Geelong Is Changing

Current

Geelong Arts Centre Redevelopment

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Stage 2

Key Details

Architect: HASSELL

Builder: Kane Constructions

Cost: $38.5 million 

    The second stage of the Geelong Arts Centre redevelopment was focused on a new building on Ryrie Street. This involved:

    • Demolishing the Band of Hope and Mechanics Institute Building
    • exposing the former church building’s facade
    • building a new double-height foyer. This connects with the Playhouse theatre

    Ryrie Street Building

    The building was opened in late 2019.

    February 8, 2018
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    February 23, 2018
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    March 1, 2018
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    June 21, 2018
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    July 21, 2018
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    July 27, 2018
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    February 21, 2019
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    March 13, 2019
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    June 14, 2019
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    July 3, 2019
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    July 12, 2019
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    October 2, 2019
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    Open Day

    The building held an open day in November, 2019. I was able to get photos of the inside of the building and the Creative Engine space.

    Stage 3

    Key Details

    Architect: ARM Architecture

    Builder: Lendlease

    Cost: $140 million

      Geelong Arts Centre Little Malop Street development is designed to increase the capacity of the venue. There will be:

      • a 550-seat theatre
      • a 250-seat theatre
      • a new Box Office
      • new back-of-house and administration facilities.

      The new building is expected to open later in 2023.

      Read more at the Geelong Arts Centre website

      Original Building

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      We used to visit the theatres at Little Malop Street a lot before the new development started. Unfortunately, we didn’t get many photos.

      I got photos of the Little Malop Street Arts Precinct in May, 2020. We also got photos of the building after GPAC had rebranded to the Geelong Arts Centre.

      Demolishing the Buildings

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      Two buildings were demolished as part of this development. One was the former GPAC building. The other was the former Barwon Health building,

      Barwon Health building

      In September, I noticed that this building had been boarded up. The building started to be demolished in November. I shared photos of there developments at 40 Little Malop Street Is Being Demolished.

      By December 11, the building had been completely demolished.

      The Original Gpac Building

      February 6, 2021
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      February 21, 2021
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      March 7, 2021
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      March 22, 2021
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      March 26, 2021
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      April 9, 2021
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      April 18, 2021
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      April 24, 2021
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      Building The New Arts Centre

      August 17, 2021
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      September 14, 2021
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      November 14, 2021
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      December 22, 2021
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      January 29, 2022
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      March 5, 2022
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      April 2, 2022
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      May 1, 2022
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      July 9, 2022
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      October 9, 2022
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      November 6, 2022
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      December 28, 2022
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      February 26, 2023
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      The Bottleworks

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      The Bottleworks is a new development on the site of the former Big Shed in South Geelong. The finished development will have 33 townhomes and seven apartments.

      Key Facts:

      Developer: Hygge Property

      Architect: Chamberlain Architecture

      Status: Under Construction

      Learn more about the project at the Bottleworks Geelong website.

        The Bottleworks is a fascinating project. We are seeing a lot of residential townhouse projects in Geelong currently, but very few acknowledge the history of both the site and precinct.

        The original Glass Works factory is going to be turned into warehouse style apartments. The townhouses architecture is designed to celebrate the industrial heritage. The double story design and façade materials echo the asymmetrical structure of the original sheds.

        It’s a really exciting project – especially when you consider how many bland developments there are in South Geelong.

        The Big Shed

        The Big Shed operated from this site for over 30 years. John Dillon bought the site in the early 1980’s and turned it into a timber furniture retail store. His daughter, Lucie, took over the business after he retired.

        You can learn more about the history at The end of an era for The Big Shed,

        In April, 2020, the council approved a new development at the site of the Big Shed in Fitzroy Street. I visited the site to get photos of the shed prior to demolition.

        Very little happened on the site for the rest of 2020 and the first half of 2021. Their was a lot of uncertainty regarding Covid 19 and, for many people, strict restrictions.

        Despite the uncertainty, over half the homes had been sold by November 2020.

        Bear Hunt Trail

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        The team behind The Bottleworks Geelong development worked with local cafes and artists to create a ‘bear hunt’ walking trail. Silly Sully, Mandy Dollery and Jacklyn Foster painted artworks on the side of the building.

        Demolition

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        Demolition started on the former Big Shed in June, 2021. I wasn’t able to get many photos of the demolition works due to changing Covid restrictions.

        I was able to get photos of the demolition works near the end of July. By Augusts end, the shed had mostly been demolished by the end of August.

        The demolition works were completed by October.

        Construction

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        April 2022

        The land had mostly been cleared and there was a small road. You could see the outline of future townhouse sites.

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          December 2

          Construction is well underway on the townhouses. There were no visible changes to the former glassworks factory

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            Punthill Geelong

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            The Facts

            Location: 22 Bellerine Street

            Levels: 15

            Due to be completed in May 2024

            Architect: Cera Stribley

            Punthill Geelong is a new apartment complex that is being built at 22 Bellerine Street.

            Previous buildings

            The above photo shows the front of the buildings at 20 and 22 Bellerine Street in October, 2020.

            22 Bellerine Street was previously the location of Safety Motors. The building was sold in 2017.

            The buildings at 20 and 22 Bellerine Street were demolished in October, 2021.

            Getting The Site Ready

            In April, 2022, the Geelong Advertiser reported that construction was about to start.

            May 1, 2022
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            September 23, 2022
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            December 29, 2022
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            44 Ryrie Street: Holiday Inn

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             The Holiday Inn will be Geelongs first hotel in 20 years. It will become a mixed use space combining retail, office and an 180 bed hotel. Construction started in early 2021.

            In August, 2018, Franzé Developments secured planning approval for a mixed-use development at 44 Ryrie street.

            The Original Building

            Glenn had taken many photographs of the empty building throughout 2018. A display suite went up for Ryrie Homes in Late November.

            Demolishing

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            We noticed that the building was being prepared to be demolished towards the end of February. By March 13, the site was empty. Not much happened for a while. This was partially due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

            In September, 2020, I noticed that new signage had gone up around the perimeter. A display suite had opened at 28a Ryrie Street.

            Construction

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