Wednesday 30 May 2012

MELBOURNE AQUARIUM

Melbourne Aquarium is a Southern Ocean and Antarctic aquarium in central Melbourne, Australia. It is located on the banks of the Yarra River beside and under the Flinders Street Viaduct and the King Street Bridge. Built between February 1998 and December 1999, the building was designed by Peddle Thorp architects to resemble a ship moored to the river, and opened in January 2000. The depth of the building however was designed not to be imposing at street level, and extends 7 metres below the surface.

At its centre is a world first, 2.2 million litre 'oceanarium in the round' where the spectators become the spectacle to the marine life swimming around them. Soon after opening, the building had a legionnaires' disease outbreak that resulted in 2 deaths and another 60 people being affected. Those affected had visited the aquarium between 11 and 27 April 2000. A damages action was brought in May 2000, ending in February 2004.

The Melbourne Aquarium recently underwent a significant expansion, also designed by Peddle Thorp, and now extends from the Yarra River to Flinders Street. A new entrance was built on the corner of Flinders and King Streets. The expansion features exhibits with king penguins and gentoo Penguins, as well as many other Antarctic fish, a first for Australia. The exhibits also feature real ice and snow to simulate Antarctic conditions, and take visitors on an expedition to Antarctica.

This post is part of Kim's Water World Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Footsteps Waters meme.














16 comments:

  1. aquariums are the next best place we have to see beautiful marine creatures up close and personal. that crab is really something...i got a similar photo from the Manila Ocean Park. stingrays reminds me those NASA aircrafts--graceful creatures.:p

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  2. Magnificent photos. We have a wonderful aquarium at our local zoo, but I've never tried taking photographs there. Yours turned out so beautifully I think I'll give it a try.

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  3. Your photos for the day are superb as always, Nick, and what a beautiful place!! We have a wonderful park here in Seattle that has a great aquarium and I've gotten some pretty good shots, but yours are really special! Love the colors and the variety of sea life! Have a lovely evening!

    Sylvia

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  4. amazing shots, nix!

    they could make for a book or magazine.

    i'm really impressed!

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  5. What a wonderful place to visit! Terrific images!

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  6. Looks like a terrific place. Great shots.

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  7. You have some amazing photos through the glass!!

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  8. Thank you for this wonderful escape very much.

    (Hope to find some flowers worth for your Friday soon.) Please have a good Thursday.

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  9. Lots of interesting wildlife to see! Love the penguins especially. :)

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  10. Very beautiful love these unique water creatures. Thanks for joining Watery World Wednesday

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  11. You took great photos inside the aquarium!

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  12. Wow.. you took some fabulous shots here Nick. My favourite is the third from the top. The one with the Penguin swimming just below the surface.

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  13. As a tropical fish hobbyist I could only love this post. Wonderful!

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