Jan Mitchell’s Bathing Beauties bollards celebrate Geelong’s lively waterfront in the 1930s and 1940s, when annual New Year’s Day beauty pageants were the highlight of summer.

Under the guidance of city engineer Ian McDonald, who tutored contestants in poise and now has his own dedicated bollard nearby, up to 60 swimsuit-clad locals would parade along the boardwalk hoping to be crowned Miss Geelong by the Mayor. Winners took home a quirky mix of prizes, including half a guinea, Myer doeskin gloves, and a holiday to Mount Buffalo.

While these fun competitions captured the playful spirit of Australian summers, the outdoor spectacle eventually outgrew the beachfront. Crowds of over 20,000 meant spectators were sometimes pushed into the water, and in 1946 the contest was moved indoors to the Palais dance hall.

Playful, colourful, and full of character, the Bathing Beauties bollards recall a sun-soaked era of fun, fashion, and community celebration on Geelong’s waterfront.