Wednesday, 30 April 2025

YARRA RIVER

Yarra River at Dights Falls. Perfect place for some relaxation and meditation, only 4 km from the City! How lucky we are in Melbourne to have such a natural gem in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.

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.



Tuesday, 29 April 2025

"CESTRIA" MANSION

"Cestria" is a Victorian mansion in Hawthorn, is one of the first and arguably the greatest American Romanesque Revival houses in Australia. It is of architectural significance for the survival of many interior features, especially the woodwork of the entrance/stair hall with its mahogany and American walnut staircase. The large west dining-room is also substantially intact with wallpapers and decoration from the time of the first owner.

"Cestria" was built for the wealthy biscuit manufacturer Thomas B Guest in 1891. Architect EG Kilburn of the partnership Ellerker and Kilburn signed the drawings. Kilburn had recently visited America, and the buildings he saw during his stay undoubtedly influenced the final design. "Cestria" followed close on the heels of Kilburn's American Romanesque design for an extension at the Priory Ladies School, St Kilda, which was finished in July 1890.

"Cestria" is architecturally significant as the greatest domestic example of the American Romanesque style of architecture in Victoria. Cestria is particularly significant as a reaction against the prevailing popularity of the Italianate style, which was characterised by cement rendered walls, parapets teetering with urns and other decorative features, and by cast iron. Cestria is significant for the part it played in the debate about an appropriate national style of architecture. It was hailed in contemporary building journals as being eminently suited to the Australian climate. The emergence of the American Romanesque and other red brick styles was central to the question of adapting an existing style to Australian requirements rather than creating a new one.

"Cestria" is located in a neighbourhood which contains a number of outstanding examples of Victorian and early Federation-style villas, combined with a series of well-designed and visually striking interwar houses and flats. Anchored by the visually prominent boulevard-like stretch of Glenferrie Road climbing past Scotch College, the place is representative of the changing patterns of development from the second half of the nineteenth century through to the interwar period.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme.


Monday, 28 April 2025

RAINY NIGHT

A rainy night in Melbourne tonight, as Autumn digs its heels in. Hurry home for some snug and cosy delights.

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


Sunday, 27 April 2025

PORT PHILLIP BAY

The Bay viewed from from the 25th floor of a Southbank tower. The lovely Victorian building with the clock tower is the South Melbourne Town Hall.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

Saturday, 26 April 2025

CITY LIGHTS GLARE

A view towards the Melbourne CBD from about 6 km northeast. It's Autumn here and we've had some rain. The sky is still overcast.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme


Thursday, 24 April 2025

GERANIUM 'ROZANNE'

Geranium 'Rozanne' Pbr (Geranium wallichianum x himalayense 'Rozanne' PBR) is an extremely popular cultivar with bright violet-blue flowers, each with a white central eye. Delicate red veins radiate outward into each petal. Come early spring, beautiful lobed foliage emerges, forming a neat low mound. Flowers are soon produced and will extend throughout autumn after a light trim in summer. A perfect choice for planting with roses.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

Wednesday, 23 April 2025

EARTH DAY

Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally through earthday.org (formerly Earth Day Network) including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries.

The Darebin Parklands is a nature conservation area and educational facility that includes recreational and research areas relating to the environment. It is situated around the Darebin Creek, which flows into the Yarra River, and is a much-beloved green space amongst typical metropolitan suburbia. It is about 7 km NE of the Melbourne City Centre.

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.


Tuesday, 22 April 2025

WATERSIDE HOTEL

The Waterside Hotel, a cherished landmark situated at the prominent corner of King Street and Flinders Street in Melbourne's CBD. Originally built in 1853, this well-preserved Victorian-era hotel will have its iconic façade meticulously retained and restored, blending heritage with modernity.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme


Monday, 21 April 2025

THE NUMBERS HAVE IT

With a Federal Election looming ahead, and an amusing talk show on the radio I hear about numerology, I took the opportunity of sharing this collage of numbers I found and photographed  while walking around my neighbourhood.

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