Moorabool Street links Corio Bay at the north with the Barwon River to the south. The iconic red stone sculptures that resemble shark fins proudly sit at the bay end of Moorabool Street overlooking Cunningham Pier and the modern glass and metal carousel pavilion. Looking south towards the city is the beautifully restored Sailor’s Rest that is now a fine restaurant. To the right and further up Moorabool Street sits much of the city’s historic wool store buildings.
Today the wool stores have taken on new modern uses, Deakin University, Lamby’s bar, The National Wool Museum and Westfield Bay City are just a few of the transformations that have made use of these beautiful red brick and bluestone buildings.
Over Brougham Street another of Geelong’s vibrant nightlife strips begins, with Lambys, Home-House and an array of great dining like The Black Bull, Thai Influence and the Phoenix Hotel. The beautiful street scapes are well used with plenty of alfresco dining underneath the magnificent Washington Palms.
Heading towards Malop Street, one of the city’s most famous intersections, you will find banks and other service businesses. The striking sandstone former Thomas Jewellers and the Market Square Shopping Centre are the most prominent buildings on this intersection, with Market Square stretching all the way to the Little Malop Street Mall. The Little Malop Street Mall stretches east to Yarra Street on the southern side of Market Square. This Mall is used for many city events and the monthly Food Truck Fridays.
To the right of the mall is the entertainment and nightlife strip of Little Malop Street, home to many great restaurants and cafes, not forgetting some of the most popular bars and clubs like the Eureka and Beav’s Bar. Further westerly you will find where the city’s arts and culture precinct kicks in.
Now back to Moorabool Street, this street is home to the city’s major bus stops, here you can easily reach all suburbs of Geelong and interchange with the Geelong Railway Station for trips to Melbourne, Warnambool and beyond.
The Bright and Hitchcock Building sits on the southern side of the Mall, this building in its heyday was one of the city’s most popular and the bandstand that is still intact on the corner was a thriving place for music. Further along the magnificent art deco T&G Building towers over the streetscape with its impressive strong strait lines. On the hour be sure to see the famous father and son ring the bell from a platform on the southern side.
Further up the hill and out of the city there are two more exciting Geelong must sees, like the Palais Theatre on the left hand side just over the hill. The Palais was an institution in the early parts of last century when it was a very popular dance hall. The Palais is where many a romance blossomed. In later years The Palais become a band venue, huge names like the Shadows performed there in the 60s’ while Cold Chisel, INXS, the Angels and even legendary English heavy metal band Motorhead performed there in the early 80′s. Today the venue is used as a very popular bingo hall with plans for redevelopment.
One of Geelong’s most loved icons is a little further along Moorabool Street on the right hand side, yes its Kardinia Park, home of GMHBA Stadium and the mighty Geelong Football Club. The ground has undergone some amazing transformations over the past few years and now its iconic white claw like structure can be seen from all around Geelong. Plans are being put in place to one day make this ground even bigger and allow more people to visit the ground on game day to watch the mighty cats fight for their next flag.