Local traditions and culture in Geelong

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If you like checking out the older cars made in the 1920s - 1970s you can go to the All Ford Day - it is held once a year. Usually it is held at the Geelong Showgrounds.
Some of the car clubs and rock n roll clubs also hold "Show N Shine" days where people from all over Australia congregate. People who own the cars get to show them off and people who go for a look get to drool all over the cars.
I am an absolute car nut and love all the older style cars. I own a dilapidated EH Holden which needs a lot of work done on it - it is my restoration project.
The photos that I have included were all taken at an All Ford Day so I assume they are all Fords - if any car nuts out there want to send me an email and let me know what sort of car they are I will happily change the picture captions.

I realised recently that while visiting some friends in Scandinavian countries that you take your shoes off when entering their home.

So I thought maybe I should do a similar tip here, because it is different in Australia. When entering someones house you will (most of the time) leave your shoes on, unless of course your shoes are dirty (with mud or something on them). Although there are some people who will prefer you to take your shoes off, but you will be able to tell if you have to remove your shoes by a) if your host does so, or b) if there are shoes around the front door (either inside or outside the house).

But as I said, majority of people (at least in Geelong) leave their shoes on when entering their house.

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Most towns and cities in Australia have the famous "pub" or hotel on every corner.

At one stage there were about 95 pubs in Geelong.

Nowadays there are lots of pubs, bars, night clubs, wine bars and restaurants and cafes available - in Geelong - where you can have a meal, a drink, a dance, a glass of wine, coffee and a cake, or coffee with a meal.

Here is one of our landmark hotels - The National.

If you are down at the Waterfront and you want to go and sit in a traditional pub where there is a bar, with a barman serving, then walk up Moorabool St from the Waterfront and you will find the National Hotel on your left, halfway up the hill.

Come in and meet some of the locals and find out about the local activities and functions that are happening around Geelong from the real, fair dinkum, locals.

If you are just walking along a local road, and you pass someone walking the other way, if eye contact is made, a nod or 'hello', 'good morning/afternoon/evening' is appropriate (although some may not reply in turn, but it is considered polite).

In the city centre where there is more people, usually you only speak to someone if you accidently bump into them, then a 'sorry' or 'excuse me' is appropriate.

All major Australian banks have branches in Geelong. The majority are open Monday to Thursday 9:30 to 4:00 with Friday staying open until 5:00.

ATMs are plentiful and most stores have ETPOS facilities. All major credit cards are usually accepted, Bankcard, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Card.

Geelong has an average summer temperature of between 23 and 12 degrees Celsius and a winter temperature averaging between 14 to 5 degrees Celsius.
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Sovereign Hill, Ballarat is in the mild to cool climate zone of Australia. Summers can be hot but with cool, refreshing evenings. Winter days range from 5 to 6 centigrade in the morning to 13 to 15 centigrade. Ballarat is famous for its mild, still autumns. It seldom snows in winter.

This is country victoria so the pace is a little slower and apart from some real feral types most people should be very nice to you.
you will find alot of families young groups of friends and alot of surfers around this area.
there are also some good vine yards to drop in on as well.
Geelong itself is probably worth a day trip if your in melbourne for a week or so .the costal towns could keep you happy for weeks .
It is a very good holiday area mainly due to the many different things to do

Some crazy locals...