During the later pat of the mid 20th century, this simple, local pleasures lost their appeal and the area fell in disrepair but recent investment in the whole Geelong waterfront area has revitalised the area. So much so that the Geelong City Council website describes the art-deco swimming pool and park complex as the jewell on the waterfront.
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Hi David
ReplyDeleteI love the idea that facilities related to leisure and pleasure particularly lent themselves to Deco eg cinemas, theatres, sea baths and pavilions in parks.
I saw a couple of images of dance halls in Buenos Aires that looked amazingly Deco and presumed that came from the same thinking. Have you seen any tango halls that made your Deco heart beat faster?
I think the whole leisure, pleasure, exercise, outdoor activities, entertainment fits in with the changes Society was going through after the ideas and possible stuffiness of the Victorian age.
ReplyDeleteCan't say I've seen many Tango halls, but the plans for the 2011 World Congress on Art Deco are coming from the beating drums of Rio. So how fab is that going to be.
Plus the Montreal Congress is a couple of months away and they have scheduled two balls over the space of 5 days.
the old Geelong Law Courts are totally deco and now a cafe.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'll have to check them out.
ReplyDeleteRe old Geelong law courts - the interior has been restored reasonably sympathetically. BUT - I have just seen that the beautiful deco brickwork has recently been rendered and painted white! If you haven't got there yet, be prepared for a shock!
ReplyDeleteHaven't made it there yet. Is it really bad?
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