Global True Lithuania Encyclopedia of Lithuanian heritage worldwide

Geelong, Victoria

This is a provisional version of the article. It is being rewritten after the 2025-2026 field trip researching Australia's Lithuanian heritage. Please come back after some time to see the final version and post any suggestions in the comment section.

The city of Geelong near Melbourne has a population of just 300,000, yet it has in its Bell Park suburb, with a street named after Lithuania's second largest city (Kaunas Street).

Kaunas Street in Geelong

When 10 000 Lithuanians arrived in Australia after World War 2, Geelong was a small (50 000 people) city, yet its industry was rapidly developing. Lithuanians thus used the opportunity and cheap land to buy up a district of some 60-70 lots by ~1950 and create their own "Little Lithuania" here.

Kaunas Street from above

Other ethnic groups displaced from Europe by the Soviet advances were also attracted by Geelong and had their enclaves nearby. Next to Kaunas street, there is Libau street (named after the Latvian city of Liepaja), Tallinn street (named after the Estonian capital), and Vistula street (named after Poland's largest river).

While the total number of Lithuanians in Geelong was not as large as in Australia's major cities, with their number hovering at some 380 (compared to 1500-3000 in either Sydney, Melbourne, or Adelaide), the fact that they lived so close to each other allowed them to maintain Lithuanian activities with less effort. In 1969-1970, Australia's first Lithuanian radio program was transmitted in Geelong.

The Lithuanian activities of Geelong are centered at the Lithuanian House. The current Lithuanian House is located in the Pettitt Park. This building was leased to the Lithuanian community by the municipality after the original Lithuanian House (Duoro St.) burned down in 1997, when it was leased to the government for post-Port-Arthur-massacre gun-collecting activity.

The old Lithuanian House after fire (the photo exhibited in the new Lithuanian House)

The current Lithuanian House has no Lithuanian details on the exterior (apart from the provision of a flagpole from which the National flag is be flown during community events) but has lots of Lithuanian memorabilia inside, including what was salvaged from the burned-down club. It has two halls, one of which is full of Lithuanian memorabilia and used for Lithuanian events, while the other is sub-leased to help the House cover the maintenance costs.

New Lithuanian House at Pettitt Park

Inside the Lithuanian room of the Lithuanian House

Inside the Lithuanian House

The original Lithuanian House of Geelong was opened in 1959 and expanded in 1969 under the design by J. Gailius. It had a Lithuanian Columns of Gediminas symbol on its façade as well as a dedication plaque "Tėvynei prisiminti ir tėvų kalbai ir papročiams palaikyti. Šie namai Geelong lietuvių aukomis pastatyt ir j.e. vysk. V. Brizgio 15.3.1959 pašventinti" ("To remember the homeland and keep the language and customs of the fathers, this house was built by Lithuanian donations and blessed by h.e. bishop V. Brizgys on 1959 03 15"). This plaque is now held in the new Lithuanian House.

Dedication plaque from the old Lithuanian House

Among the materials in the new Lithuanian House, a lot is related to the "Vytis" sports club, which punched above its weight in the all-important Lithuanian-Australian sports games. There are partly-burned trophies from the old club and a list of Vytis leaders hanging on the wall. Over time, Vytis basketball section attracted non-Lithuanians, and it essentially became a basketball school with 20 teams and more than 100 children. On the shirts of all its teams, Vytis (Lithuanian coat of arms) is still visible, although the full name is now "Vytis-Knights".

Inside the new Lithuanian House with Vytis memorabilia

Vytis Knights symbol

The community also has a well-regarded dancing group, "Linas", a choir, "Viltis", and a small scout group. Their Facebook page is ‘Lithuanians in Geelong’. which keeps the community informed about forthcoming events.