Jan Mitchell’s bollards of City Engineer Ian McDonald and Mayor Robert de Bruce Johnstone stand side-by-side in a playful, time‑bending pairing, uniting two men who profoundly shaped Geelong’s outdoor spaces, even though they never met in real life.

McDonald is easy to spot with his tartan tie and the Eastern Beach blueprints tucked under his arm. He oversaw the early 20th-century reclamation of the seafront by returned WWI diggers and took great care in planning and maintaining the new "People’s Playground" for public enjoyment.

Beside him,  Johnstone,  the 19th-century “Parks & Gardens Mayor” who died in 1881, ensured Geelong’s fleeting gold-rush wealth would be invested in lasting public spaces. His legacy includes the preservation of Eastern Park, the Botanic Gardens, and his namesake Johnstone Park, securing green havens for generations to come.

Together, these bollards celebrate the vision, dedication, and enduring impact of Geelong’s civic leaders.