This post is part of the Mellow Yellow Monday meme,
and also part of the Mandarin Orange Monday meme.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!
Monday, 24 December 2012
CHRISTMAS SQUARE
As the centrepiece of Melbourne City's Christmas decorations program, City Square is transformed into a magical wonderland: Christmas Square. Visitors can find Rudolph and his reindeer friends amongst the hedge maze, view a traditional nativity scene and an interactive story book, plus Santa in his house. At night one can experience sound and light shows, bringing a very special atmosphere to the city.
This post is part of the Mellow Yellow Monday meme,
and also part of the Mandarin Orange Monday meme.
This post is part of the Mellow Yellow Monday meme,
and also part of the Mandarin Orange Monday meme.
Sunday, 23 December 2012
DOCKLANDS VISTAS
The Batman's Hill precinct of Melbourne Docklands is bordered by the Yarra River to the south, Spencer Street to the east, Docklands Stadium to the north and Victoria Harbour to the west. The precinct is named after the historical landmark Batman's Hill, which was once located within the area.
It is a mixed-use precinct including commercial and retail space, entertainment, hotels, residential sections, restaurants, cultural sites and educational institutions as well as the historic Rail Goods Shed No. 2, which was split in half to allow for the extension of Collins Street into Docklands, providing businesses with an address that is considered to be prestigious. The area is 100,000 square metres.
More than half the precinct is already built, committed or under construction, and includes the Watergate/Site One apartment and small office complex, 700 Collins Street (home to the Bureau of Meteorology and Medibank Private), 750 Collins Street (the Melbourne headquarters of AMP), Kangan Institute's Automotive Centre for Excellence (ACE) and the Fox Classic Car Museum, 717 Bourke Street (consisting of a 294 room Travelodge Hotel and 737 Bourke Street (home to National Foods).
The Stadium Precinct, which sits on the eastern edge of Docklands, consists of Etihad Stadium, Seven Network's Melbourne digital broadcasting centre, Victoria Point, Bendigo Bank offices and Quest serviced apartments. It is linked to Southern Cross Station and the Melbourne CBD by the Bourke Street pedestrian bridge, built over railway lines.
This post is part of the Scenic Sunday meme,
and also part of the Sunday Bridges meme,
and also part of the Shadow Shot Sunday meme.
It is a mixed-use precinct including commercial and retail space, entertainment, hotels, residential sections, restaurants, cultural sites and educational institutions as well as the historic Rail Goods Shed No. 2, which was split in half to allow for the extension of Collins Street into Docklands, providing businesses with an address that is considered to be prestigious. The area is 100,000 square metres.
More than half the precinct is already built, committed or under construction, and includes the Watergate/Site One apartment and small office complex, 700 Collins Street (home to the Bureau of Meteorology and Medibank Private), 750 Collins Street (the Melbourne headquarters of AMP), Kangan Institute's Automotive Centre for Excellence (ACE) and the Fox Classic Car Museum, 717 Bourke Street (consisting of a 294 room Travelodge Hotel and 737 Bourke Street (home to National Foods).
The Stadium Precinct, which sits on the eastern edge of Docklands, consists of Etihad Stadium, Seven Network's Melbourne digital broadcasting centre, Victoria Point, Bendigo Bank offices and Quest serviced apartments. It is linked to Southern Cross Station and the Melbourne CBD by the Bourke Street pedestrian bridge, built over railway lines.
This post is part of the Scenic Sunday meme,
and also part of the Sunday Bridges meme,
and also part of the Shadow Shot Sunday meme.
Saturday, 22 December 2012
CROWN REFLECTIONS
Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex is a large casino and entertainment precinct located on the south bank of the Yarra River, in Melbourne, Australia. Crown Casino is a unit of Crown Limited. Crown's current casino complex opened in 1997, after moving from its original location from 1994 on the north bank of the Yarra. It is one of the central features of the Southbank area in the central business district and the Crown Promenade fronts onto the waterfront as part of Southbank Promenade. Children under 18 are permitted into the entertainment section of complex, but not into the gaming area or areas serving alcohol. The entire complex has a space of 510,000 m² which is equivalent to 2 city blocks, making it the largest casino complex in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest in the world.
Although I am not a gambler, I visit the Casino complex now and then, if for nothing else for the photo opportunities one is afforded there...
This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of the Weekly TopShot meme.
Although I am not a gambler, I visit the Casino complex now and then, if for nothing else for the photo opportunities one is afforded there...
This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of the Weekly TopShot meme.
Friday, 21 December 2012
THE END OF THE WORLD - NOT...
If you believe the media and the Mayans, the end of the world is here. The Mayan calendar’s “long count” began on 13 August 3114 BC and will end on 21 December 2012. This is of course the Mayan calendar equivalent of the dawn of their version of the “new millennium”, but for some doomsayers, the end of the long count signals the end of the world. This has been aided and abetted by disaster movies like “2012” and “Armageddon”. It is not surprising that around one in ten people worldwide think the world will end in 2012, while about 9% of Australians also think this is true.
Well, sorry to disappoint everyone, but the world is still here, although this morning on the Yarra it was looking quite appropriately gloomy. However, the day turned out beautifully and happy to say we are beginning another "long count" by the Mayan calendar!
This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.
Well, sorry to disappoint everyone, but the world is still here, although this morning on the Yarra it was looking quite appropriately gloomy. However, the day turned out beautifully and happy to say we are beginning another "long count" by the Mayan calendar!
This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.
Thursday, 20 December 2012
MELBOURNE STREET TREES 25 - TREE GREVILLEA
Grevillea robusta, commonly known as the southern silky oak or silky oak, or Australian silver oak, is the largest species in the genus Grevillea of the family Proteaceae. It is not closely related to the true oaks, Quercus. It is a native of eastern coastal Australia, in riverine, subtropical and dry rainforest environments receiving more than 1,000 mm per year of average rainfall.
It is a fast-growing evergreen tree, between 18–35 m tall, with dark green delicately dented bipinnatifid leaves reminiscent of a fern frond. It is the largest plant in the Grevillea genus, reaching diameters in excess of 1 m. The leaves are generally 15–30 cm long with greyish white or rusty undersides.Its flowers are golden-orange bottlebrush-like blooms, between 8–15 cm long, in the spring, on a 2–3 cm long stem and are used for honey production. Like others of its genus, the flowers have no petals, instead they have a long calyx that splits into 4 lobes. The seeds mature in late winter to early spring, fruiting on dark brown leathery dehiscent follicles, about 2 cm long, with one or two flat, winged seeds.
Before the advent of aluminium, the timber from this tree was widely used for external window joinery as it is resistant to rotting. It was also popular for making furniture. There are severe restrictions on the harvesting of this tree now as the number of trees became depleted. Silky Oak is a valuable timber and was one of Australia’s best known cabinet timbers.It is the best tree which can be used for fencing and it is one of the fastest growing trees.
This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.
It is a fast-growing evergreen tree, between 18–35 m tall, with dark green delicately dented bipinnatifid leaves reminiscent of a fern frond. It is the largest plant in the Grevillea genus, reaching diameters in excess of 1 m. The leaves are generally 15–30 cm long with greyish white or rusty undersides.Its flowers are golden-orange bottlebrush-like blooms, between 8–15 cm long, in the spring, on a 2–3 cm long stem and are used for honey production. Like others of its genus, the flowers have no petals, instead they have a long calyx that splits into 4 lobes. The seeds mature in late winter to early spring, fruiting on dark brown leathery dehiscent follicles, about 2 cm long, with one or two flat, winged seeds.
Before the advent of aluminium, the timber from this tree was widely used for external window joinery as it is resistant to rotting. It was also popular for making furniture. There are severe restrictions on the harvesting of this tree now as the number of trees became depleted. Silky Oak is a valuable timber and was one of Australia’s best known cabinet timbers.It is the best tree which can be used for fencing and it is one of the fastest growing trees.
This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.
CHINATOWN, MELBOURNE
Chinatown is a distinctive and well known area of Melbourne, which dates back to the goldrush days of the 1850s. Importantly, Melbourne’s Chinatown is the longest continuous Chinese settlement in the western world. Chinatown’s essential character and main focus is along Little Bourke Street from Swanston Street to Spring Street, including the laneways and alleys which link the area to Bourke Street and Lonsdale Street.
The cabinet makers and lodging houses of the past may now be gone but eating houses and top class restaurants now take their place with the streetscape and its low-rise brick buildings, retaining its historic character. Throughout the year, there are many traditional festivals and activities, making Chinatown a popular destination in the city centre for local, interstate and international visitor.
The refurbishment of Chinatown’s 5 key arches was an important statement of the City of Melbourne’s commitment to Chinatown. The arches have been restored to their former glory with added modern touches including red neon lighting on the columns. The arches clearly announce the entrance to Chinatown.
This post is part of the Signs, Signs meme.
The cabinet makers and lodging houses of the past may now be gone but eating houses and top class restaurants now take their place with the streetscape and its low-rise brick buildings, retaining its historic character. Throughout the year, there are many traditional festivals and activities, making Chinatown a popular destination in the city centre for local, interstate and international visitor.
The refurbishment of Chinatown’s 5 key arches was an important statement of the City of Melbourne’s commitment to Chinatown. The arches have been restored to their former glory with added modern touches including red neon lighting on the columns. The arches clearly announce the entrance to Chinatown.
This post is part of the Signs, Signs meme.
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
DAREBIN PARKLANDS WATERS
Darebin Parklands, in Alphington/Ivanhoe, has a natural bush and country feel that is unique given it is only 7km 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. Wildlife populates the park and numerous conservation efforts are maintaining this zone of green within the urban sprawl.
This post is part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Water World Wednesday meme.
This post is part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Water World Wednesday meme.
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
CROWN CHRISTMAS
Crown Casino's "Christmas Fantastic" is this year's spectacular display of decorations to celebrate the magical season of Christmas. Continuing a Melbourne tradition, Crown lights up the grand Atrium this December. "Christmas Fantastic" is a light, sound and 3D projection show running on 15 minute rotations from 10am to Midnight, seven days a week.
It features the Twelve Days of Christmas in vision, soundtrack and special sound effects. There are 98 highly decorated gigantic Christmas baubles "scattered" throughout the Atrium in various sizes. The show will run until Sunday, 6 January 2013. The only thing I found abhorrent was the terrible version of the Twelve Days of Christmas soundtrack - a jazzed up, "modernised" version that irritated and irked...
This post is part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,
It features the Twelve Days of Christmas in vision, soundtrack and special sound effects. There are 98 highly decorated gigantic Christmas baubles "scattered" throughout the Atrium in various sizes. The show will run until Sunday, 6 January 2013. The only thing I found abhorrent was the terrible version of the Twelve Days of Christmas soundtrack - a jazzed up, "modernised" version that irritated and irked...
This post is part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Our World Tuesday Meme.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)