page_title: Westfield Geelong
section_title: The site
hierarchical_section_title: Westfield Geelong / History / The site
caption_attribution_description: Blakiston's Building, Geelong. Now part of Bay City Plaza.
context_page_description: Westfield Geelong is a shopping centre located in the Geelong CBD in Victoria, Australia which was opened in 1988. It was formerly known as Westfield Bay City before the 2008 redevelopment, and as Bay City Plaza before being acquired by the Westfield Group in 2003. The centre is located on the northern side of Malop Street opposite the Market Square shopping complex, and is bounded by Moorabool Street, Yarra Street, Malop Street and Brougham Street. The centre has completed its major redevelopment, including the expansion over Yarra Street via a flyover.
context_section_description: The site of Westfield Geelong has seen many uses before the construction of the shopping centre. Corio Street once ran east west through the site, as well as the north-south Blakiston Street (that ran between Malop and Corio Streets) and Macks Lane (that ran from Corio Street to Brougham Street).
  The southern frontage to Malop Street was a retail area from at least the 1850s. Among the longest lasting stores was that owned by Morris Jacobs, which remained until the 1950s when it was purchased by Myer Emporium Limited. The store was rebuilt in 1952, and in August 1953 changed its name to Myer. The Myer store was incorporated into the new development.
  The corner of Brougham and Yarra Streets was occupied by the Melbourne Electric Supply Company office building, and the Geelong Power Station, which dated back to 1901. A tram depot was built to the south when trams commenced operation in Geelong in 1912. The tram depot closed in 1956 along with the Geelong tram network. The power station closed in the 1960s when replaced by a new plant at North Geelong.
  The next building to the west was occupied by the offices of Geelong transport company, Blakiston's and Co. Adjacent was The Geelong Club clubrooms which were opened in 1889 and continues to be occupied by the Geelong Club today.
  The corner of Brougham and Moorabool Streets was occupied by the Strachan Murray and Shannon woolstores. The woolstore dated back to the 1940s, and was extended eastwards towards the Geelong Club building in 1952 when the adjacent Mack's Hotel was purchased and demolished.
caption: Blakistons Building and car park entry.
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