Restoration works have begun on the 100‑year‑old Hitchcock Memorial Gateway at the northern entrance to Johnstone Park on Railway Terrace.

The works will follow the Heritage Victoria permit conditions and include rebuilding the footings, repairing cracks and broken sections, low‑pressure washing, paint removal and repainting the structure in its original light‑yellow Interwar period colour.

Built in 1925, the gateway honours former Mayor Howard Hitchcock CMG OBE, who served from 1917 to 1922 and played a key role in shaping Geelong’s cultural identity. Mr Hitchcock was also president of the Great Ocean Road Trust in 1918 where he organised the funding and construction of the road development.

The gateway was designed by Mr Eric ‘Keith’ Mackay OBE – then a 19‑year‑old Gordon School of Architecture student – who won a competition to design the memorial while indentured to local Geelong firm Laird and Buchan. The classical design is derived from English Renaissance architecture and inspired by Roman and Greek architecture. 

The project took two years to build and was supported by public fundraising. Serving as the ornamental entrance to the Peace Memorial, the gateway is a prominent landmark on the City’s Arts and Cultural Precinct Trail.

Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM 

The Hitchcock Memorial Gateway in Johnstone Park is part of Geelong’s identity and story. Repairing and restoring it is about respecting our past while making sure the structure stays safely intact for the future.

Howard Hitchcock helped shape the city we know today and it’s fitting that we protect the memorial built in his honour.

Dr David Mackay, son of architect Mr Keith Mackay 

I’m proud my father won the competition to design the gates at just 19 years old but, really, these gates are a memorial to former Mayor Howard Hitchcock and his legacy of service to Geelong.

It’s remarkable that they’ve stood for a century, and I’m happy that Council is restoring them to their original state.

The restoration will be carried out by specialist heritage contractors and is expected to take about six months to complete.

Access around the gateway will remain open where possible, with some temporary detours in place for public safety.