Drawcards: Samantha Dudas and Kavita Petrack with their Icon for Geelong entries.
A COMPETITION to design a landmark for Geelong has sent minds racing, according to feedback from Independent readers.
Managing editor Tony Galpin said the paper was receiving constant calls, emails and letters about the Icon for Geelong competition.
“Everyone from top architects to school kids have contacted us with ideas, enquiries and entries,” Mr Galpin said.
“The Icon for Geelong competition is certainly a great chance to exercise imaginations and design skills – and the big cash prize from Senia Lawyers is obviously a major drawcard, too.”
Senia Lawyers is offering $10,000 to the winning design.
The competition is seeking a landmark of artistic merit and beauty to promote Geelong around the world.
Geelong West’s Colin Kelsall suggested a revolving restaurant on top of disused cement silos overlooking Geelong from Herne Hill.
“You would have 360 views and could be seen for miles. There’s plenty of space for parking and it’s handy to the ring road and public transport,” Mr Kelsall said.
“It could be further enhanced with see-through elevators on the outside of the building.”
Barwon Heads’ Neil Harvey entered a design based on a tall ship made from concrete panels.
Mr Harvey, who operates a concrete constructions company, said his icon would be a 15-metre-high-by-15-metre-long replica of the Norfolk, which early Geelong inventor James Harrison commissioned to export beef to England in the 1800s.
The model could sit on a pedestal along Geelong’s waterfront, Mr Harvey suggested.
“Tall sailing ships are what Geelong was built with,” he said.
Bell Post Hill’s Jan Dean nominated an observation tower at Limeburner’s Point.
“It would give a wonderful view of the city, waterfront, bay and over to the You Yangs. It could be built like a lighthouse or some other design reflecting Geelong’s past.”
Mandama Primary School grade six students Samantha Dudas and Kavita Petrack had their own ideas.
Samantha entered a design for a new hotel called Shadatel.
The “child-friendly” waterfront hotel would feature a wave pool, a uniquely shaped gymnasium and a balcony overlooking Corio Bay, Samantha wrote.
Kavita entered a design for a bridge from Geelong’s waterfront to Melbourne’s Docklands, with glass-bottom restaurants every five kilometres and fin-like structures representing waves on either side.
She also lodged a second entry for an underwater hotel based on a cruise ship design.
“Who wouldn’t love it!”
Icon for Geelong entries close January 28, with the winner announced in March.
A design brief is available at geelongindependent.com.au/iconbrief.
Where to send entries
Email: icon@geelongindependent.com.au
Post: Icon for Geelong, PO Box 407, Geelong, 3220.
