Geelong Wool

Exchange (former)

Geelong Historic Buildings

The Geelong Wool Exchange was constructed in 1927-28 for the Geelong Wool Exchange Pty Ltd to the design of the local firm Buchan Laird and Buchan. The two storey building, of Inter-War Free Classical style is of brick construction with a buff-coloured stucco facade to Corio Street and red face brick elevations to the sides and rear. The rusticated facade is asymmetrical with the internal staircase expressed as a short tower to the right of the main entrance, which is emphasised with a pediment at parapet level. Round arched windows occur at ground floor level below rectangular upper level windows and pilasters.

The building contains two major sales rooms. The larger room occupies about two thirds of the plan area of the building. It contained a semi-circular arrangement suggestive of an auditorium, with steeply banked seating. Above this, in the neo-Greco decorated hall, is a Roman-Baroque barrel-vaulted ceiling. Below the main hall is the second sales room which is essentially utilitarian in its detailing and only about half the size of the larger space. In 1960 a brick extension including a third sales room was added at the rear, Buchan Laird and Buchan were the architects. 

From its earliest days Geelong has served as a port and sales centre to the wool producers of the western district. Fine wool production has played a major historic role in the regional economy leading to the establishment of structures associated with the transport, sale, storage and shipping of wool. This Wool Exchange is an important reminder of this industry and marks the last phase of this approach to selling wool.

The building is of considerable architectural interest as a late example of Inter-War Free Classical style and with its neo-Greco decoration reflects the conservative nature of the wool industry. It was also distinguished by the unusual banked seating in the sales room reflecting the function of the building.