SOUTHERN CROSS LANE

A busy modern lane in Melbourne City.

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

EATING OUT POST-LOCKDOWN

Melbourne prides itself on its multicultural ambience, its arts and fashion leadership, its sporting tradition and of course its gourmet restaurants serving a variety of cuisines from around the world. Many businesses, but especially restaurants have had a hard time during the successive lockdowns we had to have. Unfortunately many did not survive, but some favourites have fortunately managed to keep open and are coming back with a vengeance now...

A favourite restaurant in one of the Melbourne lanes, called “Gingerboy” survived! It is located at 27 Crossley St, off Bourke St in the City and the style of food served is inspired by Southeast Asian very genteel street cuisine. The food is delicious and while spicy, never terribly hot, very tasty, sometimes surprising and always extremely well presented.

The restaurant has a wonderful ambience and the décor is very modern, yet draws on classic Asian materials and themes. Bamboo and rich red fabric feature prominently, but there are some surprises. For example, the bamboo-screened walls and ceiling are lit with hundreds of tiny lights giving the appearance of a starry sky. The tables are wooden and there are some interesting light fittings that are Asian retro (like something out of the “World of Suzie Wong”).

There is a bustling vivacious feeling in the place but at the same time there is warmth and intimacy. One just has to love the place in terms of both food and décor.  What to have? Well the restaurant prides itself on banquet-style food presentation with much sharing occurring on each table. Theoretically, one may have three courses with entrées, mains and desserts served. For an Asian restaurant, I am pleasantly surprised there with desserts (not the strong part of the menu in many other such restaurants).

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

MELBOURNE LANE

And we try to live as normally as possible with COVID-19 still around...

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

CITY WALK

A stroll in Degraves Street, Melbourne City, at lunchtime. The street is named after Charles and William Degraves, pioneer merchants who settled in Melbourne from Hobart, Tasmania in 1849. William Degraves (1821–1883) was also a large-scale grazier and a member of Victoria's Legislative Council between 1860 and 1874. The street is a short, narrow laneway, running north from Flinders Street to Flinders Lane in the central business district of Melbourne.

The cobbled bluestone alley forms a busy alternative thoroughfare for commuters disembarking from Flinders Street Station toward the shopping areas of The Block on Collins Street and Bourke Street Mall, loosely connecting with Centre Place, a similar lane just across Flinders Lane. The Degraves underpass was built in the 1950s, one of the few public works at the time, to allow pedestrians to get from Flinders Street Station to Degraves street rather than have to walk across busy Flinders Street.

The lane features bars, cafes, and restaurants and many of the taller old buildings have been converted into loft style apartments in the 1990s, adding further life to the street. Redevelopment of the Mutual Store in 2006 has further enhanced the lane with additional shops.

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme.

CITY PEDESTRIAN HAVENS

The lanes and arcades of Melbourne have collectively become culturally important. The Melbourne central business district's numerous lanes mostly date to the Victorian era and as a result of the original Hoddle Grid, they evolved as service laneways for horses and carts. In some parts of the city, notably Little Lonsdale area, they were associated with the city's gold rush era slums. Among the most notable are Centre Place and Degraves Lane.

Melbourne's numerous shopping arcades reached a peak of popularity in the late Victorian era and the interwar years. Among the most notable include Block Place and Royal Arcade. Some notable demolished arcades include Coles Book arcade and Queens Walk arcade. Since the 1990s, Melbourne's lanes, particularly the pedestrianised ones, have gentrified and their heritage value officially recognised as well as attracting interest from Australia and around the world. Some of the lanes, in particular have become particularly notable for their acclaimed urban art. The city has several festivals which celebrate the laneways, they are major tourist attractions and frequently feature in tourism promotions, film and television.

This post is part of the My Town Shootout meme,
and also part of the Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of the My Sunday Best meme.

VISIT MELBOURNE!

A trip to Melbourne is a very rewarding experience for tourists, travellers or jet-setters. There is plenty to discover in Melbourne's secret laneways and rooftops, the cultural hub of Federation Square, buzzing bars, boutiques and eateries, and the iconic MCG. It's great to experience St Kilda, the Royal Botanic Gardens, bohemian Brunswick Street and the nation-stopping excitement of the Spring Racing Carnival. Always fun to join world class events such as the Australian Grand Prix or relax on a day trip to the Mornington Peninsula or to Phillip Island for fairy penguins...

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

MELBOURNE POSTCARDS

Melbourne is a tourist mecca in the Southern Hemisphere and knowledgeable world travellers ensure it is on their itinerary. Spending some time here is sure to make any traveller want to return again.

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

Southbank vista

City Baths

Melbourne Central Shot Tower

National Gallery of Victoria Great Hall

City Laneway

Mornington

St Paul's Cathedral

Melbourne Theatre Company

University of Melbourne

Queen Victoria Market

South Melbourne Market

The City

MELBOURNE SNAPSHOTS

A trip to Melbourne is a very rewarding experience for tourists, travellers or jet-setters. There is plenty to discover in Melbourne's secret laneways and rooftops, the cultural hub of Federation Square, buzzing bars, boutiques and eateries, and the iconic MCG. It's great to experience St Kilda, the Royal Botanic Gardens, bohemian Brunswick Street and the nation-stopping excitement of the Spring Racing Carnival. Always fun to join world class events such as the Australian Grand Prix or relax on a day trip to the Mornington Peninsula or to Phillip Island for fairy penguins...

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

BANK PLACE

Bank Place is a street in Melbourne, Victoria. It is a short, narrow laneway, running south from Little Collins Street between Queen Street and William Street in the central business district of Melbourne. Located in the heart of the financial sector, Bank Place (which incorporates several smaller lanes, such as Mitre Lane) is an oasis of heritage pre-war buildings dating from the 1860s through to the 1920s.

Looking north, a vista is framed by Normanby Chambers. The precinct is subject to heritage restrictions, and some of the significant buildings include: Mitre Tavern, historic pub established in 1868 and remodelled in the Queen Anne style between 1900 and 1910. Mitre Tavern was a popular 'bohemian' hangout for many of Australia's most prominent artists of the early twentieth century, alongside the neighbouring Savage Club.

12-16 Bank Place was built in 1884-85 for Australia's first baronet Sir William Clarke. His son, Sir Rupert Clarke's mistress Connie Waugh is said to have lived there. The Melbourne Savage Club purchased the building in 1923. The building is classified by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria).

Other buildings include: Stalbridge Chambers (1891) corner of Little Collins; Charter House Normanby Chambers on Little Collins but terminates Bank Place; Bank House, 11-19 Bank Place Melbourne, built for businessman Charles Victor Robertson to house his Hemingway Robertson Institute.

The lane also includes several ornate heritage lamp posts and bluestone alleys. It is home to several bars, cafes and eateries which serve many of the nearby office workers. Many of the taller old buildings have been converted into loft style apartments.

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Trees & Bushes meme,
and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

MORNING PROMENADE

Walking in the along the River and in the City early in the morning in Winter. The pedestrian bridge over the Yarra leading to Southbank; some of the famous Melbourne City lanes that serve the best coffee in Australia; the arcaded walk along the General Post Office; St Francis' Catholic Church; the Royal Arcade and the old Shot Tower in Melbourne Central. It's a grand city and a wonderful travel destination. Come and visit!

This post is part of  the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Trees & Bushes meme,
and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.