never mind the bollards…

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Soon after starting our walk along Geelong waterfront, we spied a group of likely lads dressed in vintage bathing costumes and later learned they are part of the Bollard Trail. Over a hundred reclaimed timber pier pylons were transformed into quirky art installations in 1995 by artist Jan Mitchell. The bollards represent notable characters who played a part in Geelong’s history and culture. Not realising the significance at the time, I didn’t photograph many but have delved into the history of the few I captured.

The Geelong Baths Swimming Club were an integral part of the community during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Well known for their colourful caps and club initials on their costumes, they helped bring a carnival atmosphere to the early Geelong regattas with such contests as greasy pole climbing, bun eating and tub races.

First formed in 1854, Geelong’s Volunteer Rifle Corps is the oldest Victorian Militia unit. The Volunteer Rifle Band played its first recital in the Botanic Gardens in 1861, promoting the popular dance music of the day with the ‘The Geelong Polka’.

I was actually photographing the Wharf Shed cafe (unfortunately booked out for lunch) and noticed the Tram Conductress on her smoko break. She is a bit of an enigma from the 1940s being a smoker, not wearing a wedding ring and knitting a bootee for a baby.

From the early 1800s, scallop fishermen sold their produce as far afield as Melbourne. Many boats dredged for scallops in Corio Bay until recently when it was stopped to prevent further damage to the seabed and other species of fish.

The Geelong Volunteer Fire Brigade was established in 1854 (it seems there was a lot of volunteering going on that year), coincidentally the same year the clipper ship ‘Lightning’ was built in the USA for a British firm. One of the fastest wooden ships ever built, it carried cargo and immigrants from England to Australia for the next fifteen years until it earned the accolade of being the worst shipping disaster in Geelong’s history. The ‘Lightning’ caught fire while docked and loading wool in the early hours of 31st October 1869 and the efforts of the volunteer firemen were in vain. The blazing ship was towed away from the wharf and eventually sunk with explosives, losing all cargo but no lives.

One of the much adored personalities of the town was Mrs De Carteret. Kitty was born in 1910 and was the proprietor of ‘La Cabine’ for thirty years where she was renowned for her fresh lemon squash. Apparently, the cafe did a roaring trade on Sunday mornings, refreshing those who had over imbibed the night before. The cafe closed after much popularity in the 1960s and 1970s and is now an office block. I found a photo of Kitty de Carteret whipping up a lemon drink behind the counter, I wonder if she would be flattered by her timber transformation.

From the book ” A day in the life of Victoria” 1983

Outside the Yacht Club, a lovely lady holds the trophy awarded to the winner of the first Geelong Regatta in 1858, an Irish chap called ‘Paddy from Cork’  in his boat ‘Fair Kiss of Fand’. Regattas had actually been held since 1844 but it was only after a conversation over a few drinks that money was put up for a trophy and it is now recognised as Victoria’s oldest sporting event. You may notice a rabbit clinging to the bottom of her frock. Ten pairs of rabbits are depicted lurking around the base of some of the bollards, representing the introduction of wild rabbits to Australia. They arrived on the aforementioned ‘Lightning’, courtesy of farmer Thomas Austin from England,
on Christmas Day 1859.

Earlier that same year, the Geelong Football Club was formed, making it the second oldest AFL side after Melbourne and one of the oldest football clubs in the world. The navy blue and white kit hasn’t changed much in the last 165 years, although the shorts are noticeably shorter these days.

The Joy Ark Sandwich Board Man advertises the Joy Ark but he has lost his board. I found a photo with Board intact on waymarking.com

The Joy Ark was a silent picture theatre built in 1912 by two early Greek-Australian pioneers who already operated a cinema in Geelong. The construction extended over the water at Eastern Beach and was considered the most grandiose and unique movie theatre for its time in the British Commonwealth. Unfortunately, by early 1914, the owners were in financial trouble and filed for bankruptcy. The Joy Ark became a popular venue for dances and roller skating until it was demolished in the mid 1920s. The unusual name resulted from a competition run by the Geelong Advertiser asking readers to submit suggestions, the winner was rewarded with  a ‘significant sum of money’. The site of the Joy Ark is now filled by a giant ferris wheel, it’s a shame the original building has been lost.

photo from Museums Victoria

Modelling the changing styles of men’s swimming trunks over the years is the Town Baths Swimmers Club. Not a budgie smuggler in sight.

Although frowned upon these days, bathing beauty competitions were a popular attraction from the 1930s. These lovely ladies are braving all weather – and the rascally rabbits.

Ian McDonald was the Engineer and Surveyor of Geelong City in 1936. He saw a need to promote Geelong by beautifying the bay waterfront area and, hence, designed the Eastern Beach complex which was completed in 1939. He is proudly holding the plans in his hand.

Another man with great vision for Geelong, Robert de Bruce Johnstone became a member of Geelong Town Council in 1859. He was elected mayor from 1865 to 1867 and became known as ‘the parks and gardens’ mayor for his lifetime support of the Geelong Botanic Gardens. His robes and chain of office are looking a little worse for wear and he has lost his pendant.

The chap second from the right in the line of Eastern Beach Lifesavers is a local icon called Bill Coyte. He is well remembered for giving his time to teach life saving and swimming to many generations of children.

I am pleased to report that the bollards are in the process of being restored. Those beyond repair are being reproduced using 3D printing and all are being re-painted by local artist Vicki Clissold who will replicate Jan Mitchell’s original work.

Old Telegraph Hill

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There are a few ways to experience the Tarkine Wilderness while staying at Corinna and the Old Telegraph Hill walk is one of them. The beginning of the 1.5 kilometre walk is easy going along a boardwalk through typical Tasmanian rainforest. Towering trees shelter luscious lichens and tannin stained streams.

Fifty metres along, the walkway ends and the trail becomes a little less obvious.

The old cable line reassured us we were on the right track.

Someone has thoughtfully fashioned a stile of sorts to help negotiate the huge body of a fallen hero.

We continued to climb, surrounded by ancient myrtles and leatherwoods

playing host to myriad fungi and lichen.

With feet slipping at all angles along the twisted track

we came across a series of dangling cables and a lone telegraph pole.

The step ladder and aerial confirmed our suspicion that this was our destination.

We had read that there was a chance of getting a signal at this point, although it was hit and miss. With some minor acrobatics we were rewarded.

We had a poke around and found some remnants of long abandoned equipment

before retracing our steps and following the cable downhill.

Toward the end of the boardwalk section, we noticed evidence of burrowing freshwater crayfish. They live in tunnel systems in muddy banks and seepages, rarely venturing out and they construct ‘chimneys’ made from balls of mud at the entrance to their burrows.

Time to warm up with a beverage by the fire.

deck denouement

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Every time we think we have completed our last ‘big project’, another one somehow appears on the list. The large decked area outside the lounge is exposed to the worst of our weather and the timbers have suffered over the years.

Having been advised that replacing it would improve saleability, we took up the challenge. Ekodeck was our material of choice, having used it for a previous project, high winds added a degree of difficulty to the delivery.

We had worked out that if we laid an end board, we could use the full 5.4 metre lengths for the rest and avoid extra trimming. The old boards were cut away to allow for that first board, fitted with precision around the upright posts.

While I set about demolishing the old step,

Michael extended the cut to avoid damaging the new board as we removed the old ones.

We both thought removing the old boards would be the easy part but it took a lot of effort to prise them off. Our concern that the joists and bearers may have needed replacing was, fortunately, unfounded.

More precision cutting

and the first of the long boards was laid.

We made our own joist tape out of concreters plastic (that, for some reason, we have a very large roll of). The cut strips were rolled up, secured with a clothes peg and unfurled as we progressed.

After removing a section of the old boards,

we started laying the new ones

and over the course of two days (working in the mornings only as it was too hot by midday), we were halfway there.

We didn’t remove all the old ones at the beginning because we had to keep the area covered so our nocturnal furry visitors didn’t go under the house and get sealed in. We continued in the same vein until we came to the last piece.

A bit of head scratching had preceded this point, going from Plan A to Plan D and finally settling on Plan A. More precision cutting

and a perfect result.

A new step up to the front decking was fashioned

and a smaller step down to the garden.

Now we have a few hours (days/weeks/months) of sanding and staining the uprights and balustrade as well as the facing boards. Then, eventually, staining the rest of the old deck. Then…….

Geelong Waterfront

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Since relocating to Tasmania in 2008 and enduring a very rough crossing of Bass Strait on the Spirit of Tasmania, our subsequent return trips to Adelaide have been by air. We decided to take our vehicle with us on our most recent visit and, with much trepidation, booked a day sail from Devonport. After a relaxing eleven hours on calm seas, we arrived in Geelong for two nights before embarking on an eight hour drive to Adelaide. We ventured out for a stroll along the waterfront to discover the many attractions, from heritage structures to modern works of art. We first noticed a collection of objects, resembling shark-fins, randomly scattered on the foreshore. The art installation ‘North North’ comprises seven (only five pictured) 2 to 3.5 metre high cement fins, all positioned on a different plane.

The Floating Christmas Tree is an annual feature of the city, with the initial lighting on the night of ‘Carols By The Bay’ at the end of November. It didn’t look particularly bright on this overcast morning but the nightly Sound and Light Shows, running for 6 minutes every 15 minutes, are apparently quite spectacular.

We were a bit befuddled to see the Spirit of Tasmania moored in the harbour until we realised it is one of the new ships. Version IV is awaiting upgrades to the intended berth after it was discovered the wharf was not strong enough!

We set off across Steampacket Gardens, a lovely verdant open space named for the steamships that once docked in the area.

Following the path along the waters edge, we looked back at Cunningham Pier, stretching 250 metres into Corio Bay. Now commonly used as a fishermen’s pier, it was once part of the Geelong port system. The building at the end of the pier houses a restaurant and function centre.

We continued on, past the Royal Geelong Yacht Club marina and club rooms. Their first regatta ran in 1859 and they now host Australia’s largest regatta, the Festival of Sails.

For those unable to enjoy the walk, the Eastern Beach Train provides a 20 minute return trip along the waterfront

and the Giant Sky Wheel offers a different perspective.

Once past the yacht club,

the pathway bisects the white sands of Eastern Beach and the eye-aching green of Eastern Beach Reserve.

Much of the redevelopment of the east end of Eastern Beach was undertaken in the 1930s to promote tourism. The most striking addition is a huge swimming enclosure (I’ll get to that), a shallow children’s pool complete with fountain in the centre

and iconic ‘Spanish Steps’ rising to Eastern Beach Road above.

A classic red brick Art Deco building serves as a kiosk with a fine dining restaurant on the upper level.

Back to the swimming enclosure. A double platform wooden structure sweeps in a half circle around eight and a half acres of seawater. Protected by shark-proof netting, there is a lap pool, diving tower, floating islands and lifeguards on duty in high season.

The boardwalk was rejuvenated in 1993 and locals were encouraged to buy planks inscribed with their names to help fund the project.

The view westward from the promenade shows the extent of the waterfront precinct.

We returned to our starting point. I neglected to mention the glass building adjacent to the Christmas tree. It houses an original Armitage-Herschell steam-driven, hand carved wooden carousel with 36 horses and two ornate chariots. Built around 1892, it was purchased and restored in 1996. Unfortunately, we didn’t realise it’s importance and didn’t take a closer look which means we also missed the music from the 1898 Gavioli Band organ accompanying the ride.

With the skies becoming increasingly inclement, we left Cunningham Pier in search of lunch.

If you are planning a stay in Geelong, whether for a night or extended period, I highly recommend the wonderful apartment we found. It is in a perfect location just off Little Malop Street, with secure parking. https://www.rentbyowner.com/property/modern-apartment-in-central-geelong/BC-12939097

Dip Falls

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We have been to the town of Stanley on many occasions, it is one of the ‘go to’ places to take visitors. The signpost on the highway to Dip Falls, 27km inland, has always intrigued me but time has been our limiting factor in the past. We decided to stay overnight on our latest trip which gave us the opportunity for a detour and picnic lunch. The peaceful drive through picturesque farmland was on a mostly sealed road with the last few kilometres unsealed but well maintained. We chose to view the falls from below first, the initial impression on our descent held promise of something spectacular.

The stairs are steep but easily traversed (with a rest or two on the ascent).

The roar of the tumbling water and further glimpses through the foliage spurred us on.

The wonder that awaited us was breathtaking.

In the absence of a very wide angle lens, I resorted to photographing sections of the falls as the two tiers dropped thirty metres over distinctive dolerite columns.

The tranquility downstream belied the tempest of the falls mere metres away.

At the top of the falls, the serene waters were idyllically unaware of their impending adventure.

Even from the lookout, the extent of the vista demanded serial photographs.

Dip River was once a working forest and during the 1920s, the small community of three houses endured isolation and hardship to manage the sawmill. Not far from the top of the falls, remnants of an old boiler that provided steam to power the sawmill, lies as a reminder of Tasmania’s timber heritage.