Johnstone Park and Hitchcock

Memorial Bandstand

Geelong Historic Buildings

Hitchcock Memorial Bandstand was constructed in 1919 along with Johnstone Park in Geelong. Adjacent to Johnstone Park is the Geelong and District Peace Memorial and the art gallery building which were constructed in 1922 and 1914 respectively. The Hitchcock Memorial Gateway was constructed in 1925. Artefacts were relocated to sites in the park and include the De Medici Urns in 1973 and the Stitt Jenkins Drinking Fountain in 1973. The George V Memorial Statue tribute was established in 1938. The Park as a setting for these features is of a simple design typical of the concept used for portraying Beaux Arts style buildings. A main axis path leads from the entrance gates to the bandstand and behind this to the peace memorial. Palms and other exotic trees are set in open lawns some in a formal arrangement. The main feature of the Park is the unique bandstand constructed of metal on a concrete base with a curved tiled roof. The highly stylised structure reflects an influence from Lutyen`s Viceroy House in India. The style of the gates compliments the Beaux Arts architecture of the peace memorial.

The Hitchcock Memorial Bandstand was opened by the Mayor, Alderman H Hitchcock in 1919, who funded the project to perpetuate the memory of his mother. Centrally located in the park, it remains as one of the few bandstands, of its type still in existence.