Origins

The highly social football game, Marngrook, was played by many First Nations people across the Western District. British colonists used sport as a connection to homelands, as well as helping embrace a new home through the creation of a uniquely Australian game. Sport has crossed cultural divides with First Nations athletes continuing to have a lasting impact on Australian sport and the communities it builds.

Across the river, sea and coast, the region’s unique landscape provided the ideal playing field for sport. Flowing from the Otways to Djilang, the Barwon River nurtured the community’s love of rowing. Corio Bay’s unique sandbar made it ideal for small sailing vessels. And the iconic Surf Coast is world-renowned, hosting the coveted Bells Beach Rip Curl Pro surfing contest.

As communities grew and expanded, so too did opportunities through sport. Industrious and parochial, Geelong has developed athletes like the nomadic surfer Peter Troy, the resilient Paralympian Jessica Gallagher, and the determined boxer Marissa Williamson Pohlman. Athletes who dedicate their lives to sport.

The Origins collection pays homage to every one of these athletes. Geelong’s starting lineup. Those who became the spark for the fire that burns in every local sportsperson today.