Geelong, city in southeastern Australia, in the state of Victoria, a seaport on Corio Bay (an inlet of Port Phillip Bay), near Melbourne. Geelong contains an excellent harbor with railroad and dock facilities for the shipping of wool and wheat. The chief industries in the city are tanning, oil refining, the manufacture of flour, salt, and woolen textiles, and the assembling of automobiles and farm machinery. Geelong is also an important regional retail trade center. Incorporated in 1849, Geelong grew rapidly after the discovery of gold in Victoria in 1851. The city is the site of Deakin University (1974). Population (1999 estimate) 156,100.
