By NOEL MURPHY
A LEADLIGHT feature window of Geelong’s original coat of arms could be resurrected and put on public display if heritage councillor Tony Ansett has his way.
The five-metre crest, presently squirrelled away in a City Hall basement beneath Gheringhap Street, would be a perfect fit in the $40 million library/heritage centre under construction in Johnstone Park.
“City Hall originally had two staircases leading up to a massive five-metre leadlight window with the classic crest of Geelong in the middle of it,” Cr Ansett said.
“It was lifted it out in its frame when they upgraded the building back in the ’80s, it’s in perfect condition.
“I’m open to suggestions where we should put it on show but it needs to come back out into the light of day. It needs to be mounted and backlit – it could be perfect in the new library.”
Insignia within the crest included sheep, wheat, grapes and shipping, denoting the district’s agricultural and immigration pursuits.
A kangaroo in its centre denotes an inability to go backwards while the motto on the crest says, “By the right use of God’s gifts”.
Heraldry and Geelong’s coat of arms have been a moot point in the past year with the city re-incorporating two lions into a new crest for the City of Greater Geelong.
But official insignia is just one aspect of Geelong’s heritage Cr Ansett wants to see brought back into public view.
He told the Independent dozens of historic items had been identified which he wanted recognised again.
“There are things all around town,” he said.
“The gas lamp that was outside the Corio Hotel, two fountains hidden away in the botanical gardens that used to be in the city, the Queen Victoria statue that used to be in Market Square – I’m not happy with where she sits at moment,” he said.
“I want to showcase what Geelong has by getting it into better locations and highlighting what we’ve got.”
