No description available at prov.vic.gov.au as at 9/9/2016

The Geelong Bell-ringers’ Club’s first recorded performance was at a tea meeting at St Paul’s Church in Geelong West in 1867 after having only recently formed. Since their inception, the work of the club members has been ringing out over Geelong during occasions including weekly church services, weddings and Queen’s Birthday celebrations.

The club has also welcomed visiting organisations during its lifetime including the 1883 visit by the Victorian Society of Change-Ringers whose performance was praised by the captain of the club at the time. More recently, current tower captain David Heyes saw a group of elite bell-ringers from England perform a 3 hour peal at St Paul’s in 2011.

There are currently 10 members of the St Paul’s congregation keeping the traditions of the club alive although activities have been placed on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The municipality was incorporated under N.S.W. Act 13, No. 40, October 1849. Geelong was proclaimed a Town on 4 June, 1858. It was proclaimed a City on 8 December 1910 by provisions of Act 54 Vic., No. 1112. Local Government Reform Geelong City was amalgamated with the City of Greater Geelong under the City of Greater Geelong Act 1993 on 18 May 1993. The amalgamation occurred as part of a statewide program of local government reform enacted between 1993 and 1995. The reform process reduced the number of councils from 210 to 78.

Establishment The Geelong Harbor Trust Commission was established under the provisions of the Geelong Harbor Trust Act 1905 (No.2012). Under the provisions of the Port of Geelong Authority Act 1981 (No.9658), the Commission was reconstituted as the Port of Geelong Authority (PGA) from 1981. The reconstitution did not reflect a change in function, but rather represented an attempt to follow modern practice with respect to the naming of organisations responsible for the operations of ports throughout the world. The PGA was responsible for the management and regulation of activities at the port at Geelong and within Corio Bay and the outer harbour of Geelong. In addition, the Authority was responsible for the associated ports at Queenscliff, Barwon Heads, Lorne and Apollo Bay. Functions The Commission/Authority was responsible for: Regulation of the trade of the port with respect to such matters as landing or shipping of merchandise arrivals and departures of vessels wharfage rates. Management of port facilities such as wharves, piers, jetties, dock, ships, lights, buoys, beacons, moorings, tugs, workshops, water police, emergency services and land adjacent to the ports waterways. Improvements to the Port including widening and deepening the ports waterways construction and maintenance of wharfage accommodation, docks and other port facilities as mentioned above regular dredging operations control of noxious trades and deposits of refuse with the port boundary. Co-ordination of the above functions to ensure the efficient operation of all port activities. Development since 1981 The Port of Geelong Authority was responsible to the Minister for Public Works VRG 28) until 1 July 1983 when overall responsibility for maritime activities, including the functions of the Authority, was transferred to the Minister of Transport (VRG 49). During the period 1991 to 1992, the Authority reported to the Minister for Ports (VRG 103) and from 1992 to 1996 to the Minister for Roads and Ports (VRG 112). On 1 October 1986 the Ports and Harbours Division of the Ministry of Transport was integrated with Victorias three port authorities. Responsibility for port facilities and activities along Victorias western coast was divided between the Port of Portland Authority (VA 1427) and the Port of Geelong Authority. The Port of Geelong Authority was abolished on 10 Dec. 1997. The commercial functions of the PGA were transferred to TNT Ports Ltd on 1 July 1996. Residual functions were transferred to other agencies including the Department of Natural Resources & Environment (DNRE), the City of Greater Geelong (CGG), Victorian Channels Authority (VCA), and Parks Victoria (PV). The Office of the Administrator assumed responsibility for the administration of the residual rights and obligations of the corporate structure of the Port of Geelong Authority.