T & G Building, Geelong

T & G building in Geelong

The T & G Building is a distinctive building in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. It is located on the corner of Moorabool and Ryrie Streets.

Construction was announced by the T & G Mutual Life Assurance Society in June 1933, partly with the idea of stimulating employment while Geelong was still suffering the effects of the Great Depression.[1] The building cost ₤37,000 ($74,000) and was completed in 1934.

In June 1934 the unique 'Father and Son' clock was switched on.[2] As well as having the usual four clock faces at the top of the tower, the mechanism includes two life-sized cast bronze figures of a farmer and his son, in typical period farm-workers' dress, who emerge from a window in the south side of the upper section the tower and strike the hour on large bell they are both holding. They symbolise a father handing over responsibility to his son, and urging him to continue the good work.[3]

By the mid-1990s the building had fallen into disrepair, the clock was unreliable, and the Father and Son no longer appeared to strike the hour. A public campaign led by the Geelong Advertiser resulted in the repainting of the building and the clock being repaired.

Much of the ground floor was vacant during 2012,[4] but the building was bought and restored by Dean Montgomery and his brother.[5] In mid-2014, it was purchased by Deakin University to use as student accommodation.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "T. and G. Society: New Building at Geelong". The Argus. 1933-06-10. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  2. ↑ "Geelong and District". The Argus. 1934-06-30. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  3. ↑ "T&G Building". Emporis. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  4. ↑ "T&G Building Geelong". Intown Geelong. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
  5. ↑ Carol Altmann (26 May 2014). "Motor museum to revive Fletcher Jones site". Bluestone Magazine. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  6. ↑ Aprhys, Alison (2014-07-08). "Deakin buys T&G building for about $2.8 million". Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved 2014-12-31.

Further reading

Coordinates: 38°08′57″S 144°21′37″E / 38.1492°S 144.3602°E / -38.1492; 144.3602

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