Relics of Geelong’s past
TODAY’S main photo, an aerial pic of central Geelong in the 1930s, shows many landmarks still in existence today.
The T&G Building near the centre of the photo was newly completed, having first being announced in 1933.
The now-condemned Belchers building can be seen, with the familiar former bank building opposite on the southwest corner of Moorabool and Ryrie streets.
The Brights bandstand and the former Bull and Owen corner opposite on either side of Little Malop St are easily identified. The current Market Square Shopping Centre was at the time still 50 years away, and Jacob and McCann streets can be seen in the bottom right of the photo.
The former His Majesty’s Theatre, fronting Jacob St, can be seen clearly. The theatre had closed in 1933 and in 1936 the site became Cowley’s City Garage. The building itself was demolished in 1961, becoming Geelong’s first high-rise carpark before being swallowed up by the Market Square Shopping Centre.
The area to the east of McCann St is still vacant land today. The Corio Theatre complex, which included some of the shops along the east side of McCann St, was opened in 1938. It also made way for the Market Square Shopping Centre.
Roughly opposite the south end of McCann St is the Prince of Wales Hotel, with its stripped-roofed veranda. Another theatre, the Regent Theatre, adjoins the hotel to its west. The Regent Theatre building still remains and is currently a Dimmeys store.
To the left of the picture, the Geelong Theatre can be seen on Ryrie St.
Most of the buildings along the south side of Ryrie St remain, with the exception of the bank building on the southeast corner of Ryrie and Moorabool streets. Contact: peterjohnbegg@gmail.com