Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/98

 of the three, for the railway, and along which are the railway stores and buildings, constructed in the English style of massiveness and taste, adding much to the imposing view in the first glance of a stranger.

Though foreign to our purpose to dwell long in description, we must be excused in writing a passing word on Geelong. The activity, energy, and skill of its municipal body, well supported by the liberality of the community, outdo even that of Melbourne; and though it is a city of much more recent date, having been incorporated on the 12th October, 1849, it is fast rising in magnificence as it is in importance; and, from its elevated situation, it is cooler in summer and more healthy. The city is built on a ridge extending along the edge of the bay, the principal streets running up to the summit or crest, but the ascent being very gradual is scarcely perceptible. At the top, on a level of some extent, most of the churches and public buildings have been erected within large enclosures; and a few of the more beautiful forest trees still remaining, combined with the good order and different styles of architecture, the whole has a most pleasing and picturesque appearance. On the opposite side an equal gradual descent leads through a park, reserved as a public pleasure ground, to the valley, through which runs the river Barwin speeding its course to the southward, emptying itself into Bass's Straits, and not, as one would suppose, into the bay. Along the banks of the river, and on either side of the