Geelong’s transformation from manufacturing heartland to tech hub has been underway for years. But 2025 is shaping up as a milestone year, with several major developments reaching critical mass.

I spent a day walking through the emerging tech precincts, talking to founders, employees, and council representatives. Here’s the reality on the ground.

Deakin’s Innovation Precinct

The Deakin University campus has quietly become one of regional Australia’s most significant tech clusters. It’s not just academics—the innovation precinct now hosts dozens of startups and scale-ups alongside research facilities.

“We have companies working on AI for healthcare, carbon technology, advanced manufacturing,” explains one university administrator. “The talent pipeline from our courses flows directly into local companies.”

The precinct benefits from unusual advantages: access to research facilities, student talent, and established connections to government grants. Startups here can access capabilities that would be impossible elsewhere.

Recent notable additions include companies working on agricultural robotics, renewable energy storage, and clinical trial software.

Malop Street Revival

The CBD’s Malop Street precinct was struggling five years ago—high vacancy rates and declining foot traffic. Today, several buildings have been converted to tech offices and co-working spaces.

“We got office space for a third of Melbourne CBD rates,” one founder told me. “And our staff actually want to come to the office because there’s parking and they can live nearby.”

The mix is interesting: established companies opening satellite offices, Melbourne startups expanding, and genuinely local companies growing. The result is a tech ecosystem that feels increasingly self-sustaining.

The Jobs

What kinds of roles are actually available?

Software development: The largest category. Both enterprise software and startup product development.

Data and analytics: Several companies doing data processing and analysis work, including some government contracts.

Design and UX: Smaller but growing, with several design agencies and product teams seeking creative talent.

Technical support and operations: More established than development, with several major companies running support functions from Geelong.

Agtech: Geelong’s proximity to farming regions makes it a natural base for agricultural technology companies.

Salary ranges typically fall 10-20% below Melbourne equivalents, though this varies significantly by company and role. The cost of living differential means take-home purchasing power often equals or exceeds Melbourne.

The Commuter Question

Geelong’s rail connection to Melbourne remains both a strength and weakness.

For employees: Some professionals commute to Melbourne several days per week, treating Geelong as a more affordable base. This works but is tiring and time-consuming.

For employers: The train enables access to Melbourne talent who don’t want to relocate fully. Several companies hire Melbourne residents for roles that are nominally Geelong-based.

The rail service has improved but remains frustrating. Delays are common, and the schedule doesn’t accommodate all working patterns. Companies dealing with Melbourne clients often factor in buffer time for travel uncertainty.

What’s Missing

Despite the growth, gaps remain.

Senior technical talent: Finding experienced architects and tech leads locally is difficult. Companies often recruit from Melbourne or accept remote arrangements.

VC presence: Investment capital mostly flows from Melbourne. Local companies spend significant time travelling to pitch meetings.

Specialised services: Legal, accounting, and advisory services with deep tech expertise are limited. Growth companies often work with Melbourne advisors.

Critical mass: The tech community is still small enough that everyone knows everyone. That’s charming but also limiting—there aren’t multiple companies competing for talent in most specialisations.

Government Initiatives

State and local government funding has been crucial to Geelong’s tech development.

Business Victoria runs programs specifically targeting Geelong businesses, including grants for technology adoption and export development.

The Geelong Region Local Learning and Employment Network (LLEN) works on building tech-relevant skills in the local workforce.

LaunchVic has funded several programs based in Geelong, including startup accelerators and entrepreneur support.

The challenge is coordination. Multiple programs exist but navigating them requires persistence. Companies succeeding often have dedicated staff for grant applications.

AI and the Next Wave

The current growth wave centres on relatively established technologies—cloud software, mobile applications, data platforms. But AI is beginning to change things.

Several Geelong companies are now integrating AI capabilities into their products. Some are exploring AI-first business models.

For regional businesses looking to understand AI opportunities, Team 400 can provide practical guidance that accounts for the realities of non-metropolitan operations.

The AI transition could accelerate Geelong’s growth if local companies adapt faster than competitors, or leave them behind if they don’t. The stakes are high.

Should You Move Your Company?

For Melbourne businesses considering a Geelong presence:

Do it if: You’re struggling to find office-willing staff, your work doesn’t require constant in-person Melbourne meetings, you want to tap a different talent pool, or you’re looking for cost savings.

Don’t if: Your business model requires daily client meetings in Melbourne, you need access to highly specialised talent concentrated in the city, or your team strongly prefers Melbourne lifestyle.

The hybrid model is popular—headquarter in Geelong with hot desks in Melbourne for when proximity matters. Several companies operate this way successfully.

Five Years From Now

Extrapolating current trends, Geelong in 2030 could have:

• A genuine tech district with multiple precincts
• Several companies of significant scale (100+ employees)
• University programs producing talent calibrated to local industry needs
• Self-sustaining community events and networks

Whether this happens depends on decisions being made now—by companies, by government, and by individuals choosing where to build their careers.

The foundation is solid. The opportunity is real. What happens next is up to the people who show up.