GEELONG Geelong is in danger of becoming an outer suburb of Melbourne. Vast numbers of Geelongites daily commute to Melbourne. Few Melbournians, some Werribee folk though do commute to Geelong. Geelong is an industrial centre that for the most part has weathered the various economic boom/busts, but saying that downtown Geelong is a bit of a disappointment. Over the short term this will correct. There are a number of old and historic buildings in the downtown precinct. Geelong was named in 1837 by Governor Richard Burke, with the name derived from the local Aboriginal name for the region, Jillong, thought to mean 'land' or 'cliffs'. The area was first surveyed in 1838, three weeks after Melbourne, and the Post Office was open by June 1840 (the second to open in the Port Phillip District).  It was proclaimed a city in 1910, with industrial growth from this time until the 1960s establishing the city as a manufacturing centre for the state and saw the population grow to over 100,000 by the mid 1960s. Geelong is also known for being home to car manufacturer Ford Australia and also the Geelong Football Club known as The Cats. The Catholic Cathedral and the Anglican Church are very old and magnificent buildings. The other denominations likewise are historic structures. The Geelong War Memorial has fallen prey to degenerates and is not open to the public. No ‘Lest we Forget’ in downtown Geelong. The Vietnam acknowledgements should command your visit. There are numerous hotels in Geelong; not many of the really old have survived to this day as the traditional pub. There are a number of Museums in Geelong. The Maritime Museum definitely worth the visit. Geelong has a great number of attractions; be sure to allow a few days to visit.