YARRA VALLEY

The Yarra Valley is the name given to the region surrounding the Yarra River in Victoria, Australia. The river originates approximately 90 kilometres east of the City of Melbourne and flows towards it and out into Port Phillip Bay. The name Yarra Valley is usually used in reference to the upper regions surrounding the Yarra River and generally does not encompass the lower regions including the city and suburban areas, where the topography flattens out, or the upper reaches which are in inaccessible bushland.

Included in the Yarra Valley is the sub-region of Upper Yarra (or the Upper Yarra Valley) which encompasses the towns of the former Shire of Upper Yarra in the catchment area upstream of and including Woori Yallock. The Yarra Valley a popular day-trip and tourist area, featuring a range of natural features and agricultural produce, as well as the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail.The Yarra Valley is host to a thriving wine growing industry. The area's relatively cool climate makes it particularly suited to the production of high-quality chardonnay, pinot noir and sparkling wine.

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Blue Monday meme,

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IT'S OCTOBER

Celebrating October

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AUTUMN VS SPRING

We enjoyed a beautiful Spring day here in Melbourne today, so I am sparing a thought for Northern Hemisphere viewers of this page who may be shivering through an Autumn day!

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DUCKLING

At the Darebin Parklands.

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CRESCENT MOON

Moonwatching at the Parklands.

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MELBOURNE STREET TREES 193 - GERALDTON WAX

Chamelaucium, also known as waxflower, is a genus of shrubs endemic to south western Western Australia. They belong to the myrtle family Myrtaceae and have flowers similar to those of the tea-trees (Leptospermum). The most well-known species is the Geraldton Wax, Chamelaucium uncinatum, which is cultivated widely for its large attractive flowers.

Chamelaucium ‘Petticoat Pink’, is a hybrid popular with Melbourne gardeners and is also planted in parks. Petticoat Pink is a medium sized shrub with large mid-pink flowers in profusion during spring. The flowers are offset by narrow, dark green leaves. Geraldton Wax is grown commercially for the cut flower trade. Grown in gardens as a decorative shrub or informal hedge and is also useful for erosion control. Requires well drained soil and a sunny position but withstands part shade. Tolerates extended periods of dryness and most frosts. Prune lightly after flowering. 2-3m high x 2-3m wide.

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MUSIC 3 - HAMER HALL

The Arts Centre Melbourne, originally known as the Victorian Arts Centre and briefly officially called The Arts Centre, is a performing arts centre consisting of a complex of theatres and concert halls in the Melbourne Arts Precinct, located in the central Melbourne suburb of Southbank in Victoria, Australia. It was designed by architect Sir Roy Grounds, the masterplan for the complex (along with the National Gallery of Victoria) was approved in 1960 and construction began in 1973 following some delays. The complex opened in stages, with Hamer Hall opening in 1982 and the Theatres Building opening in 1984. The Arts Centre is located by the Yarra River and along St Kilda Road, one of the city's main thoroughfares, and extends into the Melbourne Arts Precinct, with its spire a well-known landmark of Melbourne.

Hamer Hall (formerly the Melbourne Concert Hall) is a 2,466 seat concert hall, the largest venue in the Arts Centre complex, used for orchestra and contemporary music performances. It was opened in 1982 and was later renamed Hamer Hall in honour of Sir Rupert Hamer (the 39th Premier of Victoria) shortly after his death in 2004.

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SUNSET AT SOUTH WHARF

South Wharf is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km south-west of Melbourne's Central Business District. Its local government areas are the Cities of Melbourne and Port Phillip. At the 2011 Census, South Wharf had a population of 66. South Wharf is a small inner suburb south west from Melbourne's CBD.

Its borders are the Yarra River to the north, Wurundjeri Way to the west, the West Gate Freeway and a small private car park bordering Ford Street and Munro Street, which is part of the City of Port Phillip, to the south and the former Port Melbourne railway line and Clarendon Street to the east.

Gazetted in 2008 and formerly part of the industrial and shipping area of Southbank, the renaming is part of a wider urban renewal strategy to link Southbank with the Melbourne Docklands.

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YARRA BEND

Yarra Bend Park along the Yarra River in Melbourne is a delightful nature spot.

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ART COLONY

Montsalvat was originally established as a true artists’ colony in over 12 acres situated in Eltham, an outer suburb of Melbourne, Australia. It was founded by architect and artist Justus Jörgensen (1893-1975) in 1934. It is home to a small hamlet of various buildings, houses and halls set amongst extensive established gardens. The colony of Montsalvat reflects very much the life of Justus Jörgensen and his friends and family.

Architecturally, Montsalvat has much in common with a simple French village in Provence revealing a mix of rustic architectural styles. There is very much a European village feel to the place! The picturesque buildings are surrounded by lawns and gardens.

The Great Hall of Montsalvat is like a European Manor House. Today it is used for exhibitions, receptions and concerts. Much of the art of Jorgensen is exhibited here, as well as the art of his contemporaries.

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