The famous people living across Geelong and the Surf Coast
Geelong’s population has continued to grow with Aussie celebrities among those calling the region home.
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The Geelong region’s population is continuing to grow and its natural beauty is proving appealing to celebrities.
Find out which celebs call Geelong home and why they love the region so much.
Mark Philippoussis
The Australian tennis great moved his young family from their Williamstown home to the Surf Coast in mid 2021.
Philippoussis, who starred in reality show SAS Australia in 2021, is regularly seen enjoying the surf at local beaches with wife Silvana and their two children.
“It’s a beautiful, healthy, positive lifestyle,” Philippoussis said last year.
“Whenever we spent weekends here we were always dreading the drive home,” his wife Silvana said.
Catriona Rowntree
The veteran Getaway presenter lives on a sheep and grain property at the foot of the You Yangs, in Little River, with her family.
Reflecting on her time on Getaway, Rowntree last year said: “when I first started, when I was around 24, I just hoped and prayed I could make it to the end of the six-week contract. As long as people keep watching the show than I am grateful to do it”.
Gary Ablett Jnr
The now retired former Geelong star famously left to play for the Gold Coast Suns. But Ablett is now back home at Jan Juc where he lives with wife Jordan and their two children.
“I love nature – one of my passions is getting out hiking. I did a lot of hiking when I was up in the Gold Coast and found some great areas down here on the Surf Coast,” he said.
“I want to make sure our kids can grow up and enjoy that as well.
“I’m learning a lot more about renewable energy and why it’s important that we continue to educate people.
“We’ve still got a lot to learn but we are glad we can play a small part.”
Deni Todorovic
The former GT fashion editor is now a social media star and has more than 70,000 Instagram followers.
Todorovic, who came out as non-binary 2020, lived in Sydney for many years before moving home to Geelong with their parents in 2019.
Todorovič said they hoped the increased visibility of trans people in media would help young LGBTI people.
“It provides visibility (so) that hopefully a small, trans child in Geelong will feel worthy and feel worth it.”
Cadel Evans
Former professional racing cyclist and Tour de France champion lives in Switzerland but calls Barwon Heads home when in Australia.
Evans' connection to the region is so strong that he launched the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in 2015.
The event sees riders travel through Geelong, Barwon Heads and Torquay.
Billy Brownless
Cats champion Billy Brownless proudly continues to call Geelong home and is now the owner of several watering holes.
Last year Brownless and his business partners added another pub to their burgeoning Geelong hospitality portfolio, taking over The Commun Na Feinne on a 20-year lease.
Mr Brownless told the Geelong Advertiser the changing demographic of South Geelong was behind the appeal of taking over the pub’s lease.
“We like the area and like the pub. A lot of younger people have bought houses and are renovating houses around that area,” Mr Brownless said.
“So we’ll still have the traditional drinkers who come into a pub but also we’ll have new younger people with families. It’s a good little thriving area.”
Denis Walter
Radio presenter and media personality Denis Walter was born in Geelong and continues to call the region home.
Walter has worked as a news presenter on regional TV, has 16 albums to his name from a recording career spanning 40 years, and did a stint as a radio host at 3MP.
Walter is also known for hosting Geelong’s traditional Carols by the Bay along the waterfront.
Matt Preston
Former Master Chef judge Matt Preston may live in Melbourne, but he is often spotted enjoying his holiday home at Point Lonsdale.
He told the Geelong Advertiser last year that his favourite places to visit along the Bellarine Peninsula included the whiskey bar above the pub in Queenscliff, known as Queenscliff Brewhouse, Point Lonsdale Guest House because of chef Michael Flouch’s renowned duck dish, Basil’s Farm and Noble Rot Wine Bar.
In the Geelong region he loves Igni, Hot Chicken Project and, a little bit further afield in Birregurra and Brae
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