Eastern Beach, Art Deco beach complex in Geelong, Australia.
Eastern Beach is a swimming and recreation area on the shores of Corio Bay in Geelong, built in the Art Deco style during the 1930s. Its semi-circular shark-proof enclosure covers 8+1⁄2 acres (3.4 ha) and was built to hold 10,000 bathers. The precinct also has a children's pool, a kiosk, and a dressing room pavilion, with several Art Deco buildings listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.
Redevelopment plans for the beach were first proposed in 1914. Work began in September 1927 when J.C. Taylor and Sons won the contract for the concrete stairway, terraces and dressing sheds, opened on 20 December 1929 by Mayor Solomon Jacobs. The semi-circular shark-proof enclosure and children's pool opened on 28 March 1939, completing the main precinct at a cost of £40,000.
The beach reflects how people in the 1930s saw seaside recreation as a social gathering place. The Art Deco design shows how Australia shaped its vision of modern coastal leisure during that era.
The complex has changing rooms, picnic areas, and is easy to reach with public paths. Visitors should plan to come during daytime hours and warmer days when facilities are fully available and most used.
During the 1993 renovation, residents could buy individual planks of the boardwalk and have their names added. This personal involvement created a direct link between the community and the place.
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