I had the pleasure of touring the Geelong Arts Centre and it is one of the most impressive Arts Centres in Australia. It’s a place that offers a myriad of performance spaces to cater for different productions and events.
One of the most significant aspects of the Arts Centre is the marriage of First Nations creativity with 21st century architecture. The blend is remarkable and creates a unique sensory experience. Coming together as co-designers, Wadawarrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and ARM Architecture, as well as the wider First Nations community have come together and woven traditional stories of the land, language, water and sky. They’ve incorporated the colours and textures of Moonah trees, ochre and granite stones throughout the layers of the building.
For thousands of years. the land where the Geelong Arts Centre sits was a place for storytelling from the Wadawarrung people. The tradition continues at the Geelong Arts Centre and it has proudly embraced that storytelling in celebrating the culture of Australia’s First Nations people.

Table of Contents
ToggleOpen House
The Open House is one of the most impressive and innovative spaces. It is a large space that can be further opened up to combine with the foyer area, via a large door. The space enables a variety of configurations such as conference or cabaret mode. It can also be transformed into a space for markets, large conferences and big theatre shows. The functional diversity of this space is highly innovative.
The CEO Joel McGuinness created what he called a ‘Creative Engine’ where the Open House is a space to support local artists. Some of the key features of this space include:
- Flexible and versatile space with multiple layout options
- Tailored acoustics with multiple PA rigging locations
- Easy access through designated loading dock
- Large motorised door that connects to the foyer

Play House
The Playhouse is the Art Centre’s biggest theatre. It is a 764-proscenium arch theatre, and the moment you walk in, you feel a warm, magical atmosphere, filled with anticipation and excitement. This space is used for live theatre, major concerts, dance performances and corporate lunches. All the seats have been recently refurbished and provide a sense of colour and comfort. The Playhouse is a well-equipped and much loved cultural hub in Geelong.
Ideal for:
- Musicals
- Large-scale theatre performances
- Concerts and dance performances
- Comedy

Story House
Like most other spaces in Geelong Arts Centre, the Story House is incredibly versatile and can be used for a range of applications. It includes the latest start-of-the-art scenic projection, rigging and audio. The seating is 550 depending on the mode and arrangement, however it can be expanded to 850 capacity in ‘flat floor gig mode’. The space has a contemporary feel with versatile seating layouts.
Its stage-lighting, rigging, staging and audio-visual systems mean that you can quickly transform this space. The colours are amazing, a special Blue hue, and all the panels in this space were designed by Tarryn Love from Platform.
IDEAL FOR
• Theatre, dance, concerts, musicals, dinners, conferences
• Opera and musical theatre performances
• Contemporary dance, physical theatre, and circus performances
• Bands and contemporary artists
• Banquets and dinners
• Speech nights, lectures and graduations
• Civic functions
• Orchestras
KEY FEATURES
• A multi-format 550 seat theatre expanding to 850 in ‘flat foor gig mode’ mode
• Flexible space with versatile configurations
• Fully automated fly system
• Numerous rigging options with rolling beams


Blue Purple Tunnel
The overall design of this Arts Centre is playful, with ceilings inspired by circus tents, mirrored walls and a bright-blue “tunnel” connecting the spaces and the exterior resembles a draping curtain. First Nations stories feature prominently, with works by Kait James, Gerard Black, Tarryn Love, and Mick Ryan throughout the Centre. This tunnel touches all your senses and the colour is hypnotic.

Other spaces
I could spend hours taking about all the intriguing designs at the Geelong Arts Centre. Here are a few more photos of some of the spaces.
'Circus Inspired' Foyer area

One of the coolest bathrooms I've ever seen!

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