There are over 100 huge wooden sculptured bollards guiding visitors along the foreshore walking cycling track from Rippleside Park, through the Waterfront Geelong, to Limeburners Point & the Botanic Gardens in Eastern Park. Some of Jan's bollards also invite visitors to Geelong from Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) & Avalon Airport at Little River. The colourful bollards are the work of artist, Janice Marie (Jan) Mitchell (1939-2008). Made from huge old wooden pylons recovered from the Yarra St Pier (Geelong) which was destroyed by fire in 1980's, the wood was sculptured, then painstakingly hand painted to depict anecdotal events, history & development of the Geelong region, from the times the local Koori people were the only inhabitants to modern times. The bollards were produced in the old wool stores on the Geelong Waterfront, opposite Cunningham Pier, Western Beach. Jan was commissioned by the City Of Greater Geelong Council, commencing in 1999 running over several years.
Jan Mitchell was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her work on transforming the Geelong Waterfront in 2006.
Following Jan's death, the bollards are maintained by artist/sign writer John Starr & Peter Roos, cabinet maker/timber carver.
I found it extremely interesting following the story of Jan's bollards at an exhibition held at Geelong Wool Museum in 2009. These are my photos in memory of Jan, hope you enjoy them viewed through my lens, or even better..... why not visit our City & see them yourself!!
Unfortunately I deleted photos taken of the bollards at Tullamarine, so will have to be a later post.... along with bollards at Barwon Heads, Victoria.
