South Geelong, also referred to as Geelong South, is a southern suburb of
Geelong
Geelong ( ) (Wathawurrung language, 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 the left bank of Barwon River (Victo ...
,
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India
* Victoria (state), a state of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital
* Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. Its
local government area
A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a federated state, state, province, division (politica ...
is the
City of Greater Geelong
The City of Greater Geelong is a local government area in the Barwon South West region of Victoria, Australia, located in the western part of the state. It covers an area of and, had a population of 271,057 as of the 2021 Australian census. I ...
. At the
2016 census, South Geelong had a population of 993.
[
The suburb is adjacent to the Geelong central business district, with the Barwon River forming the suburb's southern border. South Geelong is also the western start point for the ]Bellarine Rail Trail
The Bellarine Rail Trail is a 32 km walking and cycling track on the Bellarine Peninsula, in Victoria, Australia, that follows the route of the former South Geelong, Victoria, South Geelong to Queenscliff, Victoria, Queenscliff branch line. ...
, a 32 km walking and cycling track to Queenscliff.
Major industry in South Geelong includes the Godfrey Hirst Pty Ltd carpet manufacturers on Barwon Terrace currently (2009) owned by the McKendrick family.
The Post Office opened on 1 June 1921 as South Geelong and was renamed Geelong South in 1941.
Demographics
As of the 2011 census, 907 people resided in 459 private dwellings. About 79.8% of people from South Geelong are Australian born, with the most common overseas birthplaces being: England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
(3.1%), India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
(1.5%) China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
(1.2%) Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
(1%), Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
(.9%).
50.3% of people from South Geelong are Christian
A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
, 30% stated No Religion.
History
South Geelong is one of the oldest suburbs in Geelong and it was the location of the first house ever built in Geelong. In a letter to His Excellency Charles Joseph Latrobe, Esq., Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Victoria, dated September 21, 1853, Mr. David Fisher writes: "In the latter end of the year 1836 I returned to Port Phillip for the purpose of forming the different stations afterwards occupied by the Derwent Co., and pitched my tent on the south side of Geelong, on the north bank of the Barwon River, near where a bridge was afterwards built communicating with the Western District. Here I built the first home in Geelong worthy of the name; it is built of weatherboards of Van Diemen 1s Land timber, which house yet stands and is still an ornament to what is now called Barwon Terrace. In this house I had the honor of receiving His Excellency Sir Richard Bourke, who had come hither to spy out the nakedness of the land, and with his suite encamped on the banks of the Barwon next to my house. It is worthy of remark that on the night of Sir Richard Bourke's arrival the district was visited by an earthquake, the shock of which was felt all over the district. Such a phenomenon has never occurred since that time, but I was informed by a very old native, King Murradock, that such had been felt before, but it was 'long, long ago.' In the month of September (1837), having finished my home and got all things comfortable for the occupation of my family, I proceeded to Van Diemen's Land to bring them over, taking my passage by the James Watt, the first steam vessel that visited these shores. In the month of March following (1838) I returned with my family."
Heritage Listed Sites
South Geelong has a number of heritage listed sites, including:
* South Geelong Primary School,
* Austin Hall & Austin Terraces (13-23 Carr Street, 8-12 Mundy Street)
* Rosebank, Latrobe Terrace,
* 4 Lonsdale Street,
* 16 Lonsdale Street,
* 22 Lonsdale Street,
* 24 Lonsdale Street,
* 26 Lonsdale Street,
* 50 Mundy Street,
* 247 Bellarine Street,
* 46 Verner Street,
* 487 Moorabool Street,
* 247 Bellarine Street,
* 256 – 259 Yarra Street,
* 12 Verner Street,
Entertainment
South Geelong has a number of historic and new pubs, restaurants, and the only independent movie theater
An independent movie theater (American English) or indie cinema (British English) is a movie theater which screens independent, art house, foreign, or other non-mainstream films. It can be contrasted with a mainstream theater (often a multip ...
in Geelong.
The Barwon Club Hotel on Moorabool street has been in operation as hotel under various names since 1856.
The Pivitonian Cinema opened in 2016.
The official Escape Room Geelong opened in South Geelong in late 2015.
Sporting facilities
John Landy Athletic Field is located on the corner of Barwon Terrace and Swanston Street. Developed in the early 1960s and opened for competition in late 1961, Landy Field is home to the Little Athletics movement developed by Geelong resident Trevor Billingham B.E.M.
Landy Field is home to Geelong Athletics, the Geelong Little Athletics Centre and the Geelong Masters group. The venue is managed by the John Landy Field Management Committee under a licence agreement with the Geelong Council.
South Geelong is also home to two of the oldest rowing clubs in Australia: the Barwon Rowing Club (founded in 1870), and the Corio Bay Rowing Club (founded in 1873).
South Geelong is the start of the Bellarine Rail Trail
The Bellarine Rail Trail is a 32 km walking and cycling track on the Bellarine Peninsula, in Victoria, Australia, that follows the route of the former South Geelong, Victoria, South Geelong to Queenscliff, Victoria, Queenscliff branch line. ...
, a 32 km walking and cycling track on the Bellarine Peninsula
The Bellarine Peninsula (Wadawurrung language, Wadawurrung: ''Balla-wein'' or ''Biteyong'') is a peninsula located south-west of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, surrounded by Port Phillip, Corio Bay and Bass Strait. The peninsula, together wi ...
, in Victoria, Australia
Victoria, commonly abbreviated as Vic, is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second-smallest state (after Tasmania), with a land area of ; the second-most-populated state (after New South Wales), with a population of over 7 million; ...
, that follows the route of the former South Geelong to Queenscliff branch line
See also
* Kardinia Park
Kardinia Park is a major public park located in South Geelong, Victoria, South Geelong, Victoria (Australia), Victoria. A number of public and sporting facilities are located in the park: a major Australian Football League, AFL stadium, a seco ...
, public park on the western edge of the suburb
* Kardinia Park
Kardinia Park is a major public park located in South Geelong, Victoria, South Geelong, Victoria (Australia), Victoria. A number of public and sporting facilities are located in the park: a major Australian Football League, AFL stadium, a seco ...
, home ground of the Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed the Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club based at Kardinia Park in South Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The club competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's premier comp ...
* South Geelong railway station
South Geelong railway station is a regional railway station on the Warrnambool V/Line rail service, Warrnambool line, part of the V/Line, Victorian railway network. It serves the suburb of South Geelong, Victoria, South Geelong, in Geelong, Vic ...
Gallery
File:OldSouthGeelongGaol.jpg, The old South Geelong Gaol (1933)
File:South-geelong-austin-terraces-clocktower.jpg, Austin Hall
File:South-geelong-clocktower.jpg, Austin Hall and clocktower
File:South-geelong-austin-terraces.jpg, Austin Terraces
File:PANORAMA OF GEELONG. SOUTH GEELONG from Newtown Hill - 1866.tif, Panorama of South Geelong taken from Newtown Hill in 1866.
File:On the Barwon - 1850.tif, Engraving of South Geelong in 1850.
File:Second Barwon Bridge (Iron).jpg, The old Iron Barwon Bridge in South Geelong. Replaced in 1926.
File:Barwon Regatta Day After 1926.jpg, Barwon Regatta Day in South Geelong.
References
External links
Austin Hall and Terraces
{{Geelong_suburbs
Suburbs of Geelong