Table of Contents Page Page Cnr Malop & Moorabool 03 United Services Home, Drysdale 36 Cnr Moorabool & Little Malop 04 Mount Zion Baptist Chapel 37 Cnr Malop & Moorabool 05 Latrobe Terrace 38 Steam Packet Wharf 06 Cnr Moorabool & Ryrie 39 Cnr Moorabool & Myer 07 Pakington St, Geelong West 40 Cnr Yarra & Little Malop 08 Cnr Malop & Moorabool 41 Wyndham St, Drysdale 09 Yarra St 42 Cnr Malop & Clare 10 Cnr Malop & Moorabool 43 Geelong Post Office 11 The Family Hotel, Portarlington 44 Corio Villa 12 Latrobe Terrace 45 Geelong Town Hall 13 Eastern Beach 46 9 Malop St 14 Matthew Flinders School 47 Cnr Yarra & Little Malop 15 Princes Bridge, on the Barwon 48 Cnr Moorabool & Myers 16 The Eureka Hotel 49 Johnstone Park 17 Cnr Moorabool & Ryrie 50 Cnr Malop & Gheringhap 18 Geelong Railway Station 51 Custom House 19 Aberdeen St, Newtown 52 Malop St 20 Ryrie St 53 Wesleyan Chapel 21 Ryrie St Railway Tunnel 54 Market Square 22 Melbourne Rd, North Geelong 55 Ryrie St 23 Eastern Beach 56 Little Malop St 24 Eastern Beach 57 Eastern Beach 25 Malop St 58 Cnr Moorabool & Little Malop 26 The Bay View Hotel 59 Cnr Moorabool & Brougham 27 Cnr Gheringhap & Malop 60 Moorabool St– near wharfs 28 Edgecumbe House, Newtown 61 Fairy Dell, Clifton Springs 29 Ocean Grove Shopping Centre 62 Cnr Malop & Moorabool 30 The Big Store , Indented Head 63 Black Bull Hotel 31 Malop St 64 Cnr Gheringhap & Malop 32 Eastern Beach 65 Ryrie St 33 Lunan House, Drumcondra 66 Methodist Church, Drysdale 34 Cunningham Pier 67 Portarlington– From the Pier 35
2
1857
Drawing by S.T.Gill Corner of Malop St and Moorabool St– Looking at Market Square In 1857 English fashion was copied on the streets of Geelong. Shopkeepers wore white aprons and school children all wore uniforms. When men came to town they wore top hats and coats with tails. They strolled or rode their horses past teams of oxen dragging their loads up Moorabool Street. What would they think of today’s pedestrians—with jeans, short skirts, tattoos, and body piercing all accompanied with an attitude? Today we cross the street holding our breath to escape the car fumes. In 1857 pedestrians looked down, to avoid stepping into piles of cow or horse manure.
3
1857
Drawing by S.T.Gill Moorabool Street—Looking north from the corner of Little Malop Street In the picture from 1857 a water tank is the dominant feature in Market Square. The town of Geelong was laid out around the harbour—its link to the outside world. However, the nearest fresh water supply was the Barwon River, initially requiring all townsfolk to collect their water from up to 2km away. Eventually a water tank was set up at Market Square to supply the town. Water was carried by horse-drawn cart to supply the tank. The first pump-works to supply the tank were washed away in the flood of 1852 and had to be replaced. Cost to households were about 1 shilling per week (10c) for permission to draw water from the tank, or 10 shillings for a cartload delivered to your home or business premises.
4
1857
Drawing by S.T.Gill Malop Street— from the corner of Moorabool Street looking east. In the picture above the Victoria Hotel dominates the corner position. It remained a Geelong icon up until the 1950’s, noted for its fine service and sumptuous food. In the picture below the Commonwealth Bank has replaced the Victoria Hotel. On the other side of the street, and completed in 1927, the Colonial Mutual Insurance (CML) building dominates the Malop
Street vista of Market Square. In the scene below is an object that was initially constructed in 1855. Do
you know what it is? 1923. until Square Market in stood which Tower Clock Austin the of part originally Answer: The black clock face in the CML building. The clock mechanism was was mechanism clock The building. CML the in face clock black The Answer:
5
c.1857
Drawing by S.T.Gill Steam Packet Wharf In the above scene crowds gather around a newly arrived ship, anxious for news from relatives back in England or other parts of Europe. A cannon is mounted on the slope behind the crowd, a public sign of the state of nervousness that existed at the time—that Geelong could be invaded by a foreign power (the Victorian gold rush was in full swing, a powerful incentive for invasion, or so it was thought). The beautiful homes and hotels in the background give evidence of Geelong’s early prosperity which closely followed the gold rush. Below, the scene is dominated by the Carousel Pavilion, completed in 2002.
6
1857
Drawing by S.T.Gill Corner of Moorabool St and Myer St– Looking toward Corio Bay Only 2 blocks up the hill from Market Square, the fine town clothes worn by shoppers were replaced with the street clothes of the working class going about their business. Ox carts were a common sight in Geelong streets, but turned the unpaved roads to dust in Summer and knee deep mud in Winter. Eventually they were banned from entering the town centre all-together, in an effort to keep dust and mud out of shops, and to keep the town traffic moving. In the picture below, the same result is achieved today with bitumen, traffic lights and meter parking.
7
c.1857
Drawing by S.T.Gill Yarra Street— from the corner of Little Malop Street looking north. A dramatic contrast between old and new is seen in these 2 views. Above, mounted soldiers roam the streets, part of a heavy military presence in Geelong and on the Bellarine Peninsula. Their watchful eyes were evidence of the application of strict British law as well as fear of attack from foreign invaders. Below, concrete multi-level car parking and an above-street glass cross-over pamper to the modern shopper.
8
c.1860
Photo by J. Richardson Wyndham Street, Drysdale Up until 1853 nearly all roads on the Bellarine Peninsula crossed private land, and were poorly maintained due to a lack of public funds. In June 1854 the Indented Head Roads Board held its first meeting at the Bucks Head Inn (where the Drysdale Hotel is today), and started to establish a proper road system. In the early days Wyndham Street was travelled by pioneers, bullock wagons, drays and stock, churning it into a muddy strip each winter. The stone structure was probably used for chaff cutting. Today a smooth asphalt pavement rounds the bend in the road, as it heads toward the town centre.
9
c.1860
Corner of Malop Street and Clare Street, Geelong In 1849 the Geelong Advertiser moved from its office in Yarra Street (now part of the Westfield Shopping Centre near Brougham St) to new, purpose built offices at 32 Malop Street as shown above. Reporters and office staff were at the front of the building, while type-setters and the press were located at the back. Its location opposite the Black Bull Hotel and the Cobb & Co coach terminal made it an excellent position to quickly distribute the news throughout Geelong. The busy corner block was occupied by Whyte, Just & Moore Lawyers (until recently sold), next to the popular La Porchetta restaurant.
10
c.1860
Geelong Post Office. Corner of Ryrie Street & Gheringhap Street From the founding of Geelong in 1838 until 1842 the Geelong Post Office was set up in a corner store in what is today South Geelong. Between 1842-1857 the post office was relocated to the offices of the Geelong Advertiser. Finally, in 1857 with funds supplied by the gold rush at Ballarat, a purpose-built post office was con- structed as shown above. It was demolished in 1889 to make way for the larger post office (below), which opened 2 years later. In 1994, after serving the Geelong community for 102 years, the post office was moved up to Little Myers Street. Currently the building below is used for Diversitat Youth Programs and the City of Greater Geelong Youth Development Unit.
11
c.1861
Source: State Library of Victoria Corio Villa. 56 Eastern Beach Road, Geelong Above is pictured Geelong’s most famous house, only 5 years after it was built. Owner Alfred Douglass holds the horse, while his son, Henry P. Douglass is the likely passenger in the dray (cart). Below, the massive trees planted by Alfred Douglass 150 years ago dominate the scene. The weatherboard extension added around 1890 is also visible to the left in the photo. See the April 2014 edition of the Jillong Pocket for further details of this historical Geelong icon.
12
1866
E. de Balk. Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library The Geelong Town Hall. Designed by Joseph Reed in 1855, only the south wing facing Little Malop Street was originally completed. The main frontage and adjoining library were added after 1917.
13
1866
E. de Balk. Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library The London Chartered Bank / Rheingold Restaurant: 9 Malop Street Originally built as a bank in 1859 from bluestone and Barrabool sandstone, this handsome building now serves up delicious meals as the patrons admire the classic style architecture.
14
1866
E. de Balk. Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library The Union Bank / YMCA: Corner Yarra Street & Little Malop Street Designed in 1847 by Charles Laing, the original design included a porch and smooth stone facade. Today shops fill this busy street corner.
15
1866
E. de Balk. Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library Moorabool Street. Looking North from the corner of Myers Street. The largest building on the left still exists today, partly hidden behind the Southern Financial Group building on the corner. It is now occupied by the Little India Gift Shop. (note arrows)
16
1866 Robert de Bruce Johnstone bollard
Source: The Geelong Album. E. de Balk Deakin University Johnstone Park—Looking north-west toward the Geelong Railway Station When Geelong was first settled, the area at the end of Malop Street was a swamp which drained down a gully into Corio Bay. In 1848-9 an earthen dam wall was built for £500 connecting Malop Street with Mercer Street. However, the dam stank, and animals, including horses and cattle, sank to their deaths in the thick muddy sludge. In December 1849 even a young man drowned in the “ornamental sheet of water.” Finally, in 1864 the area was drained and set aside for park- land, eventually named Johnstone Park in 1867, after then mayor, Robert de Bruce Johnstone.
17
1866
E. de Balk. Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library Bank of Australasia/The Accountant Group. Located on the corner of Malop Street and Gheringhap Street, the original building made from Barrabool sandstone (1860) is barely recognisable under its new orange brick veneer, completed in 1956. In contrast, the smaller Colonial Bank of Australasia building two doors down has hardly changed in 145 years.
18
1866
E. de Balk. Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library Custom House– Corio Terrace (now Brougham Street) Originally built in 1855-6 when Geelong was competing with Melbourne for shipping trade, Custom House has been well preserved to this day. Its location in front of the massive wool store links it with the lucrative wool trade of the time.
19
1866
E. de Balk. Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library Malop Street The modernisation of Geelong’s retail sector is clearly seen with the comparison of these two photographs. The recently completed Westfield Shopping Centre now dominates the street scene providing air-conditioned comfort for shoppers instead of the dusty streets of 145 years ago.
20
1866
E. de Balk. Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library Wesleyan Chapel—96 Yarra Street. A Methodist congregation was established in Geelong in 1838. Eight years later the original chapel was built. Since then, the Wesleyan Chapel has undergone continuous refinements. For example, the original stone exterior was rendered in 1904 creating the smooth finish we still see today behind the McDonalds Restaurant.
21
1866
E. de Balk. Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library Market Square—Corner of Moorabool Street and Little Malop Street In the initial town survey, this area was reserved as a town square. Within a short period of time however, it became a produce market. In 1857 the Austin Clock Tower was built standing 60 feet (18m) high. An internal staircase allowed a person to wind the clockworks at the top once a week. The tower was demolished in 1923. The current Market Square Shopping Centre was opened in 1985.
22
1866
E. de Balk. Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library Ryrie Street—Looking west Ryrie Street was named after the pastoral family of Stewart Ryrie who settled in the area after immigrating from Scotland. The Ryrie’s were associated with surveyor Henry William Smythe who laid out the township of Geelong.
23
1866
E. de Balk. Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library Little Malop Street/The Mall 145 years ago horses waited for their carriages to be loaded with goods from the produce market or nearby shops before making their deliveries. Today, modern delivery trucks perform the same service in amongst the crowd of pedestrians, albeit a little quicker than horse and carriage. What do you think? Is a faster pace of life a good thing?
24
1866
E. de Balk. Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library Eastern Beach view of the Geelong Waterfront. The early picture above provides a more industrialised view of the Geelong Waterfront with newly constructed railway tracks extending out onto the piers, as well as roads servicing the lime burning operations further to the east. Today, a more tranquil and recreational scene greets visitors to this beautiful part of Geelong.
25
c.1866
Courtesy: Geelong Heritage Centre Picture Library North-west corner of Moorabool Street and Little Malop Street The picture above was probably taken by photographer Eugen de Balk, whose studio appears on the corner. Born in Prussia in 1838, de Balk moved to Australia in 1857. After a short stint in Sydney he came to Geelong where he married Jane Upton and started his photography business. Sadly he died in 1870, aged 31, leaving behind his wife and 5 young children. The same corner today is occupied by Flight Centre. A few doors down from the corner was ironmonger Richard Parker. His story appears in the in the February 2011 edition of the Jillong Pocket.
26
1872
Source: Illustrated Australian News Sept 10, 1872 Dennys Lascelles Wool Store– SW Corner of Moorabool and Brougham Streets. Built from squared basalt blocks in 1872, the Dennys Lascelles Wool Store was the first building in Victoria planned to facilitate storage, inspection and marketing of wool in one operation. Upon completion it became the second largest wool store in the colony. The warehouse, which featured beautifully designed windows, and was lit by additional roof skylights, was a model for later wool-stores built throughout Australia and in London. Today, the building lies in the shadow of the larger TAC building next door, and houses Lambys Bar and Restaurant on the corner and the National Wool Museum inside its Moorabool Street entrance. See inside the December 2014 Jillong Pocket for more details on Geelong’s Wool Stores.
27
c.1890
Moorabool Street—Looking up the hill from near Cunningham Pier Although simply a photograph of a typical Geelong street, the picture above highlights the importance of Geelong’s harbour 120 years ago, with workers starting their trek home at the end of the day, and a row of Hansom cabs (taxis) lined up ready for hire. The wool stores in the background were well established, driving Geelong’s prosperity forward after Victoria’s gold rush lost its momentum. The photograph below is more likely to be taken by curious tourists soaking up the sunshine (and historical significance) of Geelong’s waterfront.
28
c.1890
Source: La Trobe Library, Melbourne Fairy Dell, Clifton Springs Mineral springs were discovered in the beautiful bay-side setting of Fairy Dell in 1870. The government analyst pronounced the springs to be superior to imported mineral waters, and a pleasure ground was developed the following year. The springs, with traces of iron, magnesia and sulphur were expanded. Hotel facilities were added and visitors flocked to the area from Melbourne, via steamboat. A nearby pier used for the transport of flour from the Bellarine Mill was also used by tourist steamers. When this became too busy a second pier was built in 1873. Today, spring water dribbles from under an iron plate on the seashore. Soil erosion has taken its toll on the landscape, and the ‘Dell’ is currently undergoing refurbishment.
29
1890
Corner of Malop Street and Moorabool Street—looking south-east The photo above shows the Victoria Hotel on the left, with taxi carriages waiting patiently along Malop Street for a fare. Behind stands the Austin Clock Tower in Market Square. Below, pictured during the Anzac march along Malop Street, is the Commonwealth Bank building dominating one corner of the intersection, while the Solomon’s building stands proudly on the corner of Market Square. Built in 1912, it was incorporated into the Market Square shopping centre during the 1980s. See the October 2014 edition of the Jillong Pocket for further details on Solomon’s.
30
c.1890
Source: State Library of Victoria
The Black Bull Hotel—22 Malop Street, Geelong The smaller ‘Black Bull Inn’ originally occupied the site until Mr Bernard McNally arrived in 1850 from Ireland, demolished the inn, and constructed the larger Black Bull Hotel. The famous black bull mounted on top of the front façade became a well-known Geelong landmark, especially with the National Bank next door, followed by the Geelong terminal for Cobb & Co. coaches. Today, there is no sign of the bull, the hotel, nor the horse-drawn coaches. A modern office block with an employment agency and optometrist as residents occupy the site. See the November 2014 edition of the Jillong Pocket for further details of the Black Bull Hotel.
31
c.1900
Courtesy: Geelong Heritage Centre Picture Library Gheringhap Street—Looking south from Malop Street The Post Office building is still visible on the left (before the clocks were installed). In the top picture only the first stage of the Town Hall building is complete. The final design seen below was opened on June 7, 1917, in the middle of World War I. Belcher Fountain, shown in the middle of the intersection of Gheringhap Street and Malop Street above has now been moved to the side of the road (just beside where the photo was taken below) to make room for increased traffic flow. Read George Belcher’s story in July 2012 edition of the Jillong Pocket.
32
c.1900
Courtesy: Geelong Heritage Centre Picture Library Ryrie Street—looking east toward Gheringhap Street This street scene includes three of Geelong’s most historical buildings. From the left are—The Mechanics Institute (built 1856, destroyed by fire in 1926, then rebuilt); Telegraph office (1858); and Post Office (opened in 1891 but without clocks until December 1911—see the November 2012 edition of the Jillong Pocket). In the top picture a horse-drawn omnibus (bus) takes passengers home after shopping.
33
c.1900
Methodist Church and free Library, High Street, Drysdale The first recorded church service in Drysdale was held by the Methodists in May 1849, under a tree in what became the recreation reserve. Prominent in the church’s growth were early Geelong pioneering farmer Caroline Newcomb, joined later by her husband, the Rev. J.D. Dodgson. In 1885 a half acre lot next to the Free Library was bought for £100 for a new church. In May 1887, Rev. Dodgson laid the foundation stone but during construction part of the walls collapsed, killing one workman and injuring others. Protracted litigation followed, delaying progress and raising the final building costs to a total of £2,438. The new Methodist Church finally opened on September 16, 1888.
34
c.1900
Photo: Geelong Historical Records Centre Portarlington: A View from the Pier. Arriving by steamers which travelled down from Melbourne every day, holiday makers were greeted by the bare hills surrounding this small bay-side town 113 years ago. However, what the town lacked in scenery was soon made up for in pristine clean beaches and friendly service from the Grand Hotel (top left, built in 1888 and still operating today) and Family Hotel (tall building on the right, built in 1855, and now the rustic and charming Ol’ Duke Hotel– sadly closed in June 2013).
35
c.1900
Source: Bellarine Historical Society United Services Home. Crimea Street, Drysdale During the Nineteenth Century, the British Empire expanded dramatically, with frequent wars being fought and won. However, many ex-servicemen became destitute, and in England a movement was formed to raise money to care for these patriots. The idea caught on here in Victoria, and the Drysdale community raised £1,500 to build a home for retired servicemen on land donated by the Drysdale Council. It was opened on July 1, 1891 with much fanfare. The first eight servicemen to move in included 98-year-old John Brown, who had fought at Waterloo in 1815, when the British Duke of Wellington defeated Emperor Napoleon of France. The home was closed in 1922 and sold to the Defence Department, who used it up until the 1950’s, when it was sold to a local farmer. Today, it is a (magnificent) private home.
36
c.1900
Source: Chapel on Little Ryrie.com Mount Zion Strict Baptist Chapel—Little Ryrie Street, Geelong Pastor John Bunyan McCure arrived in Melbourne from England in December 1852 and soon after made his home in Geelong. He commenced services in 1853 in a rented room in Chilwell, but as his congregation grew, larger premises were required. Land was purchased in Little Ryrie Street, three doors east of Fenwick Street in 1856, and the Mt Zion Chapel was built, opening on November 1, 1857. It is the oldest remaining Baptist Church building in Victoria. After remaining empty for 10 years, the un-used church was converted into a cafe in 2012. In the process, it provided further evidence of Geelong’s dramatic change from being a mainly spiritually- minded community to one that is far more secular and materially-minded today.
37
c.1901
Source: State Library of Victoria La Trobe Terrace, Ashby—From St Paul’s Anglican Church Tower In the Sabbath (Sunday morning) photo above, no roads, including La Trobe Terrace are paved, and the railway gates have been left opened to allow church attendees through, without needing the gate-keeper. Rush hour is non-existent. However, progress was underway—telegraph poles dot the side of the railway line, speeding up communication with Melbourne and the rest of the world. Geelong’s electricity supply had been turned on about 12 months earlier, and newly installed electricity poles line La Trobe Terrace. Motor cars were still another 5 years away. Below, the La Trobe Terrace overpass, constructed in 1978-9, spans the enlarged railway yards.
Source: With thanks to St Pauls Anglican Church 38
c.1905
Courtesy: Geelong Heritage Centre Picture Library Ryrie Street—Looking west past Moorabool Street While electricity came to Geelong in 1900, distribution focussed on serving homes and businesses. By 1905 the middle of all major intersections in Geelong still kept a gas lamp, lit every night and extinguished every morning by men employed as Gas Lighters. By 1913 all the gas street lamps were gone. The old ANZ Bank building on the left still remains in excel- lent condition. The new Belchers Corner building (below right) was built in 1926 for Norman Belcher, son of ex-mayor, George Belcher. Georges Rugs now occupies the corner shop.
39
c.1905
Courtesy: Geelong Heritage Centre Picture Library Pakington Street, Geelong West—looking south toward Candover Street The top picture shows the original Geelong West town hall built in the late 1860’s. There was no library or cloak room, and the main chamber was too small for sizable gatherings, and so was replaced in 1923 at a cost of £10,000. The current town hall is 70ft (23m) tall. It is not visible in the bottom picture due to being set back from Pakington Street to make way for a town square. Shirley’s Boot Shop on the far right corner was enlarged and still bares the name “Shirleys” on the building, but the shop now sells women’s clothing.
40
c.1910
Courtesy: Geelong Heritage Centre Picture Library Moorabool Street—Looking south from Malop Street Cobblestones can be clearly seen crossing over the intersection in the top picture. One of the earliest problems in Geelong was muddy streets. One attempt to solve the problem in the 1840’s was to lay paving stones along the footpaths. However, when it rained they simply sank into the mud. Ladies as well as gents complained of losing their boots, stuck in the mud as they crossed the street. As late as 1916 the council issued a by-law ban- ning any cart pulled by more than two horses from entering Geelong streets to stop them being chopped up and thick mud forming when it rained. The bottom picture shows the modern asphalt and concrete streets of today.
41
c.1910
Courtesy: Geelong Heritage Centre Picture Library Yarra Street—Looking north from the Fire Station on the corner of McKillop Street In the top picture the tallest chimney belonged to the Geelong A Power Station built 10 years earlier on the corner of Yarra St and Brougham St. By burning coal, Geelong’s first electricity was generated there. Part of the existing building now forms the corner of the Westfield Shopping Centre. The other chimney belonged to the Volum Brewing Co. operated by James Volum since 1857. The chimney was added to the factory in 1867. The brewery was demolished in 1987 and two office buildings were constructed which are now occupied by the City of Greater Geelong.
42
c.1910
Courtesy: Geelong Heritage Centre Picture Library Moorabool Street—taken from the corner of Malop Street looking north-east. As early as 1851 the Victoria Hotel was located on the corner of Malop and Moorabool Streets. By the early 1900’s the original building (far right, on the corner) has had a two-storey addition with elaborate balconies built on the Moorabool Street side. The Victoria Hotel was purchased by the Commonwealth Bank in June 1951 for £90,000. A modern office building has now replaced the original hotel (now the home of K-Rock and 93.9 Bay FM radio stations), but the 6-storey building behind the bank is named Victoria House in memory of Geelong’s illustrious past.
43
c.1910
Source: Mr Waldron. Portarlington The Family Hotel / The Ol’ Duke Hotel. Newcombe Street, Portarlington In January 1860 the new Portarlington Hotel opened in Newcombe Street. Situated on high ground, the new hotel commanded fabulous views of Port Phillip Bay. The twelve rooms contained “all the comforts of life for any length of time for a moderate charge." As the hotel expanded its named changed, first to the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel in 1871 (from which the name Ol’ Duke is taken for the building today), and then a few years later to the Family Hotel, perhaps to encourage more holiday makers. Despite increased competition from the Grand Hotel (white building in the background), which opened in 1888, both hotels prospered until sadly, the Ol’ Duke had to close its doors in 2013.
44
c.1910
Source: Geelong Heritage Centre Looking South along La Trobe Terrace from St Pauls Church The Aberdeen Street Baptist Church (arrowed) is the only building still recognisable, set 100m from the corner of La Trobe Terrace. The church was constructed on donated land in Aberdeen Street, Newtown in 1876, to provide the growing congregation with a larger building than the existing adjacent stone church which had been built in 1854. On the left of the photo below, The Gordon campus has expanded westwards and now fronts La Trobe Terrace, as well as Fenwick Street to the east.
45
C.1910
Looking Toward Eastern Beach– on the Geelong Waterfront Before the circular baths were constructed, before the change rooms, café, children’s wading pool and fountain were even dreamed of, Eastern Beach was a popular destination for families to enjoy an outing in the Australian sunshine. Standards of modesty required all beach-goers to cover up. The law held that shoulders and knees not be shown. Those who dared defy the ban risked being arrested by the police and being charged with indecent exposure. Unwittingly, the law actually protected past generations from skin cancer, a problem that plagues sun-lovers of today who frequent the beach in bikinis and budgie smugglers.
46
c.1910
Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College– Little Ryrie Street When the school was first opened in 1858 it was named the Flinders National Grammar School and was only attended by boys– with 116 in attendance on the opening day. The school was established by leading Geelong citizens as an alternative to schools run by churches in Geelong, paving the way for poorer families to educate their children without the compulsory religious instruction provided by all the other schools. The school became co-ed in 1864, before becoming an all-girls school in 1940.
47
c.1910
Source: The Rose Series
Princes Bridge– On the Barwon River Named in honour of the husband of Queen Victoria, (Prince Albert), the original Princes Bridge was built across the Barwon, linking Belmont with Newtown, in 1861. This bridge was tolled, and both town councils squabbled bitterly over who should be tolled and which council should benefit from the funds. A second, sturdier bridge replaced the first in 1889. This was finally replaced by the modern concrete and steel bridge we see today. But, looking in the bottom picture, where is the bridge? When built in 1965, the decision was made to relocate the bridge about 300m upstream (arrowed), where higher river banks made the bridge more flood-proof.
48
c.1912
Courtesy: Brawlermatrix.com The Eureka Hotel—Little Malop Street Opened in 1912 by Thomas Dorgan (likely pictured at front with wife and sons). Coming from a strong catholic background, Thomas had earlier settled at Portarlington where he started his family and became active in community affairs. When the Portarlington golf club was established in 1909 Thomas was elected as a vice-president. However, a voting scandal at the Federal Election in 1910 where he was accused of vote-rigging in Portarlington was perhaps behind his move to Geelong and the hotel business. Although undergoing expansion and renovations, the Eureka Hotel still operates today.
49
1912
Moorabool Street—Looking north-west over the corner of Ryrie Street In the photo above the date is March 14, 1912. With the best of pomp and ceremony, Geelong’s tram service is being officially opened. Four highly decorated trams filled with dignitaries which included the mayors of Geelong, Newtown and Chilwell, and Geelong West, along with State politicians and tram company officials lead the procession down Moorabool Street. As the trams approached each municipal boundary, they stopped, asked permission to enter, and a ribbon was cut. Bands played and huge crowds watched the procession. Today, the trams run no more, and Moorabool Street is constantly clogged with cars and buses squabbling for space. Will Geelong ever see a return of the trams?
50
c.1913
Geelong Railway Station While the façade of the Geelong Railway Station has changed very little in the past 100 years, the transport hub outside the main gates has been completely overhauled. In 1913 (above) passengers can be seen leaving the station and catching a tram or taxi carriage onwards toward home. Others walked or cycled. Fashion dictated that every person, young or old wore a hat, and no decent lady would ever been seen out in public wearing anything but a long, modest dress. Today, a bus terminal has replaced the tram stop outside the station. A large car-park has also been added, fronting the railway station and backing on to the Geelong Law Courts.
51
1916
Source: Geelong Heritage Centre Aberdeen Street, Newtown—Looking east toward Latrobe Terrace In 1911 the main east-west tram link was constructed in Geelong. Starting in Ryrie Street at Eastern Park, the line eventually extended along Aberdeen Street, turned left in Pakington Street, right into Aphrasia Street before terminating at the corner of Shannon Avenue. The original Aberdeen Baptist Church (arrowed) built in 1854, stands in the shadow of its larger sister church built next door in 1876. Below, the Aberdeen Motor Inn takes up land once owned by the larger property next door— originally a private house built by ex-army man and Geelong auctioneer, Captain George Moore Strong—but now the Rosnashane Reception Centre.
52
1917
Courtesy: Geelong Heritage Centre Picture Library Ryrie Street—Looking east past Moorabool Street The tram tracks were installed in 1912 and trams operated in Geelong up until 1956. On the far left is Hopetoun Chambers, constructed as an office building in 1891 by ex-mayor of Geelong, George Belcher. On the right-hand corner is the ANZ Bank building. The tall T&G Mutual Life Assurance building on the far left-hand corner (below) was completed in 1934 at a cost of £37,000 ($74,000).
53
c.1920
Ryrie Street Railway Tunnel—looking south Taken from the pedestrian walkway over the railway tracks at the end of Little Malop Street, the above photo shows a train exiting the tunnel and approaching the Geelong Railway Station after the journey from Warrnambool. In the photo below, additional track work is seen to branch off to reach the second platform which was eventually constructed at the Geelong station. To the left is one of the original church buildings belonging to the Reformed Presbyterian Church (arrowed), fronting into Fenwick Street. Established in Geelong in 1857 this small religious group has its largest Australian congregation in Geelong– about 170. Two other congregations belonging to the church meet in Melbourne.
54
1925
Courtesy: Geelong Heritage Centre Picture Library
Melbourne Road– North Geelong. Looking north. It is 1925 and the Ford factory is under construction. Workers can be seen heading home after a days work. Back then, the suburbs of Norlane and Corio did not exist. Apart from a few farmers, the next town to the north was Duck Ponds (Lara). Thus, all the construction workers for Ford lived in Geelong West, Rippleside or other more southern suburbs. A single-lane dusty road heaved under the bustling commuters. Today, Melbourne Road is a multi-lane highway, carrying all forms of trucking and thousands of cars to and from the city each day. In the top picture power transmission lines can be seen alongside the road, connecting the Ford factory with the Geelong A Power Station in Brougham St in the city. Power supply was a nagging issue for Ford, placing pressure on the Geelong A Power Station until the second, and much larger Geelong B Power Station (the largest ever built in Victoria outside the Latrobe Valley) was opened in 1954. By the 1960’s Geelong was connected to the state-wide power grid. Thus, by 1970 both power stations were decommissioned.
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c.1925
Looking west over Eastern Beach At the start of World War I in 1914 Eastern Beach started to undergo development. For the next 25 years the site was a work in progress. Over the following 50 years the popular seaside spot became run down, so during the 1990s the site was fully refurbished. And again, over the past 3 years the sea wall has been reconstructed, as well as the children’s splash pool in front of the kiosk. Eastern Beach is now the best bayside recreational area in all of Victoria—just ask any Geelong resident! In the photo above from c.1925 local families and day-trippers from Melbourne enjoy the relaxed atmosphere at Eastern Beach. Today, with Australia’s ‘white only’ policy well and truly obsolete, the area is a magnet for new Australians and tourists from all over Asia and the Middle East.
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c.1929
Model T
Model A
Eastern Beach—Looking east On a public holiday shown above, the carpark at Eastern beach is full of Ford motor cars. From a disused wool store in 1925 Ford began assembling Model T cars from kits supplied from Canada (Ford Australia is still a subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company of Canada today). After moving into its new factory at Norlane in 1928 it began producing Model A vehicles, and both can be seen in abundance in the picture above, providing proof of Geelong’s prosperity just before the Great Depression was to hit a few months later. Today, as can be seen below, Ford cars are surrounded by a host of Japanese and European brands, evidence of the global economy we now live in, and Geelong’s struggle to compete with overseas manufacturing.
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c.1930
Malop Street—Opposite Market Square The first Bank of New South Wales branch opened in Geelong was in a leased shop in Little Malop St in December 1852, where it bought gold from prospectors returning from Ballarat. Later it moved to 59 Moorabool St, which is now the location of the Phoenix Hotel. It then moved to premises in Malop Street as shown above, on the corner of Kardinia Street. Today, Kardinia Street no longer exists, the bank building has been demolished, and the giant Westfield Shopping Centre dominates the entire city block. However, the Bank of NSW, now known as Westpac still has a branch on the same site, inside Westfield near the travellator.
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1936
Bay View Hotel— 2 Mercer Street, Geelong Originally called the Western Hotel, the Bay View Hotel was built in 1853-54 at the height of the Ballarat gold rush. It was originally designed to profit from the many gold-seekers who travelled through Geelong on their way to the gold fields. As the gold rush lost momentum in the late 1860s, the building was used for a short while as a private school, and later as a boarding establishment. It reverted to its original use as a hotel in the 1880s. Today the three-storey Barrabool sandstone structure has adapted once more. Currently the Sky Software company uses the building at street level, while the upper two floors have been converted into the Bayview Apartments.
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c.1940
Courtesy: Geelong Heritage Centre Picture Library Malop Street—Looking east from the corner of Gheringhap Street From 1912 until 1956 trams plied the streets of Geelong. The top picture from 72 years ago shows the tram tracks turning into Mercer Street and eventually stretching beyond Victoria Street in North Geelong. On the far right is the old Colonial Bank of Australasia, built during the boom of the Ballarat gold rush days in 1857. It is now the “2 Faces” restaurant. On the far left is the Carlton Hotel, which still exists today. Originally built in 1849 and named the Union Club, it was extensively renovated in the 1930’s and renamed the Carlton Hotel, since Carlton & United Breweries had financed the restorations. From the 1950’s to the 1970’s the hotel was among the most prestigious in Geelong, hosting guests that included among others—Queen Elizabeth II, Ava Gardner, and then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.
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1949
Source: State Library of Victoria
Edgecumbe House—12 Skene Street, Newtown The two storey stucco rendered brick mansion Edgecumbe House was erected c.1859-60 for wealthy Geelong merchant Silas Harding. The mansion originally fronted Aberdeen St, (as shown above) and Charles Henry Smith, owner of the Clyde Fellmongery, lived in the mansion from 1878-1908. The building is most notable for the beautiful use of arches and its classical ornamentation in the double-storey facade. When Edgecumbe House was converted into premises for The Geelong Workers' Club in 1957 the mansion’s interior was largely re-arranged and the exterior facade became obscured by additions on the western side. The property eventually lost its Aberdeen St frontage, which is now the site of the Aberdeen Motor Inn. The photograph below was taken from the top rear balcony of the Motor Inn.
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c.1950
Source: Mr and Mrs J Menzies Ocean Grove Shopping Centre 63 years ago, Skinner’s General Store dominated trade in this fledgling Methodist seaside town. Strict rules forbade the sale of alcohol within the town limits, slowing growth, but providing a family atmosphere that can still be seen today. Now with a population of over 12,000 the main shopping centre in The Terrace features traffic lights and caters for nearly anything the locals desire (and yes, even alcohol distributers have found a loophole in the law, makings their wares available).
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c.1950
Source: Mr Trewin, St Leonards “The Big Store” Indented Head general store After World War II, Australia dramatically increased the number of migrants allowed into the country. With their help, the nation prospered. However, while many of these European settlers made homes for themselves in Geelong, very few settled on the Bellarine Peninsula. Even today, new Australians are not often seen as neighbours in the Peninsula’s towns. One exception is Indented Head, where a number of Italian and Maltese families have settled to enjoy the local fishing for whiting and flathead. In addition to the locals, the General Store (the only shop in town) is buoyed by hundreds of campers who come to Indented Heads every summer. It no longer sells fuel, and has undergone a complete renovation in recent years. Once the campers leave, the quiet, sleepy way of life returns for the local fishermen and handful of retirees, who hope their small bit of paradise remains unspoiled by the masses for many years to come.
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c.1950
Source: The Rose Series Malop Street, Geelong—Looking east towards Moorabool Street The National Mutual Life Association building (arrowed), on the right-hand corner of Moorabool Street was constructed in 1924-5 for £36,000, and still maintains its façade of Sydney freestone. Since 1978 the ground floor shop front has been occupied by Thomas Jewellers, who spent $3.3 million renovating the store in 2012. On the left of the photo is the Carlton Hotel at its peak. In 1954 even Queen Elizabeth stayed here, during a week-long country tour of Victoria. In the photo above, the congested road space, shared by trams and the growing number of cars is evident. On March 25, 1956 the trams ran for the last time, to make way for motor vehicles, which still dominate traffic today.
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1950
Eastern Beach While the photo above was taken 65 years ago, so much is still the same today- the baths, diving tower, grand staircase and café remain unchanged perhaps with the exception of a coat of paint or two– testament to all that we love about the Geelong waterfront. In the picture below, a children’s wading pool and safety fence are the only discreet additions to be seen. We wonder if any of the children in the photo above still enjoy a day Geelong’s Eastern Beach?
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1958
Source: The Rose Series Lunan House—Drumcondra Lunan House, one street back from Corio Bay, was built for early Geelong merchant, James Strachan, in 1849-50. Made from Barrabool sandstone, the external details of the magnificent home is essentially the same today as when built, except for the ivy taking over the eastern side of the building, the adjacent tennis court, and the lush garden surrounds. Lunan House was for many years used as a teacher's college by the Education Department of Victoria (as it was in 1958 shown above). One of the bollards on nearby Western Beach is of a student teacher from Lunan House taking a quick dip between classes. Now listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, the house has been converted back into a private home, but is sadly in need of a facelift.
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Power generating station c.1963
Courtesy: Geelong Heritage Centre Cunningham Pier & Geelong’s Waterfront Cargo ships at berth and storage sheds full of trade items (usually wool) brought in by train made Cunningham Pier a busy place only 60 years ago. Today, a function centre, coffee shops and car parking cover the pier. Tourists walk along the disused railway tracks to enjoy the vista of Corio Bay from the end. On land, the wool stores form part of the Deakin University Waterfront Campus, while the Geelong A Power Generating Station has been demolished to make way for the expansion of the Westfield Shopping Centre. Waterfront apartments– all with magnificent views have started to take over the skyline from the original government buildings.
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Since the November 2010 edition of the Jillong Pocket, the back page of this monthly Geelong historical magazine has featured an early drawing or photograph of the town or its surrounding districts, and compared it with the same view today. Sometimes the changes within the modern city of Geelong have been remarkable, while others views have barely altered over more than 100 years. We have in this Special Edition of the Jillong Pocket, compiled all of the photographs together for the first time, and included 9 extra comparisons not previously published. In total, they make up 65 unique views for your enjoyment. With best wishes to all our readers,
The Team
Find us at JillongPocket.wordpress.com 68