A hive of activity with an electric buzz, the West End Precinct is an innovative project, designed to breathe new life into the Geelong CBD, ushering in a new era for businesses, locals and visitors to the region. 

We caught up with Bill Votsaris, Managing Director of the Batman Group, along with Office Manager and Executive Assistant Penny Stathopoulos, to chat about the driving force behind the inspirational and community focused project, and what the hope is for its future, as well as the future of Geelong. 

When Bill and his family moved to the Bellarine 15 years ago, after being long-time holiday makers to the area, he noticed a clear gap in the commercial property market, in particular around central Geelong, where the need for improvement and positive focus was quite extensive. A largely untouched, and unloved space with so much untapped potential, all within such close proximity to Melbourne and the coast, he felt it was the prime location to create a hub where small businesses could follow their passions, locals could frequent, and visitors could find a place to unwind and enjoy a range of experiences. 

Despite facing challenges along the way, Bill, along with his son Paul and their exceptional team, persisted with their passion and forged ahead to make their dream, and ultimately the dream of many others, a reality, and create what we have come to know as The West End Precinct. 

When speaking with Bill and his team, their passion is palpable, and you can truly feel the energy and enthusiasm they share for the improvement of the Geelong CBD, highlighting everything it has to offer, and creating more opportunities for it to develop and thrive. They also work closely with the Geelong Performing Arts Centre, sharing a combined vision for the area’s growth and expansion.

Their ultimate goal was to build on their vision in delivering an end result that the community not only supports, but also greatly benefits from, as well as providing a gateway for future projects to expand on the growth of the area, bringing people from all over the world to our region, to explore and discover everything we have to offer and making it a top, must-visit destination. 

Since the conception of the precinct, statistics show that there has been a large increase in people frequenting and accessing the local businesses, and spending more time within the centre of town. There has also been a very positive side-effect of a safer and more connected community, where people feel more comfortable going out day or night, to enjoy themselves amidst a flurry of activity that simply wasn’t there before. 

While Bill and his team are very proud of their efforts in the creation of the Precinct, and their on-going hard work, he emphasises that none of it would have been possible without the incredible frontline business owners, who have worked tirelessly to embrace the project, and build their businesses around the collective idea to create a consistently positive, vibrant experience for patrons. It is a combined effort with everyone involved, and a continued partnership, where everybody has a voice and works towards a common goal and a united vision. 

The ideal hub for arts, live music, culture, hospitality and retail, as well as a small sub-section of professional office space, as you wander through the Precinct, you notice a beautifully eclectic mix of venues and businesses, which have been carefully curated to cover a variety of options, and create a range of experiences. Whether you are looking to enjoy a cocktail with friends, host a function, grab a meal, see a live band or anything in between, there are so many hidden gems, with something for everyone to see and do. 

With many venues already operating and flourishing, the natural progression moving towards the future is that more and more blocks surrounding the precinct will be activated, connecting them all through a series of streets and laneways, bringing the entire CBD, right through to the Waterfront, together, offering up Geelong as one of the most popular locations in the world to visit, stay and play. 

The West End Precinct is a truly remarkable, innovative concept that is host to a pathway of opportunity, and has given the Geelong CBD a vibrant new lease on life. 

The Precinct is located on Little Malop Street, Geelong and is easily accessible by car, bike, bus, train or ferry. 

To find out more about what is on offer, visit their website www.westendprecinct.com.au 

 Visit them on Facebook at: West End Precinct Geelong or Instagram at: @westend_littlemalop