MELBOURNE IMMIGRATION MUSEUM

The Immigration Museum focuses on Melbourne and Victoria’s immigration history. First opened in 1998 as a division of Museums Victoria, Immigration Museum is located at the restored Old Customs House Building on Flinders Street in Melbourne, Victoria.

The architects of Customs House were Peter Kerr, with additional input by J.J. Clark and Arthur Ebden Johnson. Constructed between 1855 and 1876, its creation was a reflection of vastly expanded trade and soaring revenue from the goldrush, resulting in one of Melbourne's grand buildings. The museum's most important space, the Long Room, is a notable piece of Renaissance Revival architecture. The site was listed in 1948 as one of the key sites for the modernisation of Melbourne. An 11 storey £750,000 Customs House office tower was proposed, which however, did not proceed.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

CONFUSEASONAL

December is the first month of our Southern Hemisphere Summer. However, in Melbourne this year we've had a very cold and wet Spring. The pants have gone a little crazy and today we had rain and very cool weather, with snowfalls on the highest mountains of three of our states: Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales. Our seasons have Northern Hemisphere envy...

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme

and also part of the Seasons meme

DEMONSTRATION

Members of HACSU (Health and Community Services Union) demonstrating outside the local Member of the House of Representatives of the State Parliament. Peaceful protest is democratic right.

This is part of the My Sunday Best meme.

CURRAWONG

The pied currawong (Strepera graculina) is a medium-sized black passerine bird native to eastern Australia and Lord Howe Island. One of three currawong species in the genus Strepera, it is closely related to the butcherbirds and Australian magpie of the family Artamidae. Six subspecies are recognised.It is a robust crow-like bird averaging around 48 cm in length, black or sooty grey-black in plumage with white undertail and wing patches, yellow irises, and a heavy bill.

The male and female are similar in appearance. Known for its melodious calls, the species' name currawong is believed to be of indigenous origin. Within its range, the pied currawong is generally sedentary, although populations at higher altitudes relocate to lower areas during the cooler months. It is omnivorous, with a diet that includes a wide variety of berries and seeds, invertebrates, bird eggs and juvenile birds.It is a predator which has adapted well to urbanisation and can be found in parks and gardens as well as rural woodland.

The habitat includes all kinds of forested areas, although mature forests are preferred for breeding. Roosting, nesting and the bulk of foraging take place in trees, in contrast with the ground-foraging behaviour of its relative, the Australian magpie. Here it is seen in suburban Melbourne, in the Darebin Parklands in Alphington.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

SUNRISE AT THE PARKLANDS

Darebin Parklands, in Fairfield/Alphington/Ivanhoe, is a pocket of natural bushland that is unique given it is only 7 km from the Melbourne CBD. There are hidden treasures within the park including remnant orchards and crops that were grown on the fringe of a growing city during the mid-1800s. A dairy farm, vineyard, quarry and tip site were all at times active industries within the bounds of the park, and clues of this can still be found if one knows where to look. Sunrise there is quite magical.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

GRASS DAISY

Brachyscome graminea, commonly known as grass daisy, is a perennial herb in the family Asteraceae and is endemic to Australia. It has mostly mauve-pink or purple daisy-like flowers and a yellow centre. In New South Wales grass daisy is a widespread species growing in coastal districts in wet locations, cliff edges and at higher altitudes in freshwater swamps and streams. In Victoria it grows widespread over much of the State in salt laden coastal marshes in the Glenelg River area to Mallacoota. At higher altitudes in freshwater swamps and streams near Benambra and Omeo.

Many hybrid varieties exist and these are very popular with gardeners. Shown here is the Brachyscome 'Fresco Candy' variety. It is a low maintenance and easy to grow attractive plant. It grows well in most soil types given good drainage.It is water-wise once established but should be given occasional deep watering during extended periods of heat. Regular light trims will encourage repeat flowering and maintain a neat habit. Apply a slow release fertiliser in spring for optimum results, with repeat flowering from mid-spring to late autumn.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

YARRA RIVER

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme

and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

GIPPSLAND PASTORAL

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

VISTA

This is an image created from three separate photos of different locations and layered together so as to form a horizontal mosaic of three component parts: Sky; mountains; and flowering field.  I used Photoshop to stitch it all together.

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme.

MELBOURNE TRAM

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme