The above image has been included because this beautiful building was designed by Cornishman, Joseph Reed.  Wikipedia reports, "Probably born in 1823 in Cornwall, Joseph Read arrived in Melbourne in 1853. The following year he won a design competition for the State Library of Victoria, designed the Bank of New South Wales in Collins Street and the Geelong Town Hall."  (Note the spelling inconsistencies)
To read the full entry follow this link


Saturday 11th October 2025 - CAV Visit to Geelong
Members from Geelong, Ballarat and Melbourne met at the Geelong East Uniting Church for a wonderful day of Geelong Cornish History.

After a mouth watering morning tea, we ventured to Point Henry where Neil Thomas, Chairperson of the Geelong Branch, gave us an insight into the importance of Point Henry. We returned to the Church’s Bay Room for lunch provided by the Geelong group. With our tummies replenished, we drove into Geelong CBD, where parking was in short supply near the Old Customs House. Many chose to walk to the Town Hall and Art Gallery and some energetic members even walked to Wesley Church a few more blocks away. At each place, Neil provided us with some well prepared information. We then returned to the Geelong Church for afternoon tea, after a wonderful day. Special thanks to Neil Thomas for organizing the event and for all the information bout the sites we visited and to the Geelong members for their generous hospitality. For a fullr report see the CAV November 2025 Melbourne Newsletter

Geelong Branch Annual Dinner 2019 20th November
This was well organised and a great night as usual.  The speaker/singer was Marie Goldsworthy who sang and played to us as well as managing to sing a song in Cornish.   Marie is also keen to learn Cornish.
Enjoy looking at photos of all the participants by following this link.  Slides Christmas 2019

Geelong Branch Annual Dinner 2018
Geelong members and visitors from Melbourne and Ballarat gathered for the Geelong Annual Dinner at the Sandstone Caf?? on Wednesday 21st November.
After a warm welcome from Neil Thomas, Elizabeth Kraus proposed a toast to the Cornish and Ken Peak responded in Cornish and English.

Neil Thomas presented the story of Methodist Missionary Rev. Francis Tuckfield and his work in Geelong. Francis Tuckfield (1808-1865) was born on 10th May 1808 in the parish of Germoe, Cornwall. In his youth he was a miner and seasonal fisherman and at 18 he was converted to the Wesleyan Methodist faith and became an active local preacher. He was accepted as a candidate for the ministry in 1835 and received two years training at the Theological Institution, Hoxton. Upon representations by Rev. Joseph Orton he was selected, with Rev. Benjamin Hurst, as a missionary to the Aboriginals in the Port Phillip District. He arrived in Geelong in 1838 from the Parish of St Erth. The Methodist Missionary story of Francis Tuckfield involved two of our members. Ted Curnow was responsible for St Erth Chapel, Cornwall in 2003 and Robert Gribben was Minister at Tuckfield's Wesleyan Church at Portland exactly 100 years later.

Francis Tuckfield

The Geelong Branch met in mid January at the Bay Room of the Uniting Church in East Geelong.
Discussions concerning the Annual dinner revealed that some guests had responded to advertisements in the local press and joined Geelong, Ballarat and Melbourne people resulting in a record number of attendees - 49.
During the meeting several Cornish news articles were read, a Cornish Mining Tea towel was displayed and Neil Thomas tested the knowledge of attendees with a Cornish Quiz through photographs.
The next meeting of the Geelong Branch is planned for 20th March at 1.30 pm at the East Geelong Uniting Church.

Geelong Branch Annual Dinner 2015
Neil Thomas, the Geelong President, welcomed members and visitor with "Gorthugher da"
Max Beck proposed the toast to Cornwall.  Read about Max and his recent publication
June Whiffin made the response.

The guest speaker was Tim Dennis of Tardwarncoort.  Tim had hosted the visit of the Association in October and spoken about the history of the farm and the area at the property.  To see and read more about our visit, Tim and Tardwarncoort, follow this link

To view a gallery of images from this event click here

Here are a few examples

Geelong Branch Annual Dinner 2013 - Sandstone Caf?? 20/11/2013
Three speakers took us on a journey of the glories of Cornwall at the Annual Dinner of the Geelong Branch of the Cornish Association on 20 November 2013.
The Sandstone Caf?? provided the three course meal for about 45 who attended.
After a welcome and introduction by President Neil Thomas and the rousing introduction of Trelawney, a Cornish poem from Hartley May, the real feast came when Elizabeth Kraus told the story of Ann Pearce who arrived in South Australia in 1838 on the ???Royal Admiral.??? It was the first public airing of the story and Elizabeth dressed in traditional costume, assumed the role of her ancestor in telling the story after which she proposed the toast to the Cornish.
Ruth Taylor  (Sec. CAV Geelong Branch)  responded to the toast. Ruth had visited Cornwall in June and she took us to the three villages of her ancestors. Breage, St Keverne and the Lizard village. Then we took a trip around Cornwall with Guest speaker John Mildren chasing birds.! As he walked into the St Keverne Church the organist played Happy Birthday. The organist was a relative nine generations removed! We visited Bude, Boscastle, St Michaels Mount, Tintagel, the Lizard???s Cadgwith, Helford, and Pendeen.
We travelled on the train from St Erth to St Ives around Carbis Bay. We heard about the Swift, Herron Gull, the Green Woodpecker that was too green to be seen, egg hunters basking sharks, cow parsley and Barbara Hepworth.
Thank you Geelong for an enjoyable time and a filling dinner.
Ted Curnow

Ted Curnow, Elizabeth Kraus & Neil	Neil Thomas and John Mildren	Ruth Taylor
Neil introducing John with the St Piran's Flag prominently displayed	Elizabeth Kraus	Members and visitors listening to Neil Thomas at the lectern