Discover 15 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Geelong (Australia). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Eastern Beach, St Mary of the Angels Basilica, and Geelong Waterfront. Also, be sure to include Johnstone Park in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Geelong (Victoria).
Table of Contents
Eastern Beach
Beach in Australia. Eastern Beach is a specific beach in Geelong, not to be confused with Waterfront Geelong.
Eastern Beach is a popular swimming and recreation area in Geelong, Victoria on the shores of Corio Bay. Built during the 1930s in the Art Deco style, a shark proof sea bath is provided, as well as a children's swimming pool, kiosk, and dressing room pavilion. A number of Art Deco buildings in the area are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.[1]
Address: Ritchie Blvd, 3220 Geelong
St Mary of the Angels Basilica
Basilica in Geelong, Australia. St Mary of the Angels Basilica, formerly St Mary's Church, is a basilica located in Yarra Street, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Since the completion of the Gothic revival bluestone building in 1937, St. Mary of the Angels has had the tallest bluestone spire in Australia, at 150 feet (46 m), and has the fourth-tallest non-cathedral spire in Australia. In 2004 it became Australia's fifth basilica, after gaining Vatican approval for the change of description.
It is the tallest building in Geelong, with a total height of 210 feet (64 m) from the pavement, and is a major landmark in the city.[2]
Address: 136-148 Yarra St, 3220 Geelong
Geelong Waterfront
Tourist attraction in Geelong, Australia. The Geelong Waterfront is a tourist and recreation area on the north facing shores of Corio Bay in Geelong, Australia. The area was once part of the Port of Geelong, falling into disuse before being redeveloped during the 1990s.[3]
Address: Eastern Beach Rd, 3220 Geelong
Johnstone Park
Park in Geelong, Australia. Johnstone Park is a landscaped garden in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. It is bounded by Railway Terrace, Gheringhap Street, Little Malop Street, Fenwick Street, and Mercer Street. The park is surrounded by civic buildings including the Geelong Town Hall, Geelong Art Gallery, Geelong Library, Geelong Law Courts, and the Geelong Railway Station. A war memorial and bandstand feature in the centre of the park.[4]
Address: 24-28 Gheringhap St, 3220 Geelong
Kardinia Park Stadium
Sports venue in South Geelong, Australia. Kardinia Park is a sporting and entertainment venue located within Kardinia Park, South Geelong, in the Australian state of Victoria. The stadium, which is owned and operated by the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust, is the home ground of the Geelong Football Club and the A-League football club Western United FC. The capacity of Kardinia Park is 36,000, making it the largest-capacity Australian stadium in a regional city.[5]
Address: La Trobe Terrace, 3220 Geelong
Balyang Sanctuary
Park in Newtown, Australia. Balyang Sanctuary is a public park in the suburb of Newtown, Geelong. Situated at 38.1642°S 144.3312°E / -38.1642; 144.3312 on the banks of the Barwon River, it is 20 acres in size and consists of open park lands, lakes, and wetlands. It was opened in 1973.[6]
Address: 50 Marnock Road, Newtown, Geelong
Barwon Sewer Aqueduct
Historical landmark in the Breakwater, Australia. The Barwon Sewer Aqueduct is a heritage-listed aqueduct across the Barwon River at Goat Island, Breakwater, Victoria, Australia. It was designed by engineer E. G. Stone and was erected between 1913-1915. It would appear to be the only one of its kind in Australia in terms of its length and the use of Considère's construction technique. The aqueduct appears to be the last example in Australia of Armand Considère's system of reinforcing for concrete structures. It was added to the Victorian Heritage Register on 23 October 1991.[7]
Christ Church
The Christ Church is an Anglican church located in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Designed by Edmund Blacket, the church is the oldest Anglican church in Victoria, in continuous use on its original site.
On 9 October 1974 the church was listed on the Victorian Heritage Register with the following statement of significance:
Christ Church, Geelong is of historical significance due to its association with the early history of the Anglican Church in Victoria. It is the oldest Anglican Church in the State still occupying its original site. It appears to be the only extant example of Bishop Broughton's involvement in church design in Victoria. Christ Church, Geelong is of architectural significance as the only church in Victoria designed by prolific NSW architect, Edmund Blacket. It is a very early work of Blacket's and possibly his first church design. Christ Church, Geelong is of aesthetic significance for its remarkable, high quality collection of stained glass windows, in particular the fine examples of the work of Ferguson and Urie. Together these demonstrate the development of stained glass design from the early 1872 examples to the late 20th century work. The mural is also of significance as a rare example of this aspect of the work of important artist, Christian Waller.[8]
Address: 57 McKillop St, 3220 Geelong
Geelong Arts Centre
Theatre in Geelong, Australia. Geelong Arts Centre, formerly the Geelong Performing Arts Centre, is a performing arts, functions, and events venue located in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. It is a Statutory Authority and was established by the Geelong Performing Arts Centre Trust Act 1980 No. 9406. The centre has two major theatres, a number of smaller performance spaces, and a bar, restaurant and cafe. It is located between Little Malop and Ryrie Streets in central Geelong.[9]
Address: Geelong, 50 Little Malop Street, Geelong VIC 3220
Osborne House
Building in North Geelong, Australia. Osborne House is a historic building built in 1858, located in North Geelong, Victoria, Australia.[10]
Address: 53 Swinburne Street, North Geelong, 3215, Geelong
Geelong Town Hall
Geelong Town Hall is a civic building located on Gheringhap Street in central Geelong, Victoria. It was originally built for the City of Geelong, which became the City of Greater Geelong in 1993.[11]
Geelong Vintage Market
Market, Shopping, Gift shop
Address: 287-301 Melbourne Rd, 3215 Geelong
Geelong Gallery
Art gallery in Geelong, Australia. The Geelong Art Gallery, currently known as Geelong Gallery, is a major regional gallery in the city of Geelong in Victoria, Australia. The gallery has over 6,000 works of art in its collection. The Gallery forms Geelong's Cultural Precinct with the adjacent Geelong Library and Heritage Centre, Geelong Arts Centre, and the Geelong Courthouse.[12]
Address: 55 Little Malop St, 3220 Geelong
Old Geelong Gaol
Prison in Geelong, Australia. HM Prison Geelong was a maximum security Australia prison located on the corner of Myers Street and Swanston Street in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The prison was built in stages from 1849 to 1864. Its panopticon design is based on Pentonville Prison in England. The prison was officially closed in 1991 and prisoners were moved to the newly built HM Prison Barwon in Lara. The building now functions as a museum for the history of the prison.[13]
Address: 202 Myers St, 3220 Geelong
Geelong Library and Heritage Centre
Archive in Geelong, Australia. The Geelong Library and Heritage Centre is a regional library, archive and resource facility in the city of Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Geelong Free Library was begun in 1858. The Geelong Historical Records Centre was established in 1979 as a depository for significant historical records and archives from the district. The centre is a Place of Deposit, as part of the Public Record Office Victoria network of community archives designated for the preservation of Victoria's history. It is described as ...the largest regional archive in Victoria.[14]