Geelong is the second largest city in the state of Victoria, Australia and is the largest regional centre in the state. It is a port city with an urban population of approximately 161,000 people. Also it is one of the largest provincial cities in Australia. 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.
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 (Hence the places now known as Cario and Geelong). 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 from the Sullivan Bay settlement, lived among the Wautharong people for 32 years in the Bellarine Peninsula.
Sighting of an old ship on Cario Bay.1840 saw the first issue of The Geelong Advertisor Newspaper which still runs print today. 1850's saw the Goldrush increase population in Geelong from 8,000 to approximately 22,000. The port access a clear advantage.
The town of Geelong officially became a city on 8 December 1910. Electric trams began operation in 1912, travelling along Pakington St, Geelong West and the city centre until their demise in 1956. 
Electric Car TRam Geelong 1912.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.
Now Geelong is a popular Summer vacation spot and has everything you would wish for as a couple or as a family. Theme parks, the waters edge, carnivals, restaurants, museums and, if you don't fancy driving to Geelong there is a V-Line train service that can get you there from Melbourne. Remember our family train trip to Geelong recently?
Fond memories of wading in the water at Eastern Beach and eating ice cream and riding the old carousel ( manufactured in 1892) are mine to keep and yours to make!
16 comments:
As a newish visitor to Geelong, I am quite impressed with the city.
Well I loathe to be a H8tor, but the place is weird. I had to stay there overnight after we did the Great Ocean Road, and the people just struck me as a little...er...Odd.
The main city center shops all looked like they were stuck in a time warp circa 1975 and there wasn't a nice meal to be had anywhere!
It's pretty down by the water though.
"I believe it's an old old wooden ship..."
Wow Cazzie,
this seems like a very fun place...I love historical spots..xox
heard abt Geelong b4...but not such neat details like this post. Good one Caz ty!
Keshi.
Very cool lesson. It's nice to see someone write fondly about there country Cazzie.
This is a great piece! I've linked you to my blog under 'history'. I hope you don't mind.
~smiles~
I'll be back to catch up on my lessons!!
This looks like an interesting place. Thanks for telling us about it.
I don't mind dear ol' G'long... sorta reminds me of tinytown except with hills and better drivers. I gotta say though... looking forward to when that bypass is finished!!
Andrew, it is laid back...kind of like Adelaide do yo think?
Steph, lol, yes, the shops do look like they are stuck in a time gone by mode..I think they are the shops that are Heritage Listed. Will have to check it out.
Stormin', yes it is. It is hired out by youth groups mainly. To encourage them to work as a team and coinfidence building and so on.
Galen, glad you like it hon :)
Keshi, come dwn and I can tke you there some day.
Captain, thanks mate.
Welcomes you..thanks for dropping in, there are afew to read up on, every Friday is a post :)
Betty, no worries, glad you liked it.
GB, it will be good to have the bypass, especially in Summertime and traeling down the GOR!
I wish I could be as excited about learning about my part of the world....I am so new really to Idaho...I should do some research. As always, you did a great job in describing this special place.
You guys downunda have the coolest names in the universe.
When you do become the Minister of Tourism I expect a sweet all expense package to see all of these marvelous places. Please forward the invitation to
The Honorable Homo Escapeons, Minister of Silly Walks & Scientificky Stuff,
Parliament Hill,
Ottawa, Canada,
Earth, Milky Way,
Known Portion of the Universe.
Rosemary, I will be there to read about it when you do come up with some stories of your surrounding towns.
HE, lol, thanks, I am glad you like reading these Friday's posts :)
Fabulous history post, as always! I adore those old sailing ships...
EC, I always loved drawing them in grey lead when I was younger. Dad had some images of them on the wall in hisbedroom and so I tried to replicate them.
An uncle of mine who was gassed in WW1 was called Alfred "Hume" McGoldrick after Hume... so he must have been a big name in those days... I recall some of this from my history lessons and my interests... thanks again Cazzie for your original spin on this history...
Do you know if you put all of these together in a book...the Vic. Government might giove you a grant to publish it as a coffee table book and or a serious book...think about it...you have done the work!
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