Shift towards a bold new identity

IT’S amazing how leaving a place can make you appreciate it so much more.

I was reminded of that recently, after I relocated to this great city to take up a role with the Addy.

Moving back to Geelong after several years away, I was pleasantly surprised.

Having spent a few of my high school years in Geelong, I wasn’t sure what to expect, moving back six years after graduating.

Although I loved being close to the coast during my teenage years in Geelong, I remember most of my weekends as pretty dull.

Milling around the food court at Westfield was often the most exciting aspect of my days in town.

But strolling around the CBD late last year on one of my first weekends back in Geelong, I immediately noticed an increase in activity.

As someone who had not been to Geelong in years, there’s been a clear shift towards arts, culture and a more creative and innovative city.

Attending the Archibald, which was teeming with people at the Geelong Gallery on one of my first weekends here, demonstrated the city’s position on the cultural map. I spent my university years living with my family in Melbourne, before moving to Tasmania for two years. After my stint in Tassie, I can appreciate Geelong’s proximity to Melbourne more than ever. During my time living in Launceston, I travelled almost three hours whenever I wanted to visit the capital Hobart. Now, zooming down the Ring Road on my days off to visit family and friends, I can’t believe how lucky I am to live somewhere relaxed and afford- able, but so close to the buzz of our capital city.

The one-hour drive to visit Melbourne offers Geelong residents the best of both worlds.

Geelong’s affordability, compared to Melbourne, is undeniable and makes the city so attractive. Moving back and being able to acquire an apartment which didn’t break the bank and gave me easy walking access to the CBD was something I never would be able to afford in the capital.

And housing and arts are just two of the city’s strengths — there’s a new sense of optimism in Geelong.

The city, as well as being in a prime position to capitalise off the increasingly expensive Melbourne, has made leaps and bounds in forging a unique and creative identity.