geelong in 1926, Godfrey Hirst carpet manufacturer, Target, Alcoa, Steggles and a Shell oil refinery. Major Australian retailer, Target began operations in Geelong in 1925, with its' head office still located in its' original North Geelong premises in Thompsons Road. The nearby town of Torquay is the location of many surfing equipment and clothing manufacturers, notably Rip Curl, as well as some of Australia's finest surf beaches and the Surf World Museum *.

The Pyramid Building Society, founded in Geelong in 1959, collapsed in 1990 leaving debts of AUD$2billion. Many Geelong investors were financially affected by the society's collapse.

Education

Colleges and universities

The world-renowned Geelong Grammar School, whose alumni include Charles, the Prince of Wales, many former Australian Prime Ministers, Lord Broers (former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge), Alexander Downer (Minister of Foreign Affairs), John Fairfax (Media Proprietor), and Victorian Governor John Landy. The School attracts visitors to the Geelong region and students and staff from the world over.

Deakin University is located in Waurn Ponds and also has a campus located on the waterfront of Corio Bay in the Geelong CBD. The campus at Waurn Ponds will be home to Victoria's first and only regional medical school, opening its doors in 2008. Also located in Geelong are the Gordon Institute of TAFE, the Marcus Oldham Farm Management College, the Reformed Theological College, the International Fibre Centre, the Geelong College, and the Kardinia International College.

Research laboratories

Located in Geelong are major research laboratories, the CSIRO Division of Animal Health in Moolap, CSIRO Division of Textiles and Fibres Technology and the Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute.

Public schools and libraries

Geelong is serviced by many public libraries, located at Barwon Heads, Belmont, Chilwell, Corio, Drysdale, Geelong, Geelong West, Grovedale, Highton, Newcomb, Ocean Grove, Queenscliff, and Torquay. A mobile library service travels to the greater Geelong area, the Surf Coast Shire and the Golden Plains Shire for those unable to visit a library in person *.

Culture

Arts and entertainment

Geelong is home to a vast number of pubs, nightclubs and live music venues and has also given birth to a number of notable Australian bands and musicians such as Barry Crocker, Magic Dirt, Jeff Lang, Denis Walter, and also festivals such as the Meredith Music Festival,the Offshore Festival and Poppykettle Festival.

Geelong in film

Geelong has been used as a filming location for several feature films and television series:

Media

The Geelong Advertiser,the oldest newspaper title in Australia and the second oldest continuously run newspaper, was established in 1840. Also circulated are the free Geelong Independent, and Geelong News newspapers, as well as smaller regional suburban newspapers serving the Bellarine Peninsula area. Melbourne newspapers, The Age and The Herald Sun are readily available.

Geelong does not have television broadcasting facilities and relies on broadcasts from Melbourne for free to air television reception. A set of small analogue UHF TV in-fill repeaters located at the Highton water basin service a television reception black spot in the valley suburbs of Highton & Newtown. The Geelong region also receives cable and satellite television service through Pay-TV operators Foxtel & Neighbourhood Cable. Channel 31 is also available.

Radio

Local radio stations are 3GL (Ethnic service), K-Rock (FM), Rhema FM (Christian Community station), The Pulse (Community Radio service) and Bay FM. Transmitters for K-Rock, The Pulse, Rhema FM & Bay FM are located at a shared transmitter site on Mt Bellarine on the Bellarine Peninsula near Drysdale. Most Melbourne radio stations can be clearly heard in Geelong.

Visitor attractions

Notable people from Geelong

Infrastructure

Transportation

Public transport
Geelong is serviced by local bus routes covering the city centre and most surrounding suburbs. Taxi and hire car services are also available. Pakington Street, the main commercial area of Geelong West, was served by an electric tramway service until 1956, when the service was replaced by buses subcontracted out to Benders Buslines (currently owned by Kefford Corporation) .

Current buslines are operated under the government transport initiative, the Geelong Transit System, currently contracted to Benders Buslines and McHarry Buslines. Another government transport initiative, Bellarine Transit, is currently contracted to McHarry Buslines and provides interurban services between Geelong and the towns of Torquay, Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove and the Bellarine Peninsula. V/Line service link Geelong with Ballarat, Daylesford, Bendigo, Apollo Bay, the Great Ocean Road, the Twelve Apostles and Warrnambool.

Rail
Hourly V/Line train services to Melbourne depart the Geelong railway station and also run to Warrnambool twice daily. Train travel time from Geelong to Melbourne Southern Cross Station (formerly Spencer Street Station) is approx 60 minutes making it a popular alternative to driving for Geelong residents working in the Melbourne area . Train services between Melbourne and Geelong received a government funded upgrade during 2005 called the Regional Fast Rail project, with new high speed V/Locity railcars manufactured by Bombardier in Dandenong entering service to Geelong in early 2006 . An extensive rail network connects the Port of Geelong to nearby grain elevators and surrounding industries.

Geelong is serviced by seven railway stations: Lara, Corio, North Shore and North Geelong to the north; Geelong in the city; and South Geelong and Marshall in the south. Interstate services between Melbourne and Adelaide also call at North Shore three times per week. Another station, Breakwater, is located between South Geelong and Marshall stations but does not see regular service.

Roads
A ring road is in early construction stages to bypass the greater Geelong metropolitan area. The bypass will leave the Princes Highway near Lara and rejoin the highway near Waurn Ponds. Construction began in 2006.

Geelong also has many kilometres of bicycle trails covering most of the city and the Bellarine Peninsula.

Ferries
The Bellarine Peninsula links to the Mornington Peninsula via the Searoad ferry which runs hourly.

Airports

  • Avalon Airport is located in Avalon, Victoria approximately 15 kilometres to the north-east of the city of Geelong. The airport is designed to cater for jet aircraft, and comprises a single runway. It was originally constructed in 1953, to cater for the production of military aircraft. In 1959, Qantas established a training base at the site, and the runway was extended to cater for jet aircraft, becoming, for some years, the longest in the Southern Hemisphere. It continued to be used to build military aircraft until the 1980s, and for aircraft maintenance until 1996. Avalon Airport is also home to low cost aircraft Jetstar owned by QANTAS. QANTAS aircraft servicing has moved from Kingsford Smith International Airport in Sydney.

  • Geelong Airport is a small airfield specifically for light aircraft located in Mount Duneed. It is primarily used for scenic flights and private aircraft.

Sports

Geelong is home to an AFL club, the Geelong Football Club, the third oldest football club in Australia and one of the oldest in the world. For many years the only VFL/AFL club to exist outside of the greater Melbourne metropolitan area. It continues to participate in the national competition, based out of the Kardinia Park stadium and Telstra Dome in Melbourne and also fields a reserves side in the Victorian Football League.

The local basketball team is the Geelong Supercats. During the 2006 Commonwealth Games, The Arena stadium in North Geelong was used for basketball matches.

The developed Eastern Beach foreshore and nearby Eastern Gardens is regularly host to internationally televised triathlon events and annual sports car and racing car events such as the Geelong Speed Trials Geelong Speed Trials website. Corio Bay is also host to many sailing and yachting events.

Geelong boasts many golf courses, sporting and recreation ovals and playing fields, as well as facilities for water skiing, rowing, fishing, hiking, greyhound racing, trots, and horse racing.

Sister cities

Geelong has a number of sister cities. They are:

See also

References

External links

Geelong | Cities in Victoria | Coastal cities in Australia | Port cities in Australia | Wine regions of Victoria

Geelong | Geelong | Geelong | Geelong | Geelong | Geelong

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Geelong, Victoria".

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