Imagine a waterfront city that can provide you with all you need for that perfect conference or event, possessing both the sophistication of a capital city and warmth of regional hospitality. Welcome to the City of Greater Geelong!

Today, Geelong is a lively commercial city, with a newly renovated and rejuvenated central business district offering shopping facilities, restaurants and nightlife on par with any capital city – allowing delegates access to a little “retail therapy”. The region is also rich with amazing touring options for all seasons and a haven for team-building opportunities.

The city’s new multi-million dollar draw card, Waterfront Geelong, is a cooperative venture success story between local and state governments as well as the private sector. Geelong’s waterfront precinct continues to amaze visitors with its transformation, featuring cafes and restaurants, fully restored art deco seawater baths, a yacht club marina and a scenic bayside promenade dotted with brightly painted bollards depicting many of Geelong’s historical characters.

Professional venues, efficient support services and quality accommodation await you, with our professional staff at Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine as well as Business Events Geelong are dedicated to ensuring that your stay with us is both comfortable and stress free.

There is truly something here for everyone. We look forward to welcoming you and your delegates to our beautiful city.

WELCOME TO THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG!

Less than an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s CBD and Tullamarine Airport along the Princess Freeway, Geelong is beautifully placed with waterfront views of Corio Bay and immediate access to the world famous Great Ocean Road and charming wine growing region of the Bellarine Peninsula.

With a population of 210,000, Geelong is Victoria’s second largest city and a major provincial centre economically, culturally and socially for the surrounding region.

Geelong’s history as a major wool-shipping port from the mid 1800s well into the 20th century has left a legacy of beautifully restored old buildings such as the revamped National Wool Museum. The Dalgety Wool Stores have also been transformed into a campus and headquarters for Deakin University, holding Geelong’s largest conference venue – Costa Hall, seating up to 1,500 delegates.

THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS

The traditional owners of the Geelong region are the Wathaurong people. The Wathaurong people gave Geelong as we know it today its name from their word ‘jillong’ meaning ‘a place of the sea bird over white cliffs’.

THE WATHAURONG PEOPLEThe Wathaurong people have lived in the Geelong region for more than 25,000 years before white settlers arrived. Various clans had campsites in the area, moving about in search of food and water.

White settlement from the early 1800s had a devastating effect on the Aboriginal people. Sheep destroyed much of the root crops, which the Wathaurong depended on and introduced diseases cut a swathe through their people. Birth rates and clan numbers fell.

About 140 archaeological sites have been found in the region, indicating a significant level of activity of the Wathaurong people. Yollinko Park Aboriginal Garden on the banks of the Barwon River contains the remains of living mounds and food plants. It also displays giant representations of Aboriginal implements.

We work with the Wathaurong in the staging of major events in our region.

To recognise the traditional owners of the land, the Wathaurong can be invited to perform a Welcome To Country – either via a verbal presentation or a traditional story-telling dance.

BAYWALK BOLLARDSReady to welcome you and your delegates to the Geelong Waterfront are the Baywalk Bollards. Inspiration for the Bollards came from local Australian artist Jan Mitchell, who was commissioned by the City of Greater Geelong more than ten years ago to transform huge reclaimed timber pylons into public art.

The Bollard Trail stretching from Limeburners Point in the east to Rippleside Park, features more than 100 characters who comically tell the story of Geelong’s history. From the original indigenous inhabitants to contemporary characters, the bollards show the diversity of the region. Without uttering a word, each bollard is able to clearly tell a story to all who pass by.

It is an anecdotal history, tracing Geelong’s development from the original Koori inhabitants to the more contemporary characters. You will find young ladies in neck to knee bathing costumes, lifesavers, families, a footballer, sailors, a town band, fishermen and dozens more. They make the perfect theme or team building activity for your Geelong conference.

HISTORY

Geelong was first surveyed and declared a town in 1838 with a local population of 545. The city’s humble beginnings were founded in the rich pastoral hinterland and the prosperity of the local wool trade well into the 20th century. Experience the human endeavour involved with wool’s production and refinement at Geelong’s National Wool Museum.

By the 1850s, Geelong was swept up in “gold fever”, becoming the principle seaport for the gold industry around Ballarat. The city’s population ballooned to more than 23,000 people, making Geelong the fourth largest town in Australia.

In the later half of the 19th Century, as the gold prosperity declined, Geelong turned its attention to emerging industrial development. The city became the major trading port for the export of wool to Britain and textile industries flourished along the Barwon River.

Following the establishment of Phosphate Coop and Ford Motor Company, other international and national manufacturing industries moved to Geelong.

Historically, Geelong was a busy port for both exports and imports. Tall ships, tramps steamers, bay ferries and more recently cruise ships have berthed at Railway, Cunningham and Yarra Piers to load and unload their cargo. However, like many old city docklands, changing times and the revolution in handling sea cargo brought an end to their commercial relevance.

Today, Geelong enjoys a reputation as one of Australia’s leading industrial centres. The City has also developed as a centre of excellence in the area of education, research and development, health, hospitality and tourism.

TRANSPORT AND ACCESS

BY AIRRegular domestic and international flights service Melbourne Airport, which is an easy hour’s drive to Geelong and the start of the Great Ocean Road via the Western Ring Road and Princes Freeway to Geelong.

Avalon Airport hosts flights from Sydney and is just 17 minutes’ drive by car, taxi or shuttle bus to Geelong, putting you in the heart of this bustling city and on the doorstep of the Great Ocean Road. Easy parking and car rentals are available at the airport.

Regular shuttle buses operate between Avalon Airport, Melbourne Airport and Geelong, and also offer transport further along the Great Ocean Road.

For more about flight schedules visit www.jetstar.com.au

BY SEAIf you’re travelling from the east Victorian coast there is simply no better (or faster) means of travel than aboard the Queenscliff- Sorrento Ferry.

It’s a perfect way to start your event. Ferries run on the hour, every hour, every day of the year.

For details visit www.searoad.com.au or call 03 5258 3244.

BY ROADIn under an hour, you can drive from the city of Melbourne to Geelong via the Princes Freeway or from Melbourne Airport via connections from the Western Ring Road and Tullamarine Freeway.

The new Geelong Ring Road gives you faster than ever access (just over an hour) to Torquay and the Great Ocean Road and beyond. All major car rental companies are represented at Avalon Airport and within the Geelong and Great Ocean Road region.

BY RAILRelax and take in the scenery, or start your meeting or conference in a train carriage on the way to your chosen destination. Speak to Business Events Geelong to find out how we can partner with V/Line to get your event rolling.

Regular V/Line train services from Melbourne connect with regional rail services at Geelong, Colac and Warrnambool.

For more about train schedules call 1800 800 007 or visit www.vline.com.au

Accommodation is abundant and varied throughout the Geelong region. We pride ourselves on our well-appointed accommodation, great atmosphere, prominent locations, friendly hosts, comfortable and inviting rooms with convention facilities and exhilarating attractions all at your doorstep.

CAPACITYGeelong offers in excess of 1000 hotel-motel rooms and serviced apartments within a short distance of the city centre, all of which guarantee you a good night’s sleep.

VARIETYOur accommodation also guarantees to suit specific tastes, budgets and needs, as they range from 4½ star elegance to 2 star comfort. There is a wide choice of locations where styles differ dramatically:

• Uniquepropertieswithspectacularwaterfrontviewsof Corio Bay or the calming waves around Queenscliffand the Bellarine Peninsula

• Citycentreoptionsclosetoalltheaction-shops,restaurants, pubs and clubs

• Classicgolfcoursepropertiesthatencourage‘ahit’oroffer a relaxing stay in tranquil and natural surrounds

• Smaller,moreintimatehotelsinquieterresidentialareas

ACCOMMODATION REFERRAL & BOOKING SERVICESGeelong’s Visitor Information Centres can offer your participants peace of mind when searching for accommodation. Delegates can call 1800 755 611 free of charge for information or advice. We also have a Room Bank service which helps participants of large events to find accommodation more easily when many venues are heavily booked. All referral services offered are free of charge.

Alternatively, delegates can visit: www.visitgeelongbellarine.com.au

Whatever your sleeping demands, you’ll rest easy knowing you’ll find just the right place right here. There is truly something here for everyone. We look forward to welcoming you and your delegates to our beautiful city.

ACCOMMODATION

THE BELLARINE: THE BEST OF COAST TO COUNTRY Whichever direction you choose to travel around The Bellarine, you’ll realise that the more you look the more you discover! Just over an hour from Melbourne and with the townships generally not more than ten kilometres apart, there is plenty to see on a day tour or stop in one place for the perfect short break.

The Bellarine Peninsula is emerging as one of Victoria’s newest gourmet destinations-to-watch, thanks to an abundance of new and innovative food and wine related offerings most notably the new Bellarine Taste Trail. With world class wineries peppered throughout the area, as are superb restaurants, quaint cafés, fresh local seafood and Sunday markets.

Other activities on The Bellarine include all the water-based sports and pleasures you can think of – snorkelling, jet-skiing, swimming with dolphins, surfing, kayaking, fishing, marine sanctuaries, sailing and more.

Bed and breakfast accommodation is plentiful, hotels are often historic buildings and there are always the well-appointed caravan parks and camping available.

SURF COAST & THE GREAT OCEAN ROADThe Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s greatest scenic drives and ranked among the top 20 journeys of a lifetime by Conde Naste Traveler, one of Europe’s leading travel magazines and the top 10 road trips by American Travel Bible, Frommers.

From Geelong, as the road winds its way along the coast, you will pass the world renowned surfing mecca of Bells Beach and quaint townships of Torquay and Lorne, the splendor of the Otways rainforest and Port Campbell National Park.

The Surf Coast, home to some of Australia’s best surf beaches including Bells Beach, offers bustling resort towns, spectacular scenery, lush rainforests and huge cascading waterfalls.

Explore fascinating historic townships and bush-walk the beautiful Otway Ranges. Sample a range of fresh and delicious local produce. Sip on local wines at the cellar door, pick your fill of seasonal berries, or dine on home baked breads, biodynamic ice cream or homemade cakes and desserts.

OPTIONAL TOURING ACTIVITIES

In fact, the Geelong region has two distinct histories. Victoria’s first commercial vintage was produced in Geelong by Swiss immigrant vignerons in 1845. By the 1860s, Geelong was the most significant wine region in Australia – in both size and stature – exporting to Europe and producing award-winning wines.

The discovery of vine disease phylloxera precipitated a wholesale wine pull in the 1870s, after which Geelong experienced a wine making hiatus of nearly 100 years.

Today, the region is again home to many boutique, family-owned vineyards, creating world-class varietal wines.

Handcrafted with passion and dedication, Geelong wines are the expression of cool climate, rich soils and a unique history. From the maritime breeze of the Bellarine and Surf Coast to the dark volcanic topsoils and dry, rocky outcrops of the Moorabool Valley, sub-regional nuances add complexity to our wines.

From our hands to yours… Geelong Wineries.

GEELONG WINERIES

SPORT AND EVENTS IN GEELONG

Sport and events are very much part of Geelong’s culture and lifestyle.

The region is fortunate to have natural assets that support varying sports and recreation pursuits such as cycling, surfing, swimming in addition to traditional sports such as cricket and football.

Geelong is the only regional destination in Victoria to have an AFL club – the Geelong Cats.

All of which is completed by an events calendar that’s bursting at seams, having developed a proven ability to host events covering a broad spectrum. Geelong has successfully hosted major events such as the World Lifesaving Championships, the 2010 UCI Road World Cycling Championships and the Australian Masters Games and is the home of the Australian International Airshow. Annual events include the Festival of Sails, Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, Bay Cycling Classic, Victorian Open (golf), Toast to the Coast, IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong, Pako Festa and the National Celtic Festival.

Visit us at www.eventsgeelong.com.au to find out more about the huge variety of events on in Geelong!

Make sure you ‘Like’ us on Facebook and ‘Follow’ us on Instagram to hear about our latest events, special offers and ticket giveaways.

Here’s a sample of annual summer season events:

DEC – Geelong Revival Festival

DEC – Denis Walter Carols by the Bay

JAN – Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic

JAN – Hyundai A League Match

JAN – Festival of Sails

JAN – Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

FEB – Victorian Open (golf)

FEB – Ironman 70.3 Geelong

FEB – Pako Festa

MAR – Motor City Music Festival

MAR - Geelong Highland Gathering

CENTRAL GEELONGCentral Geelong is a vibrant and dynamic city. Whether you are looking to relax at a cafe, bar, museum or gallery, or shop until you drop - Central Geelong has it all. The main shopping streets are Ryrie, Moorabool and Malop Streets with many in between… all  of which are filled with a mix of specialty shops offering everything from high fashion and home wares to gifts and electrical goods.

From big name department stores to hundreds of specialty shops, the Central Geelong shopping experience is the perfect mix of large indoor centres and boutique strip shopping. Open 7 days a week, Westfield Geelong and Market Square Shopping Centre provide hundreds of retailers all under one roof or wander the streets for a wide range of strip shops with individual character and charm.

PAKINGTON STREET‘Pako’ to the locals is a vibrant multicultural dining and shopping strip. Italian leather, Italian food, slow food, fast food, bottle shops, boutiques, Pakington Street has the lot. ‘The Paris End’, featuring a number of award winning restaurants, is the perfect place for a Sunday brunch.

At the other end, Pako really lives up to its multicultural reputation.

MARKETSFresh produce, delicious gourmet treats direct from growers and producers, unique wares and homemade goods, can all be purchased at the vast array of regular markets held throughout the year in Geelong and the surrounding region.

RETAIL THERAPY