The Kitty De Carteret bollard celebrates the everyday locals who helped shape Geelong’s community life.

Born to Lebanese parents in 1910, Kitty later married a Royal Navy commander and ran La Cabine, a popular tearoom and sweet shop at the corner of Yarra and Brougham Streets, for thirty years. She is lovingly depicted holding a glass of her famous house-made lemon squash, a favourite treat that made her shop a lively hangout for teenagers during the 1960s and 70s.

For decades after WWII, nearly every local child knew Kitty, often stopping by for a few pennies’ worth of lollies before grabbing a piece of cardboard to toboggan down the grassy slopes of Eastern Beach. Though she passed away in 1987, her brightly painted bollard keeps her warm, community-focused spirit alive on the waterfront.

Fun, vibrant, and full of character, the Kitty De Carteret bollard is a sweet reminder of Geelong’s local stories and everyday heroes.