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20th Century Architecture Walk

The Influence of Percy Everett 1888-1967

Historic yellow brick building with long narrow windows from ground to roof with ornate door topped with large decorative crest

The first local architect trained at The Gordon Technical College, Everett worked for the Geelong Harbour Trust (designing the Wharf Shed), then Seeley and King 1910-13 where he designed the Sailors’ Rest at 3 Moorabool St. Laird and Buchan took over this practice. Everett continued to work with them while opening his own architectural practice in Melbourne and becoming an Education Department principal 1916-1934,

Appointed chief architect of the Public Works Department 1934-53, he oversaw the design of public buildings throughout the State. In Geelong they include the Former Court House (1938); The Gordon’s Wool School and Textile College; and parts of the Geelong Hospital and Geelong High School.

Within the Public Works Department, Everett established a strong design department promoting Moderne architecture with horizontal lines, little ornament, and curved, streamlined corners, using a contrasting vertical element.

Black and white photo of historic brutalist building

State Government Building

The State Government Offices, Geelong, a six-storey Brutalist concrete building designed by the Public Works Department in conjunction with Buchan, Laird & Buchan in c.1974/75 and completed in 1978.
White painted period building with blue trim and brown tile roof

Geelong Court House and Public Offices

With its ‘two-storey height courtroom, colonnaded porch and two flanking pavilions,’ the Court House reflects the classical lines of the Town Hall and Post Office. 
Edwardian red brick corner building with bold futuristic architectural corner parapet'

Leggo's Grocery Shop
Historic redbrick facade of old sales yard and market

Burn's and Sparrow Market and Saleyards

The 1852 saleyard transformed in 1905 from a single-storey shop with some brick offices, sheds and covered yards to a brick office, stables and saleyards (Burns & Sparrow, auctioneers); a second brick office (J. Brownhill, printer and publisher); and a series of upper-level offices. 
Redbrick facade of Federation Freestyle building with white trimmed windows and gold letters across the top

Scott Hamilton and Co. Ironmongers

An example of Federation Freestyle, the upper storey is still substantially intact, with 'three brick piers that define' the two-bayed composition. 
Steel-framed and built of yellow brick the heriatge building has long narrow windows from ground to roof with an ornate door decorated with a crest

Telephone Exchange

Designed by architects from the Commonwealth Department of Works and Victorian Director General of Works.
Grey ornate facade with columns left and right of the building

Geelong Gas Company Building

The company was formed in 1857, and Geelong's first gas street lighting was lit in 1862. The company was absorbed by the Gas and Fuel Corporation in 1900.
Rounded white brick facade with long narrow windows and Greek style details

National Bank

Greek Revival in detail, the bank's 'bold rounded-corner form' is also typical of many 19th Century Renaissance Revival examples. 
Streamlined Art Deco building built from yellow and brown brick with cream trim and roof

Carlton Hotel

Historically, still active on a hotel site of 140 years duration and, with a small group including the Brittania and National hotels (1937), it represents a rationalization of the hotel industry under large corporate brewery ownership, both in Geelong and Victoria generally. 
Historic red brick woollen mill with smokestack and factory windows

Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woolen Mill

This large Woollen Mill complex, established on a key river site, was a model venture using advanced technologies.
Art Deco fountain with statues of turtle and crane set against bath house building and palm trees

Eastern Beach Baths

Constructed between 1928 and 1939, the Eastern Beach Bathing Complex is the last major enclosed sea bathing facility to be constructed on Port Phillip Bay and represents the culmination of the ethos of sea bathing. Eastern Beach has provided a focal point for Geelong's outdoor activities.
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