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Waterfront Bollards Trail

Arts, Culture and Heritage present a curated Bollard trail. A selected sample of the larger walk, this trail is designed to give visitors to the Waterfront a taste of the City's history and a glimpse of these spectacular pieces of locally loved public art.

Four painted bollards of the Geelong Baths Swimming Club. Each bollard is painted with a red and yellow swim cap and blue and white striped swimsuits.

About the artist and the bollards project

Jan Mitchell (1940–2008) was a respected Geelong‑based artist, known for her vibrant, whimsical and historically rich public artworks

Her signature Geelong Bollards series, created between 1990 and 2001, transforms reclaimed and salvaged wooden posts into colourful landmarks and storytelling figures.

Jan Mitchell’s Baywalk Bollards have become a defining part of the Geelong waterfront experience, stretching from Rippleside Park to Limeburners Point and the Botanic Gardens.

From Jan Mitchell’s original vision and approximately 110 works, the Geelong Bollards have grown into a collection of over 155 painted wooden sculptures. Today, they extend from Barwon Heads to Portarlington along Corio Bay, and across Geelong from the Carousel and National Wool Museum to Tourism Information Centres and Avalon Airport.

The Bollards Project brings the city’s history to life, celebrating local people, events and everyday moments from the 19th and 20th centuries. Each bollard is carefully painted and detailed, combining humour, charm and historical accuracy to create a unique outdoor gallery that engages both residents and visitors, while preserving Geelong’s cultural memory.

The trail has been specially curated with an estimated walking time of 30 minutes one way (one hour round trip) in mind.

Four painted bollards dressed in red and black bathing suits and red and yellow swim caps

Victoria Baths Swimmers

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Two bollards of a steamboat captain and a sail captain dressed in blue suits and caps. One is holding a cage with a cockatoo inside.

Sea Captains

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Painted bollards of a woman and a sailor. The sailor has a blue bag indicating he is on shore leave.

Sailor and Woman

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Four painted bollards of swimmers wearing white and blue swimsuits with yellow and red swim caps.

Geelong Baths Swimming Club

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Painted bollard of local man with striped shirt, glasses, red suspenders and pants. His hat and clothes are covered in his colourful pet birds.

Bird Man

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Five painted bollards wearing military suits combined of white hats, red coats and blue pants. One is conducting the other four who are holding instruments.

Volunteer Rifle Band

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Painted bollard of a woman dressed in a tram conductors' outfit with blue hat and a tram ticket in her hand.

Tram Conductress

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Three painted bollards of an old woman wearing a white apron and holding a scallop with two bearded fishermen. One has a red hat and the other has a yellow hat.

Scallop Fishermen and Woman

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Painted bollard of a fireman, wearing a blue fireman uniform with gold painted fire helmet and holding a fire hose. The Geelong Ferris wheel and yacht club can be seen in the background.

Fireman

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Painted bollard of a woman dressed in a blue and white striped dress and wide brimmed hat. She is standing out front of the Yacht Club and is holding a trophy.

Yacht Club Lady

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Painted bollard of woman with glasses and hair tied back into a bun. She is wearing a floral shirt and blue cardigan and blue dress. She is holding a glass of lemonade and a slice of lemon.

Mrs De Carteret

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Painted bollard of an old Geelong football player with grey hair and large mustache. He is holding a red football.

Early Geelong Footballer

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Painted bollard of a local performer, dressed in white face and white costume and hat with large black buttons.

Pierrot

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Painted bollard with white face and pink cheeks. He is wearing a red suit and hat with gold buttons. His hat reads "Joy Ark".

Joy Ark Sandwich Board Man

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Four painted bollards of swimmers wearing blue shirts and white shirts and standing next to a rope reel.

Town Baths Swimmers Club

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Painted bollards of four beauty contestants all wearing bathing suits and make-up.

Bathing Beauties

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Two painted bollards of a husband and wife out for a weekend drive, dressed in formal weekend clothing. They are holding tools and driving googles which was the style at the time.

Car Rally Picnickers

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Two painted bollards, one dressed in grey suit and hat, the other in mayoral regalia and robes.

Ian McDonald and Robert Johnston

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
Five painted bollards dressed in traditional red and yellow lifesaving outfits. They are standing in a row and holding a rope above their heads.

Eastern Beach Lifesavers

(1994-1999)Jan Mitchellacrylic paint on wood
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