You should be on Gheringhap Street now, and you can spot the Geelong Town Hall on your right. Look for an imposing cream-colored building with a classic facade featuring six tall columns that create a grand entrance. The building is topped with a triangular pediment and an Australian flag flying high above. There are steps leading up to the entrance, flanked by large statues on either side.
Now, let's dive into its history! Geelong City Hall is a grand civic building located on Gheringhap Street in central Geelong, Victoria. It was initially built for the City of Geelong, which later became the City of Greater Geelong in 1993. The council acquired the land for the City Hall in 1854. This plot, spanning two acres, sits on the corner of Little Malop and Gheringhap Streets.
A design competition received 12 entries, and the winning design came from Melbourne architect Joseph Reed. The estimated cost was a whopping 34,533 pounds ($69,066), but they decided to construct only the southern wing along Little Malop Street. The foundation stone was laid on April 9, 1855, by then-Mayor Dr. William Baylie, and the wing was completed shortly thereafter.
For many years, this single wing stood alone until the early 1900s, when proposals were made to relocate the Town Hall. A 1914 referendum even suggested moving to the former Geelong Grammar building on Moorabool Street, but the proposal was defeated. The original design was ultimately completed and opened in June 1917.
And there it stands today, a testament to Geelong's history, with only minor additions made at the rear over the years. Quite an intriguing past for such a dignified building, don't you think?
Ready for the next stop? Let's go!
