The History and Evolution of Geelong's Local Culture Scene

Geelong's culture scene marked its latest milestone this month with the opening of a new exhibition wing at the Geelong Gallery on Little Malop Street, extending a collection that began in 1901.

The change matters now because the city has moved past its heavy manufacturing era and now relies on tourism and events to fill venues that once served factory workers along the waterfront.

From port warehouses to performance spaces

Early growth centred on Ryrie Street, where shipping agents and traders first hosted travelling theatre troupes in the 1860s. By the 1970s the same stretch housed the Geelong Performing Arts Centre, which opened its doors in 1981 and still runs the annual Geelong Arts Festival each October. A second key site sits at the old wool stores on the Barwon River, now converted into the Geelong Cultural Hub that hosts monthly markets and writer residencies funded by the City of Greater Geelong.

Attendance figures released by the gallery last week showed 142,000 visitors in the 2025 financial year, up from 87,000 in 2015, with ticket prices for the new wing set at $18 for adults and free entry for school groups from Geelong West Primary.

Next steps for visitors and locals

Residents can pick up the new self-guided history walk leaflet at the Geelong Library on Mercer Street starting Monday, or book a spot on the first weekend tour of the former wool stores site through the Cultural Hub website.