Notable 20th Century Architecture: Geelong CBD Walks

07/09/2022

A Hero of 20th Century Design

The talented architect, Percy Everett, trained in Geelong and worked with the Harbor Trust and architectural firms there from 1910, then started his own practice in Melbourne while working as an Education Department principal from 1916-34. Appointed Victoria’s Chief Architect, State Public Works 1934 - 1953, he designed and supervised the construction of schools, court houses, and hospitals across the State; Geelong has several examples of his work in this period.
Everett buildings on the Notable 20th Century Architecture: CBD Guided Walks in October include what is now known as the Peace Memorial and Hitchcock Rotunda in Johnstone Park, The Gordon’s Textile College, and the Former Court House, now Platform Arts - home of the award-winning Back to Back Theatre.
Everett contributed greatly to the State and to Geelong, now Australia’s UNESCO City of Design

27/08/2022

Notable 20th Century Architecture:
Geelong CBD Guided Walk 2/10 and 9/10 Oct. 2022
Ticketing link - https://www.trybooking.com/CBWSU

Guides from the Geelong and Region National Trust Branch (GRBNT) will show you how the City’s character is influenced by Geelong’s 20th Century CBD buildings. The tour includes the delightful Johnstone Park, designed in 1916 by noted local architect Percy Everett who later became the State Government Architect, and takes in several of his other buildings.

From early last century Geelong’s port development and industrial expansion – woollen mills, carpet factories, Ford, Alcoa – attracted workers. Banks, insurance companies and shop keepers competed for their attention with the latest building designs reflecting architectural developments from around the world. They are today a feature of our streetscapes.

The CBD Tour of some excellent examples of 20th century architecture starts in Johnstone Park near the Railway Station. Some of the Federation, Art Deco, Streamlined Moderne and Renaissance Revival building styles on the route are featured in the National Trust booklet Some Highlights of Geelong’s 20th Century Architecture. It will be available to buy (special price) at the start of each Tour.

If you’re coming on a Tour, please dress for the weather, bring a water bottle, and be prepared to comply with current Department of Health Guidelines for COVID-safe activities.
Marshals will monitor the route for safety.

Guides will be using two portable microphones and an Eftpos terminal for the first time. A City Council COVID-19 Community Recovery grant has enabled their purchase, and they will make this and similar Tours easier to run.

Where - Meet at / return to the Johnstone Park Rotunda, Gheringhap St, Geelong 3220 (near the Railway Station).
Dates – Sunday 2 October and 9 October 2022 Time 9.45 am for 10 am - 12 pm
Ticketing link - https://www.trybooking.com/CBWSU
Cost $6 students & $10 adults - plus booking fee.
Geelong & Region National Trust Branch web site -https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/branches-vic/geelong-region-branch/
Organiser Contact (Guided Walks only) [email protected]

03/04/2022

Watch Landline on the ABC at 12:30 today - and On Demand on iView - for the story of Geelong's James Harrison:

The Geelong newspaper proprietor almost blew himself up twice in search of his eureka moment in 1854, unlocking a principle that's used to this day in refrigerators and air conditioners around the world.

21/03/2022

Geelong’s UNESCO Design Week March 19 - 27

Our first Notable 20th Century Architecture Tour on Saturday 19th March went off without a hitch; Johnstone Park was a picture and a wonderful starting point.

I hear that some people took pictures on the tour and you will find them on Instagram.

Although we are booked out for Sunday 27th, we can take a few 'walk-ups' on a first come first served basis.

The Geelong Design Week ticketing link for the Tours is https://www.geelongcityofdesign.com.au/gdw-event-tickets/?festival_page=event&id=69166

Watch Geelong Branch of the National Trust members on the ABC Landline Segment - Australian Inventors (Sunday March 27 at 12.30); James Harrison, 1816-1893

Two of your Tour Guides were interviewed about Harrison a few weeks ago for the Landline ‘Australian Inventors’ segment next Sunday.

He was the NT Branch subject for Geelong’s UNESCO Design Week 2021; we held an Exhibition and live streamed a discussion about him.
Harrison, a Scottish-trained printer and journalist, set up the Geelong Advertiser in 1840. He was its editor until 1864, owning it 1842 - 1862.
But his main claim to fame was inventing steam-driven ice-making machines in 1854 beside the Barwon River in Geelong. They were able to make large quantities of ice – no one else in the world had thought of using steam in a cooling mechanism, but James wanted to keep his fishing catch cold and solved the problem of our warm climate making it hard to keep food.
See the NT Branch web site for the Branch’s 2021 video of the live streamed event and podcast about Harrison https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/branches-vic/geelong-region-branch/

Harrison is known as the Father of Refrigeration, and most people have never heard of him. Yet imagine a world without refrigerators and air conditioning.

The Branch is working to ensure that Harrison is not forgotten, especially in Geelong.

https://rebeccahoskingphotography.pixieset.com/collectionb-grbntgeelongitemsandartworks/p/NTU3MTU2MDE0OQ==-Mzg4MTg1NTk1Mg/

Photo by Rebecca Hosking Photography

12/03/2022

Geelong’s UNESCO Design Week is nearly here, so if your’e thinking of coming on the Guided Tour of Notable 20th Century Architecture please book on the direct ticket link -https://www.geelongcityofdesign.com.au/gdw-event-tickets/?festival_page=event&id=69166

There are still plenty of tickets for Tuesday 22 March to the 27th.

Cost - students $5, adults $10.

The tours will showcase world-wide architecture and design movements reflected in Geelong, and introduce local hero Percy Everett. He was The Gordon’s first architecture graduate who influenced Victoria's public architecture as the State Government’s Chief Architect 1934-53.
Many of us have been to a school, hospital or court house built during Everett’s tenure, many on Modernist lines.
On the tour you’ll also discover terrific examples of Art Nouveau, Federation Freestyle and Art Deco, that you drive past often but don’t see, and your eyes will be opened to Geelong's many other domestic and industrial buildings featuring the 20th Century’s differing styles.

Preview - Gail Thomas has written a cracking article, ‘Monumental’, about Geelong’s 20th Century Architecture for the Autumn Geelong and Surf Coast Living magazine, which is itself beautifully designed - see p. 78 on https://issuu.com/provincialmedia/docs/geelong_surf_coast_living_autumn_2022 and grab a copy before it disappears!

Geelong and Region Branch National Trust members would love to see you on the Tours.

The City of Greater Geelong is responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts and opinions in this website which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization.

12/03/2022

Come with us on a walking tour to discover many gems of Geelong’s 20th Century architecture.

Tix https://www.geelongcityofdesign.com.au/gdw-event-tickets/

08/03/2022

Gordon TAFE’s Textile College (1930s), Percy Everett was Chief Architect of the Public Works Department.