Geelong’s famous bollards come to life in new AR project

The Andrews Labor Government is bringing Geelong’s famous bollards to life with new funding for the “Say Hello to the Geelong Bollards” project.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren visited the Geelong waterfront today to announce Geelong and the Bellarine had received a grant through the new $2 million Regional Events and Innovation Fund.

“Geelong and the Bellarine offer so much to see and do – this project will give locals and visitors alike the opportunity to explore the area and learn more about the local history” – Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren.

Created by artist Jan Mitchell in 1999, the 103 bollards carved from pier pylons are located around Corio Bay. The painted figures represent a range of local characters from the original indigenous inhabitants to explorers, opera singers and life savers, with each telling the story of a historic local event.

“This project will breathe new life into the already popular Baywalk Bollards, attracting a new generation of visitors to the region and reminding people to take a second look at a beloved local attraction” – Member for Geelong, Christine Couzens.

This project will use augmented reality to animate the bollards and bring to life their stories. Visitors will be able to use their smartphones to watch animated content of the bollards as they walk around the bay.

For nearly two decades Geelong’s bollards have been a key tourist attraction for the region which welcomed 5.1 million total visitors who spent an estimated $936 million in the year ending March 2018.