PRESTON

Preston is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km  north-east of Melbourne's central business district, located within the City of Darebin local government area. Preston recorded a population of 33,790 at the 2021 census.

As part of the City of Darebin, Preston has an active and eclectic artists and DIY community which is contemporary, experimental, and culturally diverse. Writers, musicians, and visual artists flock to the locality for performance, collaboration, and acceptance. Notable contributors to the Darebin arts community are locals Saint Jude, Downhills Home, The Contrast, The Melbourne Ukulele Kollective, Performing Older Women's Circus (POW Circus), Darebin City Brass, and members of Little John, to name a few.

Darebin celebrates the artistry and diversity of the community with regular festivals and events such as the Darebin Music Feast and the now-defunct High Vibes Festival. The major community Indigenous Radio Station 3KND is located in Mary Street in Preston and is completely Aboriginal managed.

Preston has a wide variety of restaurants, including fine dining and fast food. High Street has been transformed lately, with many new cafes and restaurants opening and becoming popular with the youth in the area. Niche cafés and restaurants have opened in the suburb inviting patrons to dine.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

HER MAJESTY'S

Her Majesty's Theatre is a 1,700-seat theatre in Melbourne's East End Theatre District. Built in 1886, it is located at 219 Exhibition Street, Melbourne. It is classified by the National Trust of Australia and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. Purchased in 2000 by Mike Walsh, the theatre was restored and refitted to accommodate larger productions.

The theatre has consistently played host to the world's best artists and shows. The legendary Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova, captivated Australian crowds at performances in 1926 and 1929. Notable productions at Her Majesty's include: 1953: Call Me Madam 1954: Paint Your Wagon 1955: Can-Can 1956: The Boy Friend 1957: The Pajama Game 1959: My Fair Lady (Original Australian Production 1959) 1961: Oliver! 1997: Sweet Charity 1998: An Ideal Husband, Chicago 2002: The Hollow Crown 2003: Cabaret, Hair, Nutcracker on Ice 2004: Eureka 2005: Mamma Mia!, Die Fledermaus (Melbourne Opera) 2006: An Inspector Calls, Così fan tutte (Victorian Opera), 2007: Madame Butterfly (Melbourne Opera), Miss Saigon, The Love of the Nightingale (Victorian Opera), Orphée et Eurydice (Victorian Opera), Monty Python's Spamalot 2008: Fiddler on the Roof, Billy Elliot the Musical.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme.