Deranged Photography Contests - Statues - Geelong Bollards (set of photos)

This is my entry into the Amateur photography division of #derangedphotography Deranged Photography Contest run by @derangedvisions. The theme this week is 'Statues'.

These amazing bollards are the artwork of late Jan Mitchell who was commissioned by the City of Greater Geelong in Victoria, Australia to transform the old timbers from the Yarra Street Pier that was demolished in the 1980's into these fun and characterful works of art. There's 104 of these huge painted icons dotted along the foreshore walking and bike track from Rippleside Park, through Waterfront Geelong to Limeburners Point and the Botanic Gardens. They're a fun representation of the events and history of the Geelong region from past to present and are a big part of Geelong's tourist attractions.

Here's 19 of the 104 bollards featured below...

Above and below - Geelong Baths Swimming Club. The yacht club often held gala events in the earlier days of Geelong's Regatta days, the events included duck hunting, greasy pole competitions, bun eating contests and tub, dingy and seahorse races. One of the other popular contests was throwing a duck off the end of the pier and the young men would try and capture it first. This often led to rough play while trying to get the duck leaving behind many black eyes!

Above and below - These are the members of the Volunteer Rifle Band playing playing 'The Geelong Polka'. They're representing the musicians who played in Geelong’s first band concert which was held in the Botanic Gardens in 1861.

Above - Corio Rowing Club. These rowers with their impressive Victorian moustaches can be found standing beside their original boathouse which was built in 1879. It is now the Western Beach Boat Club headquarters.

Above - These are the Scallop Fishermen, there's also a woman in this set of bollards but I didn't photograph her. Corio Bay once had many shellfish with several established oyster beds that date back as far as 1871. Many boats dredged for scallops in the bay up until recently when fishing had to be stopped to prevent further damage to other fish species and to protect the seabed floor.

Above - Lifesavers on Eastern Beach. There's a few lifesaving groups can be found along this stretch but this group of lifesavers features a portrait of Billy Coyte. Billy Coyte was a local who not only taught life saving but also taught many generations of Geelong’s children how to swim.

Finally, this one is of a 1940’s tram conductress. Geelong once had a large tram network that was the envy of many other towns which ran from 1912 to 1956. The tram depot used to be on the corner of Yarra and Brougham Streets which is close by from where the collard is positioned. It has been noted that this bollard is making a bold statement by smoking and knitting a baby's bootee but she is also not wearing a wedding ring. This wouldn't be seen as a big deal today but then it would have been "something to talk about" back then.

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