Tucked away on the beach near Geelong’s iconic Ferris wheel, the Town Baths Lifesavers bollards depict members of the local town baths swimming club as a progression of lifesavers, creating a cheeky visual timeline of men’s swimwear across the 20th century.

In a subtle nod to the strict beach inspectors of the era, Mitchell shows the brave bathers gradually sliding their modest singlets down to their waists until the modern, shorter swimming trunk became the accepted style.

Humorous, clever, and full of personality, the Town Baths Lifesavers capture both Geelong’s beach culture and Mitchell’s witty take on local history.