We met in the car park on Hearne Parade overlooking the Eastern Beach of Corio Bay. After waiting for a few strays gathering their morning caffeine fix from a local establishment, we headed uphill and entered the Geelong Botanic Gardens.
The Gardens were a delight! Surprisingly none of us had visited them before! Wandering around the beds with their beautiful flowers and well manicured lawns all morning would have been an easy choice however another adventure awaited us.
 |
| Whoops! Forgot the name of this one! |
 |
| The Gardener and her helper? |
Our sojourn into the gardens was brief. Continuing along our planned track, we headed back to the foreshore passing an interesting rock sculpture. Best viewed from the air, this Artist's sculpture add an intriguing element to the gently sloping hillside.
 |
| Is it Art? |
A helicopter ride will reveal a flowing ribbon! The Artist has another sculpture near the You-Yangs in the shape of an Eagle.
 |
| An interpretive sign! |
Corio Bay floats in the southwest corner of Port Phillip Bay. It was investigated by European explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell in 1824. These explorers met the local indigenous people, the Wautharong people who called the surrounding lands "Corayo" and the bay "Jillong". The names got swapped and Anglicised. So we now now these places as Corio Bay and Geelong!
 |
| An old basalt paved boat landing. |
Have you notice the very stiff and upright characters standing about? Well, these are the famous Geelong Waterfront Bollard Sculptures!
All up, there are 103 sculptures! Each one depicts a character or persons associated with the history of the area. They are the creation of Melbourne born artist Jan Mitchell and are really quite wonderful.
The sculptures are made from reclaimed recycled wooden pier pylons. Each is individually carved and painted. Some have rabbits to look out for!
 |
| The young Endeavour! |
There are many attractions along the Waterfront including sailing ships, the Cunningham Pier and a wonderful old carousel! A market was in full swing! A few walkers were nearly lost to the attraction of shopping bargains and hot jam doughnuts!
 |
| Anyone for a ride? |
 |
| A little sculpture! |
 |
| Anyone for Scottish bagpipes? |
The Western Cliffs! The photo below is of the Western Cliffs! These cliffs were formed quite recently. Within the last 10,000 years recent. There are a couple of distinct layers; the lower layer is the Fyansford Formation at the bottom and the Moorabool Viaduct Sands at the top.
You can tell the difference as the Fyansford Formation consists of yellow brown to pale orange sandy to silty marls imbedded in calcareuos silty clay. Whereas the 5 meter thick layer of Moorabool Viaduct sands are brown to pale orange with some red ferruginous staining and consist of sandy sediments known as calcarerous and silty sands, quartzite, sandstone conglomerate and sandy clays. Or so the sign said!
 |
| Western cliffs. |
Then we had lunch in Rippleside Park, under the old Peppercorn Trees!
And of course after lunch we headed back to where we came from.
Looking back is very important. It helps to know where you have been, so you know where you are going.
The shore is lined with mature trees which provide shade to beach goers during the summer.
 |
| Cunningham Pier. |
 |
| Under Cunningham Pier. |
Pheonix canariensis, those Palm trees in the photo above, are not native to Geelong but the Council seem to have planted a lot of them the along the Waterfront. They could have planted Norfolk Island palms! Or not!!
The end is nearly in sight, but its too soon to bring an end to our wonderful walk along the Geelong Waterfront!
So we had coffee at the Life Saver's Pavillion whilst looking up toward the water feature with the Spanish inspired waterbirds! A wonderful day and walk through the geological and architectural history of the Geelong Waterfront!
Walkabouters Club of Victoria Inc.
A0019863A
