Geelong, 75 kilometres south of Melbourne, is a microcosm of the economic crossroads at which Australia stands. The steps authorities and industry leaders take will be closely watched to see if the city becomes Australia’s Silicon Valley or its Detroit.
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A worker at a beach-front attraction in Geelong. The Australian city of 180,000 people is struggling with the flight of thousands of manufacturing jobs. Jason Reed / Reuters -
A combination picture shows residential properties advertised for sale in Geelong. About 10 per cent of Geelong’s population would be affected by the job losses. Jason Reed / Reuters -
Unopened mail is strewn on the floor of an abandoned pub in Geelong. Jason Reed / Reuters -
A woman walks through the main shopping district in Geelong. Jason Reed / Reuters -
A shift worker at the Alcoa aluminium smelter leaves the Geelong plant during a 12-hour shift change before sunrise. Jason Reed / Reuters -
The Incitec Pivot company fertilizer and explosive chemical plant in Geelong. Jason Reed / Reuters -
Newly elected Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons says the Alcoa job losses is just the latest of a ‘tsunami’ of manufacturing job losses across Australia. Jason Reed / Reuters
Geelong: Australia’s version of Silicon Valley, or its Detroit?
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