Time to be bold

GEELONG has a rich industrial and motoring history.

In 1925, Ford choose Geelong to begin its production of vehicles in Australia. That same year it also started sponsoring the Geelong Football Club, in a deal that continues to this day and is recognised as one of the longest continuous sponsorships in the world. Our motoring and industrial history is something the region should be extremely proud of.

Geelong is also home to the National Wool Museum, which tells the story of our connection to an industry that laid the foundations for our modern nation.

But we should be bold in our thinking as we look to find new ways to attract visitors to the region.

The establishment of a dedicated motoring and industrial museum is one way I think we could do this. At last month’s Council meeting, Councillors received the final Business Feasibility report on two concepts: one for the Geelong Museum of Motoring and Industry and one for the ‘Big Thing’. Council agreed to provide in-principle support for both projects in 2021, and asked officers to investigate options to advance them.

The Big Thing is a concept to create a unique and significant piece of public art to recognise Geelong’s Industrial and Motoring heritage and be a tourist attraction in itself. Other examples of ‘Big Things’ across Australia include The Big Pineapple, The Big Banana, The Big Merino and The Giant Koala, all landmarks people stop to visit on their journeys around the country.

The recently completed feasibility study considered five potential sites for the museum and Big Thing, before settling on two preferred options: the former Ford Factory site and Seagull Paddock.

Seagull Paddock does offer potential co-location of the Big Thing and Museum, along with low-cost camping and other possibilities, however, the report found the Old Ford site provided a quicker solution as the Seagull Paddock site requires further detailed investigation and community consultation.

Preliminary costings for development of a museum facility range from $8 million to $15 million, with a further $3 million required for the ‘Big Thing’, so for these projects to come to become reality Geelong would need philanthropic, State and Federal Government financial support. Firm costs cannot be fully scoped up and developed until a location for the museum is confirmed. Council has resolved to provide support to Geelong Museum of Motoring and Industry to pursue an agreement with the owners of the former Ford site, and to receive a future briefing on the outcomes of negotiations between them and the Geelong Museum of Motoring and Industry.

But I want to stress this is a project all councillors would love to see come to life and rival and exceed the very successful MOVE (Museum of Vehicle Evolution) in Shepparton. Both sites have proximity to the Spirit of Tasmania terminal and would give additional reason for passengers to explore our northern suburbs before visiting Greater Geelong and the Bellarine.

I encourage the private and commercial sector, as well as state and federal governments, to partner with Council and the community and consider investing in this project. The detailed feasibility report confirms the museum, which would feature a collection of historically significant vehicles, artworks, fashion, and artefacts from bygone times, would have enormous tourism benefits to our region.

The collection is currently in storage at various sites around Geelong and Melbourne and includes cars from the original Ford Australia collection, showcasing the evolution of the motoring industry over the last 100 years. We cannot let these valuable pieces of memorabilia languish and gather dust. Geelong has been an industrial and motoring city since Ford began producing vehicles here and it would be incredible for us to recognise this well-loved community identity and heritage.

Cr Anthony Aitken

Windermere Ward, City of Greater Geelong