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Geelong "Landsat 7 imagery of the greater Geelong area. Lara is visible in the north, Grovedale in the south-west and Moolap in the south-east." Landsat 7 imagery of the greater Geelong area. Lara is visible in the north, Grovedale in the south-west and Moolap in the south-east. is the largest regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia and is a major port city of approximately 190,000 people (est. Nov 2005) [1]. Geelong is located on Corio Bay, located 75 kilometres south-west of the states capital, Melbourne.

Despite its proximity and connection via the three-lane Princes Highway connecting Melbourne, Geelong remains physically and psychologically separated by many kilometres of undeveloped farmland from its much larger neighbour.

The city is a gateway to many renown tourist attractions, namely the scenic Great Ocean Road, the Shipwreck Coast and the Bellarine Peninsula. Geelong is also home to the second oldest football club in the world, the Geelong Football Club, known by locals as i.

The area of Geelong was originally occupied by Aboriginal tribes, notabily the Wautharong people. Lieutenant John Murray was the first European visitor in 1802.

Geelong is covered by the municipality of The City of Greater Geelong.

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The area of Geelong was originally occupied by Aboriginal tribes, notabily the Wautharong people. Lieutenant John Murray was the first European visitor in 1802.

Geelong is located on Corio Bay. It is surrounded by many kilometres of farmlands, and is noted for its many wineries and nearby popular surfing beaches.

The town's major industries include a Shell oil refinery in Corio, an Alcoa aluminium smelter at Point Henry, and a Ford Motor Company plant in North Geelong and Norlane.

The nearby town of Torquay is the location of many surfing equipment and clothing manufacturers, notably Rip Curl, as well as some of Australia's finest surf beaches.

The world-renowned Geelong Grammar School, whose alumni include that of Charles, the Prince of Wales, many Australian Prime Ministers, Lord Broers (former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge), Alexander Downer (Minister of Foreign Affairs), John Fairfax (Media Proprietor), Governor John Landy. The School attracts visitors to the Geelong region and students and staff from the world over.

The city is home to a vast number of pubs and nightclubs and venues for live music. Geelong has given birth to a number of notable Australian bands such as Magic Dirt and Warped.

Geelong has been used as a filming location for several feature films and television series:

is the second oldest continuously run newspaper in Victoria and was established in 1857. Also circulated are the free i newspapers, as well as smaller regional suburban newspapers serving the Bellarine Peninsula area. Melbourne newspapers, i are readily available.

Geelong does not have television broadcasting facilities and relies on broadcasts from Melbourne for free to air television reception. A set of small analogue UHF TV in-fill repeaters located at the Highton water basin service a television black spots in the suburbs of Highton Newtown.

The Geelong region also receives Cable and Satellite Television service through Pay-TV operators Foxtel : Channel 31.

Local radio stations are 3GL (Ethnic service), K-Rock, Rhema FM (Christian Community station), The Pulse (Community Radio service) and Bay FM. Transmitters for K-Rock, The Pulse, Rhema FM Bay FM are located at a shared transmitter site on Mt Bellarine on the Bellarine Peninsula near Drysdale a short drive from Geelong CBD. Most Melbourne radio stations can be clearly heard in Geelong.

Frank De Stefano, former Mayor imprisoned for 10 years in 2003 on fraud charges involving AUD$8.3 million

Geelong is serviced by local bus routes covering most of the city and surrounding suburbs, and also a regular VLine train service to Melbourne and Warrnambool operating from the Geelong railway station. Train travel time from Geelong to Melbourne Spencer st Station is approx 60 minutes, making it a popular alternative to driving for Geelong residents working in the Melbourne area. Avalon Airport is several kilometres to the north-east.

Train services between Melbourne and Geelong are undergoing a government funded upgrade called the Regional Fast Rail project, with new high speed locomotives called V'locity 160 manufactured by Bombardier in Dandenong scheduled to service this line.

Taxi and hire car services are also available. Parts of Geelong were served by an electric tramway service until 1956, when the service was replaced by buses subcontracted out to Bender Buslines (currently owned by Kefford Corporation.

A ring road is in planning to bypass the greater Geelong CBD area. The bypass will begin near Lara and exit near Waurn Ponds and is due to begin construction in 2006.

Geelong is home to the AFL club, the Geelong Football Club, the second oldest football club in the world, and for many years the only VFL club to exist outside of the greater Melbourne metropolitan area. The local basketball team is the Geelong Supercats.

The Eastern Beach foreshore and nearby Eastern Gardens is used to host internationally televised triathlon events, as well an annual sports car and racing car events such as the Geelong Speed Trials [2]. Corio Bay also hosts many sailing and yachting events.

Geelong also boasts many golf courses, sporting and recreation ovals and playing fields, as well as facilities for water skiing, rowing, fishing, hiking, greyhound racing, trots, greyhound and horse racing.