The teenage project that defined a subculture

WHEN Alistair Miller and his friends pushed for a skate park in Corio as teenagers, they weren’t thinking about legacy, but more than four decades on, the bowls they fought for are set to be protected.

The skate park at Fountain of Friendship Park has been given heritage overlay status, recognising its place in Geelong’s history and helping secure its future.

Miller, a founding member of the Corio Skateboard Club, said the group spent months lobbying council and building support in the late 1970s to make the project happen.

Their efforts paid off when the bowls opened in 1980, drawing a crowd of more than 300 people, with skaters travelling from across Victoria.

“The rumours were burning around and people turned out in numbers. It was just incredible,” Miller said.

“We had people from the other side of Melbourne who turned out to see the newest spot in Geelong.

“The support has continued to today and we’ve just been blown away.”

Now, 46 years on, the site has taken on a life far beyond what its teenage creators imagined.

“It’s been instrumental in the history of Australian skateboarding,” Miller said.

“It’s huge for us to now know it will be protected. We never thought it would still be here in 2026.

“For us at the Corio Skateboard Club, it means so much to us. It’s something we worked so hard for as teenagers and it will now be supported for generations.”

The bowls have built a reputation well beyond Geelong, attracting visiting skaters from around the world.

“Getting a photo at the Corio Bowls certainly comes with a bit of street cred,” Miller said.

“It’s become just this phenomenal attraction for people of all walks of life.”

The site is still used regularly, including by original club members who return for anniversary events.

The heritage overlay is not yet final, with the proposal to go through further state government approvals and consultation before being confirmed.