Light pillars at Eastern Beach Grand Staircase to be fenced off for safety

We recently had independent engineers inspect the staircase as part of planning for its future restoration.

The staircase was built in 1929 and is now almost 100 years old. Like many structures of this age, some parts of the original concrete are showing signs of deterioration, even with regular maintenance over the years.

The inspections found problems with some of the concrete pillars that support the lights and handrails. We’re fencing off those areas as a precaution while engineers continue their work and we look at the next steps.

The staircase is currently open, and we’ll keep monitoring the site as we learn more.

The Eastern Beach Grand Staircase is one of our most loved landmarks. We’re working with Heritage Victoria, engineers and heritage experts to understand the best way to protect and restore it for the future.

We’ll keep you updated as plans progress.

Acting Chief Executive Anthony Basford:

Public safety is always our primary consideration. At this stage, the staircase is safe to use, with the main concerns relating to the light pillars and their associated handrails, but engineers will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Discussions are now underway with Heritage Victoria about the future of the staircase, including the potential removal of the two most severely affected pillars.
The future restoration of the staircase would be a significant undertaking, given its size, location, and significance to Geelong, but we are continuing discussions with all relevant stakeholders, including heritage consultants, to determine the most appropriate way forward.

Page last updated: Friday, 31st July 2026

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