South Geelong

South Geelong Geelong, Victoria
Skilled Stadium
Australian Bureau of Statistics: boundary lines for the suburb of South Geelong as defined for the 2011 census.
South Geelong
Coordinates	38°09′S 144°21′E / 38.15°S 144.35°E / -38.15; 144.35Coordinates: 38°09′S 144°21′E / 38.15°S 144.35°E / -38.15; 144.35
Population	907 (2011 census)
Postcode(s)	3220
Location	2 km (1 mi) from Geelong
LGA(s)	City of Greater Geelong
State electorate(s)	Geelong
Federal Division(s)	Corio
Suburbs around South Geelong: Newtown Geelong CBD East Geelong Newtown South Geelong Thomson Belmont Belmont Breakwater

South Geelong, also referred to as Geelong South, is a southern suburb of Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The suburb is adjacent to the Geelong central business district, with the Barwon River forming the suburb's southern border. South Geelong is also the western start point for the Bellarine Rail Trail, a 32 km walking and cycling track to Queenscliff.

Major industry in South Geelong includes the Godfrey Hirst Pty Ltd carpet manufacturers on Barwon Terrace currently (2009) owned by the McKendrick family.

The Post Office opened on 1 June 1921 as South Geelong and was renamed Geelong South in 1941.

As of the 2011 census, 907 people resided in 459 private dwellings. About 79.8% of people from South Geelong are Australian born, with the most common overseas birthplaces being: England (3.1%), India (1.5%) China (1.2%) Italy (1%), Scotland (.9%).

50.3% of people from South Geelong are Christian, 30% stated No Religion.

South Geelong is one of the oldest suburbs in Geelong and it was the location of the first house ever built in Geelong.

In a letter to His Excellency Charles Joseph Latrobe, Esq., Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Victoria, dated September 21, 1853, Mr. David Fisher writes: "In the latter end of the year 1836 I returned to Port Phillip for the purpose of forming the different stations afterwards occupied by the Derwent Co., and pitched my tent on the south side of Geelong, on the north bank of the Barwon River, near where a bridge was afterwards built communicating with the Western District. Here I built the first home in Geelong worthy of the name; it is built of weatherboards of Van Diemen 1s Land timber, which house yet stands and is still an ornament to what is now called Barwon Terrace. In this house I had the honor of receiving His Excellency Sir Richard Bourke, who had come hither to spy out the nakedness of the land, and with his suite encamped on the banks of the Barwon next to my house. It is worthy of remark that on the night of Sir Richard Bourke's arrival the district was visited by an earthquake, the shock of which was felt all over the district. Such a phenomenon has never occurred since that time, but I was informed by a very old native, King Murradock, that such had been felt before, but it was 'long, long ago.' In the month of September (1837), having finished my home and got all things comfortable for the occupation of my family, I proceeded to Van Diemen's Land to bring them over, taking my passage by the James Watt, the first steam vessel that visited these shores. In the month of March following (1838) I returned with my family."