Standing proudly at the entrance to Cunningham Pier, the Sea Captains celebrate Geelong’s rich maritime past.

This colourful pair represents two important eras of local seafaring. On one side stands the captain of the steamship SS Edina, which carried passengers between Geelong and Melbourne for almost 60 years. Look closely and you’ll spot his pocket watch set at 3:55pm which was five minutes before the ship’s regular departure time.

Beside him is the captain of an ocean-going wool clipper, recalling the tall ships that once transported Geelong’s wool to Europe. In a playful detail, he is shown returning with exotic birds for the Geelong Botanic Gardens at the request of early curator Daniel Bunce including a Major Mitchell cockatoo, a gentle nod to the artist’s own name.

Although the clipper captain’s face was inspired by then-Mayor and former tugboat captain Gerry Smith, both figures represent the many sailors, captains and workers who shaped Geelong’s busy port.

Bright, bold and full of character, the Sea Captains are a lasting tribute to the city’s proud waterfront history. Geelong's bustling port days.