Limeburner: One of Geelong’s earliest industries was lime burning, and as early as 1841 lime was exported to Launceston, Tasmania.

Matthew Flinders: Corio Bay was sighted from the You Yangs by Matthew Flinders in May 1802.

Portugese Explorer: The Portuguese explorers were said to have landed before Captain Cook.

Koori Family (3): A family illustrating the local hunter gatherer culture.

Nurse: In 1932 during the Depression, the Mother Hubbard Relief Fund was set up. The Geelong Hospital was founded in 1852 near this site.

Eastern Beach Open Sea Bathers (4): The former site of Eastern Parkside Baths built in 1930.

Bathing Tableau (5): A display of changing styles of bathing costumes: 1880’s woman, 1920’s man, 1940’s woman, 1950’s woman and a 1930’s lifesaver.

Eastern Beach Life Savers (5): Within this group there is a portrait of Billy Coyte who taught many generations of Geelong’s children to swim.

Robert de Bruce Johnstone: A portrayal of the “Mayor” of Geelong’s “parks and gardens”. Johnstone Park, which was established in 1864, is named in his honour.

Ian MacDonald: A portrait of Geelong’s city surveyor who produced the plans of the Eastern Beach complex which opened in 1939.

Car Rally Picnic Couple (2): Positioned at the site of vintage car rallies and speed trials.

Ulysses Riding Club: In 1983 Stephen Dearnley founded the motorcycle club for older riders – see the Club’s motto: “Grow Old Disgracefully” on his back.

Bathing Beauties (4): The beach front was the venue for beauty competitions from the 1930’s.

Town Baths Swimmers Club (5): A progression of lifesavers displaying the changing styles of men’s swimming trunks.

Joy Ark Sandwich Board Man: This gentleman advertises the Joy Ark which was built in 1912 as a silent picture movie hall and entertainment venue.

Pierrrot: The Joy Ark became a hall popular for dance and roller skating in 1914 with fancy dress often featured.

Early Geelong Footballer: A nearby field, which became Transvaal Square, was used for football practice.

Mrs de Carteret: This is a portrait of the proprietor of “La Cabine”, located on the corner of Yarra and Brougham Streets and once famous for its lemon squash.

Yacht Club Lady: Geelong’s Yacht Club was formed in 1859. The lady is holding the trophy won by “The Paddy” after racing in the first Geelong Regatta.

Fireman: Established in 1854, the Geelong Volunteer Fire Brigade is represented by this figure reflecting the burning of the “Lightning” in 1869.

Scallop Fishermen and Woman (3): From the early 1800’s, fish and crustaceans from Geelong were marketed and sold locally, as well as in Melbourne.

Tram Conductress: This is a 1940’s tram conductress. Trams in Geelong ran from 1912 to 1956.

Volunteer Rifle Band (5): Playing “The Geelong Polka”, this group represents players in Geelong’s first band concerts which were held in the Botanic Gardens in 1861.

Geelong Baths Swimming Club (5): A carnival atmosphere prevailed on the bay during early Geelong Regattas. Activities included duck hunting, greasy pole competitions, bun eating contests and races in tubs.

Sailor and Woman (2): A 2nd World War couple representing the Sailors’ Rest institution building, corner Moorabool Street and Eastern Beach Road (now a restaurant).

Steam Captain: Captain of the steamship S.S. Edina, in operation from 1888 to 1938.

Sail Captain: A captain bringing live birds to stock the nearby Botanic Gardens aviaries and also a portrait of a recent Mayor of Geelong, Gerry Smith.

Victoria Baths Swimmers (4): Swimmers characterising the Victoria Bathing Establishment (1870).

Western Beach Sea Bathing Company (5): Western Beach Sea Bathing Company swimmers (established in 1872). These are also portraits of politicians Gordon Scholes, Nipper Trezise, John Howard, Jeff Kennett and Sir Hubert Opperman as a young man.

Carrie Moore: Born in Geelong in 1882, Carrie became a musical comedy star, performing in Melbourne at age 14 and in London age 21 and was best known for her role as the Merry Widow.

Peter Lalor: After losing an arm during the skirmishes as leader of the Eureka Stockade uprising, Peter Lalor found sanctuary in Geelong.

Salvation Army Woman: The Salvation Army has been active in Geelong since 1883.

Corio Rowing Club (3): Corio Rowing Club (founded 1873) rowers stand beside their original boatshed built in 1879. It is now home to Western Beach Boat Club.

1920’S Lady: This woman represents the emancipation of the 1920’s. Sun-bathing regulations were enforced up to the 1930’s.

John Raddenbury and Lady (2): Geelong Botanic Gardens’ second curator, John Raddenbury in 1872.

Nancy Nattyknickers: Nancy sits astride her velocipede. The first velocipede was made in Geelong in 1869. In 1865 women first started wearing trousers to assist them to cycle.

Father and Son Fishing (2): A favourite pastime in the past, and enduring to the present.

James Harrison: The founding editor of the Geelong Advertiser (1840), James Harrison was also one of the inventors of commercial refrigeration (Patent issued in 1855).

Sunday School Group (5): Following the opening of the Geelong-Ballarat Railway Line in 1862, Geelong became a popular destination for Sunday School picnics.

Scotsman: The early Scottish settlers brought their popular Highland Games to Geelong, at which the Indigenous people often participated.

Koori Hunter: The Wathuarong people of this area are depicted by this hunter, who is wearing a possum skin cloak.

Photographic Group (6): This family, tucked away in the alcove by the old bluestone wall, represents the many Geelong families who have picnicked by the bay since first settlement.

1910 Policeman: This Law Enforcer is ready to pounce on a couple who are breaking the strict segregated bathing regulations of the day.

No Mixed Bathers (2): A pair of sheepish bathers who have transgressed the bathing regulations.

Nuns (2): The Sisters of Mercy, of The Sister House located in St Helen’s, played an important role in educating residents of early Geelong. Sister Mary Aloysius and Sister Mary Bernadette were two such nuns.

Rippleside Swimming Club (5): Geelong children were taught how to swim by using a kerosene tin float, situated near the site of the Corio Bathing Establishment, founded in 1844.

Student Teachers (2): Student teachers Elsie and Lydia represent Lunan House, which was built in 1851 and used as a trainee Teachers’ College between 1949 and 1984.

Morris Jacobs: Morris Jacobs, of Jacobs Stores (from 1852-1952; now Myers), kept a bird aviary at his residence on the Esplanade, Drumcondra.
Note: This bollard has moved from Rippleside to the Geelong Waterfront Carousel.