Victoria’s second city is a lively town with plenty going on, from its world-class culinary scene, to its fantastic breweries and speciality coffee roasters. It’s slowly becoming a hipster enclave as the overflow from neighbouring Melbourne arrives in search of cheaper rent and more affordable opportunities. All of this has given Geelong a new lease of life and a growing reputation as a city with great creative potential.
It’s a city that’s truly on the up, with an ever increasing population, including plenty of young families arriving from Melbourne who are adding new life into city. And it’s well needed too.
When Geelong’s historic Ford plant closed in 2016, the city found itself down on its luck. This led to a period of stagnation, which is now being followed by a period of transition as the city goes through the process of reinventing itself. Geelong’s resilient spirit can be seen all over the city, with many of its former industrial buildings now housing excellent restaurants, trendy cafes and craft shops, all of which rival even Melbourne's best.
This burgeoning creative scene, combined with geelong’s significantly cheaper rent, has been luring all manner of creative types away from Melbourne, ranging from chefs and restaurateurs, to visual artists and fashion designers. Cheaper studio space is abundant here, and on a stroll around the city you’ll encounter all manner of creatives selling their wares in cute little craft shops.
One of the nicest ways to spend an afternoon in Geelong is at the Little Creatures Brewery. Little Creatures was founded in Western Australia, but in 2013 they opened their first east coast brewery in Geelong. Today, it’s a vibrant part of the community, where locals and tourists alike congregate to enjoy a beer and indulge in some of the brewery’s fantastic food.
There are also brewery tours and tastings year round, offering visitors the chance to explore behind the scenes of the brewery and learn everything there is to know about the beer brewing and tasting process.
Aside from the city’s more modern conveniences and indulgences, there’s also a great deal of history to be enjoyed in the city. Geelong is home to an array of historic sites, including the National Wool Museum, the Old Geelong Gaol, as well as the Botanic Gardens at Eastern Park. Stroll around the streets and you’ll also stumble into a number of smaller museums and galleries that are also well worth a visit.
Geelong is a city surrounded by a beautiful bay and harbour, which is why it’s well-known for its fantastic seafood. No trip here would be complete without sampling one of the city’s many waterfront eateries. Watch your catch come in off the boats, sip on a cold glass of local wine, then prepare to be wowed by some fantastic seafood.
It’s easy to love Geelong.
