73-488: Highton is a residential suburb of Geelong , Victoria , Australia . With views across Geelong, Corio Bay and the surrounding region, Highton is located along the banks of the Barwon River and across the rolling Barrabool Hills. The Barwon River straddles Highton to the north and east, while it is bordered by the hilly Ceres and Wandana Heights to the west, the former (and now underground) Kardinia Creek separates
146-594: A temperate oceanic climate ( Cfb in the Köppen climate classification ) with dominant westerly winds, variable clouds, moderate rainfall that tends to fall lightly, mild to warm summers, and cool winters. February is the hottest month and July is the coldest. The highest temperature recorded was 47.4 °C (117.3 °F) on 7 February 2009 during a two-week-long heat wave, with the lowest of −4.3 °C (24.3 °F) recorded on 24 July 1997. The city gets around 37.6 clear days annually. The average annual rainfall
219-523: A Highton South office opened the same year. Kardinia Creek separating the suburb from Belmont was placed underground. Further residential expansion continued southwards and by the 1990s housing had reached the Glastonbury Drive area. Major residential developments in the area north of Barrabool Road and west of Scenic Road have seen a sizeable increase in the suburb's population. Highton has three state run primary schools. Highton Primary School
292-668: A base for low-cost airline Jetstar to serve the Melbourne and Geelong urban areas. Geelong is planned to expand towards the south coast, with 2,500 hectares of land to become a major suburban development for 55,000 to 65,000 people, known as Armstrong Creek. In 2006, construction began on the Geelong Ring Road , designed to replace the Princes Highway through Geelong from Corio to Waurn Ponds. It opened in 2009. More than AU$ 500-million-worth of major construction
365-857: A brewery in 1856 to build a machine that cooled beer. The Geelong Hospital was opened in 1852, and construction on the Geelong City Hall commenced in 1855. Development of the Port of Geelong began with the creation of the first shipping channel in Corio Bay in 1853. The Geelong-to-Melbourne railway was built by the Geelong & Melbourne Railway Company in 1857. Rabbits were introduced to Australia in 1859 by Thomas Austin , who imported them from England for hunting purposes at his Barwon Park property near Winchelsea . One of Geelong's best-known department stores, Bright & Hitchcocks ,
438-431: A continuous line of trees via Malop Street. The redevelopment of Malop street will see the installation of separated bike lanes from both pedestrians and local traffic by greenery, the design is an Australian first. This project includes the installation of art sculptures and street art throughout the city centre. Major redevelopments are also occurring at Johnstone Park, with a new raingarden installation, and Lt Malop Street
511-549: A number of modern apartment buildings on the Waterfront and central business district planned or under construction. On 10 July 2008, approval was given for a $ 100-million twin-tower apartment complex of 16 and 12 floors to be built on Mercer St in the city's western edge. The towers will become the tallest buildings in the city, taking the title from the Mercure Hotel. Further highrise developments are planned as part of
584-560: A small boat with six men to explore. Led by John Bowen , they explored the immediate area, returning to Lady Nelson on 4 February. On reporting favourable findings, 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 Britain. He named the bay Port King, after Philip Gidley King , then Governor of New South Wales . Governor King later renamed
657-506: A supermarket. In 2016 Barrabool Hills Plaza opened in Provence Blvd containing a Woolworths Supermarket and some small speciality shops. There is another small strip of shops containing a bakery, post office, and small cafes along Porter Avenue. Running, walking and bike riding are also popular activities along the Barwon River as tracks exists to enable such pursuits. Popular spots to begin include near Queens Park. Highton Reserve
730-445: A waterfront footpath as well as beach restoration and a boat dock expansion. Recently new high rise buildings are being built giving Geelong more jobs and housing. Worksafe Victoria opened up a new 14-storey building on Malop Dt. It opened in mid-2018 and was the tallest building until it was announced that two residential high rises would be built and completed in late 2019. They are called The Mercer and Miramar Apartments. Geelong
803-573: Is also home to the Highton Tennis Club and Highton Bowls Club. On the boundary between Highton and Belmont is a third sporting field, home to the South Barwon Football and Netball Club . Highton is connected by road to the centre of Geelong by Barrabool Road, Shannon Avenue, and the Princes Highway . Traffic to Melbourne is able to use the Geelong Ring Road that passes to the west of the suburb. Public transport to
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#1732776560401876-576: Is also noted that Epworth HealthCare operates a private hospital in Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds which is across the road from many residents of Highton as Pigdons Road separates the two suburbs. The nearest public hospital University Hospital Geelong located in Geelong's central business district. Highton has two smaller shopping centres namely: Highton Village is a boutique shopping strip in Belle Vue Avenue containing specialty shops and
949-524: Is around 525.2 mm (20.7 in), which makes Geelong one of the driest cities in Australia, owing to the pronounced rain shadow of the Otway Ranges to the south-west. Within the city, rainfall shows a strong gradient from south to north, so that the southernmost suburbs can receive around 700 mm (28 in) whilst more northerly Lara receives as little as 425 mm (17 in), which
1022-417: Is located on the shores of the western tip of Corio Bay, a southwestern inlet of Port Phillip Bay . During clear weather, the distant Melbourne skyline is visible from higher areas of Geelong when viewed across the waters of Port Phillip. The Barwon River flows through the southern fringe of the Geelong city centre before entering Lake Connewarre and the estuary at Barwon Heads before draining into
1095-611: Is regarded as the "Gateway City" due to its critical location to surrounding western Victorian regional centres, providing a transport corridor for surrounding regions to the state capital Melbourne. It is also home to the Geelong Football Club , the second-oldest club in the Australian Football League . The name Geelong comes from Djilang , used by the Wadawurrung traditional owners of
1168-447: Is seeing more upgrades. In the suburbs Geelong West's Pakington Street is seeing major upgrades to its street appeal, with new plantings and upgrades to many of the shops. Manifold Heights' Shannon Avenue will see redevelopment to make it more pedestrian friendly. To Geelong's north, Rippleside is undergoing major changes, with the ongoing development of Balmoral Quay which will see Rippleside Park and nearby St Helens Park connected via
1241-794: Is the home of the Geelong Falcons training ground the complete in the AFL under 18 TAC League. Queens Park also contains a golf course called the Queens Park Public Golf Course and hosts both the Geelong Amateur Football & Netball Club and the Newtown and Chilwell Cricket Club. There is a sporting precinct near Highton Village which hosts the Geelong Falcons . This sporting precinct
1314-622: Is the lowest rainfall in southern Victoria. Geelong Falcons The Geelong Falcons is a youth Australian rules football representative club in the Talent League , the Victorian statewide under-18s competition in Victoria, Australia . The club takes in talented junior players from the Geelong, Colac and Warrnambool regions in order to prepare them for AFL selection. There is an under-15 V-Line cup side and an under-16 side, but
1387-678: The Bass Strait . The city is situated just east of the gap between the Otway Ranges and Brisbane Ranges , and commands the only lowland passage between the Werribee Plain and Western Volcanic Plains . Geologically, the oldest rocks in the area date back to the Cambrian period 500 million years ago, with volcanic activities occurring in the Devonian period 350 million years ago. In prehistoric times water covered much of
1460-473: The Great Ocean Road was opened in 1932, and in 1934, the T & G Building opened on the most prominent intersection in the city, the corner of Ryrie and Moorabool Streets. By 1936, Geelong had displaced Ballarat as Victoria's second-largest city. In 1938, one of the last Port Philip Bay steamers , Edina , made its final trip to Geelong, ending a period of seaside excursions and contests for
1533-528: The Market Square in the middle of the city, a clock tower was erected in 1856, and an Exhibition Building was opened in 1879. The gold rush had seen Ballarat and Bendigo grow larger than Geelong in terms of population. Melbourne critics dubbed Geelong 'Sleepy Hollow', a tag that recurred many times in the following years. A number of industries became established in Geelong, including Victoria's first woollen mill at South Geelong in 1868. In 1869,
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#17327765604011606-531: The city centre to the suburbs until their demise in 1956. The first of many stores on the Market Square was opened in 1913, and the first Gala Day festival was held in 1916. Geelong's industrial growth accelerated in the 1920s: woollen mills, fertiliser plants, Ford's vehicle plant at Norlane , and the Corio whisky distillery were all established in this period. The Geelong Advertiser radio station 3GL (now K-Rock ) commenced transmission in 1930,
1679-613: The clipper Lightning caught fire at the Yarra Street pier and was cast adrift in Corio Bay to burn, before being sunk by artillery fire. Improvements to transport saw Geelong emerge as the centre of the Western District of Victoria, with railway lines extended towards Colac in 1876, and to Queenscliff in 1879. Construction of the Hopetoun shipping channel began in 1881 and completed in 1893. The Geelong Cup
1752-598: The lowlands that are now Geelong, with the Barwon River estuary located at Belmont Common , the course of the river being changed when Mount Moriac erupted and lava was sent eastwards towards Geelong. To the east of the city are the Bellarine Hills and the undulating plains of the Bellarine Peninsula . To the west are the sandstone-derived Barrabool Hills and basalt Mount Duneed , and
1825-580: The sloop Cumberland and mapped the area, including the future site of Geelong, but reported the area was unfavourable for settlement and returned to Sydney on 27 February. In October of the same year, HMS Calcutta led by Lieutenant Colonel David Collins arrived in the bay to establish the Sullivan Bay penal colony . Collins was dissatisfied with the area chosen, and sent a small party led by First Lieutenant J.H. Tuckey to investigate alternative sites. The party spent 22 to 27 October on
1898-425: The 1860s became one of the largest manufacturing centres in Australia with its wool mills, ropeworks, and paper mills. During the city's early years, inhabitants of Geelong were often called Geelongites or Pivotonians, derived from the city's nickname of "The Pivot", referencing the city's role as a shipping and rail hub for the area. Geelong was proclaimed a city in 1910, with industrial growth from this time until
1971-721: The 1860s, owing to its being a rail and shipping hub for western Victoria . The town of Geelong officially became a city on 8 December 1910. The city gained a number of essential services, with electric light supplied by the Geelong Power Station starting in 1902, the Geelong Harbour Trust was formed in December 1905, and the Geelong Waterworks and Sewerage Trust formed in 1908. Electric trams began operation in 1912, travelling from
2044-570: The 1950s. The banks of the Barwon River burst in 1952, inundating nearby Belmont Common . Geelong continued to expand with Corio, Highton , and Belmont growing at such a rate that in February 1967, Geelong accounted for 21% of private home development in Greater Melbourne. Private vehicles became the city's major mode of transport. The first parking meters in the city were introduced in 1961, new petrol stations were constructed and
2117-431: The 1960s establishing the city as a manufacturing centre for the state, and the population grew to over 100,000 by the mid-1960s. Population increases during the 21st century were largely due to growth in service industries, as the manufacturing sector has declined. Redevelopment of the inner city has occurred since the 1990s, as well as gentrification of inner suburbs, and currently has a population growth rate higher than
2190-817: The 1970s. Most woollen mills closed in 1974 and hectares of warehouse space in the city centre were left empty after wool-handling practices changed. The Target head office opened in North Geelong, Deakin University was established at Waurn Ponds in 1974, and the Geelong Performing Arts Centre opened in 1981. Later, the Australian Animal Health Laboratory was opened in 1985, and the National Wool Museum in 1988. Market Square ,
2263-586: The 1980s with the expansion of Westfield Geelong towards Corio Bay, and culminating in the Waterfront Geelong development. Gentrification of former working-class inner suburbs such as Geelong West, North Geelong, and South Geelong has also occurred. Today, the major residential growth corridors are north towards Lara, east towards Leopold , and south towards Mount Duneed as the Armstrong Creek Growth Area . Geelong has
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2336-626: The CBD; and a new $ 30-million aquatic centre in Waurn Ponds. Major developments within Geelong are advocated by influential, non-government group the Committee for Geelong and the region's local government alliance, G21 Geelong Region Alliance . The City of Greater Geelong and four other local municipalities form part of the alliance which identifies the Geelong region's priorities, and advocates all levels of government for funding and implement
2409-606: The City of Greater Geelong's Geelong Western Edge strategic plan. A$ 17-million 11-story apartment tower has also recently been proposed to be built next to the Deakin Waterfront Campus. In 2012, a design competition for a "city icon" was run for the City of Geelong by Deakin University and Senia Lawyers. The recipient of the prize and winning design entry was JOH Architects and their design titled "The Sea Dragon". Geelong's new Library and Heritage Centre opened to
2482-514: The Corio Bay for port access, or the Barwon River for waste disposal. In the interwar and post-World War II years, heavy industry continued to establish itself in the flatter northern suburbs, where today industries such as the Geelong Oil Refinery and Ford engine plant reside. Residential development also spread to Corio and Norlane in the north, with new Housing Commission of Victoria estates built to cater for employees of
2555-630: The Geelong area to prevent the spread of the pest, killing the industry until the 1960s. Between 1886 and 1889, the central business district's major banks and insurance companies erected new premises in a solid and ornate character. The existing Geelong Post Office was built during this time and the Gordon Technical College was established. Further industrial growth occurred, with the Fyansford cement works being established in 1890. The town became referred to as "The Pivot" in
2628-521: The Geelong population to grow to 23,000 people by the mid-1850s. To counter this, a false map was issued by Melbourne interests to new arrivals, showing the quickest road to the goldfields as being via Melbourne. The first issue of the Geelong Advertiser newspaper was published in 1840 by James Harrison , who also built the world's first ether vapour compression cycle ice-making and refrigeration machine in 1844, later being commissioned by
2701-1278: The Geelong region, most notably at Anglesea , where it has been mined to fuel Alcoa's Anglesea Power Station since 1969. Limestone has also been quarried for cement production at Fyansford since 1888, and Waurn Ponds since 1964. Geelong has over 60 suburbs, including the following: Anakie , Armstrong Creek , Avalon , Balliang , Barwon Heads , Batesford , Bell Park , Bell Post Hill , Bellarine , Belmont , Breakwater , Breamlea , Ceres , Charlemont , City of Greater Geelong , Clifton Springs , Connewarre , Corio , Curlewis , Drumcondra , Drysdale , East Geelong , Fyansford , Geelong, Geelong West , Grovedale , Hamlyn Heights , Herne Hill , Highton , Indented Head , Lara , Leopold , Little River , Lovely Banks , Manifold Heights , Mannerim , Marcus Hill , Marshall , Moolap , Moorabool , Mount Duneed , Newcomb , Newtown , Norlane , North Geelong , North Shore , Ocean Grove , Point Lonsdale , Point Wilson , Portarlington , Queenscliff , Rippleside , South Geelong , St Albans Park , St Leonards , Staughton Vale , Swan Bay , Thomson , Wallington , Wandana Heights , Waurn Ponds , and Whittington . Development in Geelong started on
2774-673: The Most Valuable Player by the AFL Players Association. Hawthorn half-back Luke Hodge became the first Falcon to win the Norm Smith Medal for his best on ground performance in the 2008 Grand Final against the Geelong Cats . Nick Maxwell became the first Geelong Falcons player to captain a premiership team when he led Collingwood to the 2010 AFL Premiership. Many notable players in
2847-549: The area at the time of settlement. The area of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula are the traditional lands of the Wadawurrung ( Wathaurong ) Indigenous Australian tribe. The first non-Indigenous person recorded as visiting the region was Lieutenant John Murray , who commanded the brig HMS Lady Nelson . 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
2920-448: The area is provided by buses operated by McHarry's Buslines and CDC Geelong , under contract to Public Transport Victoria . The two routes run from Geelong railway station to Deakin University at Waurn Ponds, via the Geelong city centre. Route 42 serves the southern area of the suburb, also running through Belmont and Grovedale , and Route 43 serves the northern area, also running through Newtown . Trams used to operate through
2993-466: The bay Port Phillip after the first governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip . Arriving not long after Murray was Matthew Flinders , who entered Port Phillip 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 January 1803, Surveyor-General Charles Grimes arrived at Port Phillip in
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3066-707: The bay being called Djillong . Hume and Hovell had been contracted to travel overland from Sydney to Port Phillip, and having achieved this, they stayed the night and began their return journey two days later on 18 December. The convict William Buckley escaped from the Sullivan Bay settlement in 1803, and lived among the Wadawurrung people for 32 years on the Bellarine Peninsula. In 1835, John Batman used Indented Head as his base camp, leaving behind several employees whilst he returned to Tasmania (then known as Van Diemen's Land ) for more supplies and his family. In this same year, Buckley surrendered to
3139-518: The city by preventing the salty lower reaches from mixing with fresh water and pooling water. In 1839, Charles Sievwright , the newly appointed Assistant Protector of Aborigines (for the western district) sets up camp on the Barwon River near Fyans ford. The Geelong Keys were discovered around 1845 by Governor Charles La Trobe on Corio Bay. They were embedded in the stone in such a way that he believed that they had been there for 100–150 years, possibly dropped by Portuguese explorers . In 1849, Fyans
3212-512: The city's first supermarket, operated by Woolworths , opened in 1965. Later, support came for Cycling in Geelong with Australia's first bike plan in 1977. Industrial growth continued with a second cement works operating at Waurn Ponds by 1964 and the Alcoa Point Henry aluminium smelter constructed in 1962. Federal government policy changes on tariff protection led to the closure of many Geelong industrial businesses from
3285-615: The club's main focus is its under-18 side, who play a longer season. In 2007, Jimmy Bartel became the first ex-Falcon to win the AFL Brownlow Medal , for the league's best and fairest player, while Jonathan Brown became the first ex-Falcon to win the Coleman Medal for the most goals in the season. Gary Ablett Jnr also became the first ex-Falcon to win the Leigh Matthews Trophy , for being voted
3358-526: The entire Bellarine Peninsula and running from the plains of Lara in the north to the rolling hills of Waurn Ponds to the south, with Corio Bay to the east and the Barrabool Hills to the west. The traditional owners of the land on which Geelong sits are the Wadawurrung (also known as Wathaurong ) Aboriginal people of the Kulin nation . The modern name of Geelong, first recorded in 1827,
3431-584: The fastest trip. The Eastern Beach foreshore beautification and pool was completed in 1939 after almost 10 years of work. On the eve of World War II, the International Harvester works were opened beside Ford at North Shore , along with a grain elevator at nearby Corio Quay, and the Shell Australia oil refinery. Government housing was constructed in the suburbs of East Geelong , Norlane , North Shore , and Corio from
3504-427: The first enclosed shopping centre in the city, was opened in 1985, with neighbouring Bay City Plaza opened in 1988. The Pyramid Building Society , founded in Geelong in 1959, collapsed in 1990, leaving debts of AU$ 1.3 billion to over 200,000 depositors, and causing the Geelong economy to stagnate. On 18 May 1993, the City of Greater Geelong was formed by the amalgamation of a number of smaller municipalities with
3577-500: The former City of Geelong. The Waterfront Geelong redevelopment, started in 1994, was designed to enhance use and appreciation of Corio Bay and in 1995 the Barwon River overflowed in the worst flood since 1952. In 2000, the Carousel Pavilion was opened as a landmark and symbol of the refurbishment of the Geelong waterfront. In 2004, Avalon Airport was upgraded to accommodate interstate passenger travel, providing
3650-465: The left bank of Barwon River , about 75 km (47 mi) southwest of Melbourne . With an estimated population of 282,809 in 2023, Geelong is the second largest city in the state of Victoria. It is the administrative centre for the City of Greater Geelong municipality, which is Port Phillip's only regional metropolitan area, and covers all the urban, rural and coastal reserves around the city including
3723-553: The major commercial activities for some decades. Between 1927 and 1933, two major orphanages and the Glastonbury children's home were opened in the suburb. Residential development reached Highton by the post war 1950s, the scenic hills overlooking the Barwon River valley being popular with residents. The Highton shopping centre in Bellevue Avenue was constructed in the mid-1960s. Highton Post Office moved here in 1965 and
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#17327765604013796-423: The national average. Today, Geelong stands as an emerging healthcare, education and advanced manufacturing centre. The city's economy is shifting quickly and despite experiencing the drawbacks of losing much of its heavy manufacturing, it is seeing much growth in other tertiary sectors, positioning itself as one of the leading non-capital Australian cities. It is now Australia's second fastest-growing city. Geelong
3869-552: The new industries. From the 1960s, residential growth spread to the Highton hills in the south and North Geelong following prosperous industries like the gasworks, followed by Grovedale in the 1970s. A number of light industrial areas were also established in Breakwater , Moolap and South Geelong . Changing cargo-handling methods at the Port of Geelong left woolstores in inner Geelong unused, redevelopment beginning in
3942-533: The north shore of Corio Bay, where the first Aboriginal death at the hands of a European in Victoria occurred. The next European visit to the area was by the explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell . They reached the northern edge of Corio Bay – the area of Port Phillip that Geelong now fronts – on 16 December 1824, and it was at this time they reported that the Aboriginals called the area Corayo ,
4015-455: The outskirts of Highton, until 1956 when Geelong trams were replaced with buses. Notable people from or who have lived in Highton include: Geelong Geelong ( / dʒ ɪ ˈ l ɒ ŋ / jih- LONG ) ( Wathawurrung : Djilang / Djalang ) is a port city in Victoria, Australia , located at the eastern end of Corio Bay (the smaller western portion of Port Phillip Bay ) and
4088-404: The party led by John Helder Wedge and was later pardoned by Lieutenant-Governor Sir George Arthur , and subsequently given the position of interpreter to the natives. In March 1836, three squatters , David Fisher, James Strachan , and George Russell, arrived on Caledonia and settled the area. Geelong was first surveyed by Assistant Surveyor W. H. Smythe three weeks after Melbourne, and
4161-627: The projects. G21 developed 'The Geelong Region Plan - a sustainable growth strategy' Archived 4 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine which was launched by Premier Brumby in 2007. It was the approved strategic plan for the Geelong region. In addition, major projects such as the Geelong Ring Road Connections and duplication of the Princes Highway West obtained funding due to the combined efforts of
4234-683: The public in November 2015. The new addition to Geelong offers new research facilities, display areas and hosts Geelong's extensive heritage, modern and Indigenous. The new library was awarded the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture in 2016. Currently Geelong is undergoing a major revival effort, the Green Spine Project. The Green Spine project will connect Johnstone Park to the Botanic Gardens by
4307-564: The region's municipalities. As at May 2017, a further 13 Priority Projects are planned for the Geelong region. The Victoria Government announced the relocation of the Transport Accident Commission headquarters from Melbourne to Geelong in October 2006, which created 850 jobs and an annual economic benefit over $ 59 million to the Geelong region. The construction of the $ 80-million Brougham Street headquarters
4380-423: The shores of Corio Bay in what is now the inner city. Development later spread to the south towards the Barwon River, and the hill of Newtown and Geelong West . Major development south of the river in Belmont did not start until the 1920s, stimulated by the construction of a new bridge over the river in 1926, and the extension of the Geelong tramway system in 1927. Industrial areas were traditionally located on
4453-400: The site of the area of present-day Fyansford . Fyans arranged the first muster of the Indigenous population and 275 Aboriginal people were found to be living in the area. Fyans distributed blankets, sugar and flour to these people but soon ordered his soldiers to "click their triggers" at them when a lack of blankets caused anger. Fyans constructed a breakwater to improve the water supply to
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#17327765604014526-399: The suburb from Belmont to the south-east, and the Princes Highway and Pigdons Road to the south separate the suburb from Waurn Ponds . Grazier John Highett set up a farm and finished building his house on a hill overlooking the Barwon River in 1834. Two years later his wife and daughter moved in with him.Later his property became the Montpellier vineyard, hotel and picnic ground. Highton
4599-464: The suburb's only independendent primary and secondary school. Formerly, Geelong Grammar School occupied a campus in Highton from 1962 to 1998. However, this campus is now part of Christian College which now has three campuses in the suburb. Highton is also located in close proximity to Deakin University 's Waurn Ponds campus and the southern section of the suburb has a high student population. Highton has multiple medical surgeries and pharmacies. It
4672-462: The volcanic plains to the north of Geelong extend to the Brisbane Ranges and the You Yangs . Soils vary from sandy loam, basalt plains, and river loam to rich volcanic soils, suitable for intensive farming , grazing , forestry , and viticulture . Many materials used to construct buildings were quarried from Geelong, such as bluestone from the You Yangs and sandstone from the Brisbane Ranges. A small number of brown coal deposits exist in
4745-404: Was completed in late 2008. In November 2008, Ford Australia announced that its Australian-designed I6 engine would be re-engineered to meet the latest emissions regulations, and that consequently the engine manufacturing plant would be upgraded (however, all manufacturing of motor vehicles in Geelong and elsewhere throughout Australia ceased by 2017). A change to the city skyline is occurring with
4818-420: Was derived from the local Wadawurrung name for the region, Djilang , thought to mean "land", "cliffs" or "tongue of land or peninsula". The area was first surveyed by the European settlers in 1838, three weeks after Melbourne. During the 1850s Victorian gold rush , Geelong experienced a brief boom as the main port to the goldfields of central Victoria. The town then diversified into manufacturing, and during
4891-547: Was established in 1861, and the 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 Geelong West in 1869. In 1877, he switched to Geelong, which he represented until 1886, and served as Victorian Premier in 1875, 1877–1880, and 1880–1881. On
4964-420: Was first held in 1872, and Victoria's first long-distance telephone call was made from Geelong to Queenscliff on 8 January 1878, only one year after the invention of the device itself. Geelong was also the home of a prosperous wine industry until the emergence of the sap-sucking insect Phylloxera vastatrix at Fyansford in 1875, which led to the Victorian Government ordering the destruction of all vines in
5037-401: Was gazetted as a town on 10 October 1838. There was already a church, hotel, store, wool store, and 82 houses, and the town population was 545. By 1841, the first wool had been sent to England and a regular steamer service was running between Geelong and Melbourne. Captain Foster Fyans was commissioned as the local Police Magistrate in 1837 and established himself on the Barwon River at
5110-407: Was named after an abbreviation of his name. Reserves, reservoirs and a school in this beautiful suburb still bear the Montpellier name. The ruins of the original property still exist in Montpellier Park. The district had been extensively subdivided by the mid-1860s and boasted a hotel, a post office (opened on 1 December 1864) and a population of about 300 people. Vineyards, orchards and farmland were
5183-401: Was nominated as the inaugural Mayor of the Geelong Town Council and renowned fly fishing author Alfred Ronalds engraved the town seal. An early settler of Geelong, Alexander Thomson , for which the area of Thomson in Geelong East is named, settled on the Barwon River, and was Mayor of Geelong on five occasions from 1850 to 1858. Gold was discovered in nearby Ballarat in 1851, causing
5256-422: Was the first school in the area, opening in 1854. While post-world war two growth led to the opening of Bellaire Primary School in 1963 and Montpellier Primary School in 1969. Belmont High School is the only state run high school in the area. It opened in 1945 and is still open to this day. Christian College , a co-denominational Christian school, opened in the former St Augustine's orphanage in 1980 and offers
5329-558: Was under way in 2007. Major projects include the $ 150-million Westfield Geelong expansion works, involving a flyover of Yarra Street, the city's first Big W store, and an additional 70 new speciality stores; the $ 37-million Deakin Waterfront campus redevelopment, and the $ 23-million Deakin Medical School; the $ 50-million Edgewater apartment development on the waterfront; a number of multimillion-dollar office developments in
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