CHAMPAGNE IN BANK PLACE

Bank PLace is a delightful old lane in the middle of the City and has several important historic buildings. There are also some delightful restaurants, cafés and bars, including "Syracuse", showing here a tempting sign: "Champagne Trolley - $20 per glass..."

This post is part of the Signs, Signs meme.

QUIET AUTUMN MORNING

Our days continue to get smaller, the nights longer and the chill is in the air. It is getting harder to get up early for many people so not many early birds like me are out and about each morning as I go to work... The Yarra looks very tranquil at that time and the Princes Bridge is rather quiet too.

This post is part of the Waterworld Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme.

MELBOURNE CITY

Up on the Langham Hotel rooftop for another few shots of Melbourne City with a fine view of the FLinders St train terminus and of Federation Square also.

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme.

MELBOURNE TEACHERS COLLEGE, PARKVILLE

The Melbourne Teachers College has had multiple identities. As the Normal Institution it operated at the Model School in Spring Street from 1855-59, reopening in the same premises as the Training Institution in 1870, with F.J. Gladman brought from England to instil the latest educational philosophy.

In 1889 the Institution moved to a grand, highly decorated, teaching and residential building adjacent to the University of Melbourne where it reopened as the Training College after being closed because of the depression from 1893-1900. The new principal was Frank Tate, one of Victoria's foremost educationists, who left to become Director of Education in 1902. Under Tate and his successor, John Smyth (principal 1902-27) the College was a leading force in Victorian teacher training.

Renamed the Teachers College in 1913 it quickly expanded beyond primary training to secondary, kindergarten and other specialised areas. From 1903 secondary training was conducted in conjunction with the University, a connection that was extended and formalised in 1919 with the principal being simultaneously appointed to the Chair of Education. During the 1920s trainee numbers rose far beyond the accommodation capacity, peaking at over 1000 in 1928. New colleges established at Ballarat and Bendigo in 1926 eased the pressure on the now Melbourne Teachers College until another round of depression cutbacks slashed trainee numbers. After considerable controversy the formal link with the University was broken in 1939.

Postwar expansion saw enrolments peak at 1153 in 1971 before the establishment of several new colleges relieved pressure. To rationalise resources the College amalgamated in 1973 with the adjacent Secondary Teachers College to form the Melbourne College of Education, which in turn became the State College of Victoria at Melbourne, and, in 1983, the Melbourne College of Advanced Education, before being amalgamated in 1989 with the Education Faculty of the University of Melbourne to form the Institute of Education.

This post is part of the Mandarin Orange Monday meme,
and also part of the Nature Footsteps Inspiring Photography meme.

FLYING HOME

Flying home after a trip interstate, I enjoyed this play of sun and shadow on the farms to the North of Melbourne. The evening light with its golden tones is especially beautiful when seen from the height of a plane...

This post is part of the Shadow Shot Sunday meme.

GOLDEN SUNSET REFLECTIONS

Southbank is an inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1 km south of Melbourne's Central Business District, directly south of the Yarra River. At the 2011 Census, Southbank had a population of 11,235. Southbank is bordered to the north by the Yarra River, and to the east by St Kilda Road. Southbank's southern and western borders are bounded by Dorcas Street, Kings Way, the West Gate Freeway and Montague Street.

Today Southbank is dominated by high-rise development. It is one of the primary business centres in Greater Melbourne, being the headquarters of Foster's, Treasury Wine Estates, Crown Limited, Alumina, Incitec Pivot, The Herald and Weekly Times (including the Herald Sun), as well as regional offices of many major corporations, in a cluster of towers with over 340,000 square metres of office space in 2008. It is also one of the most densely populated areas of Melbourne, with a large cluster of apartment towers, including Australia's tallest tower measured to its highest floor, the Eureka Tower.

This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of the Weekly TopShot meme.

SUNRISE ON THE YARRA

With Autumn advancing and the days shortening, I am just managing to catch the sunrise before I go to work (being an early bird). Shortly, I shall be in at work in the dark and getting home in the dark...

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

MELBOURNE STREET TREES 37 - LADY OF THE NIGHT

Cestrum nocturnum is a species of Cestrum in the plant family Solanaceae (the potato family). The species is native to the West Indies and South Asia. Common names include Raatraani, night-blooming cestrum, Hasna Hena, lady of the night, queen of the night, night-blooming jessamine and night-blooming jasmine. The plant was discovered by Ragbhir Singh Ubhi, in the late 1800s on a hike through a West-Indies Forest, as he noticed the sweet aroma of the plant.

C. nocturnum is grown in subtropical regions as an ornamental plant for its flowers that are heavily perfumed at night. The plant produces black berries full of seeds.  It grows best in average to moist soil that is light and sandy, with a neutral pH of 6.6 to 7.5, and is hardy to hardiness zone 8. C. nocturnum can be fertilised biweekly with a weak dilution of seaweed and fish emulsion fertiliser.

It has become widely naturalised in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, southern China and the southernmost United States, and is difficult to eradicate. It is classed as a weed in some countries.In Auckland New Zealand, it has been reported as a seriously invasive weed to the Auckland Regional Council and is under investigation. It has been reported that the plant has been removed from some old people's homes due to the strong scent causing difficulties for the residents. There are mixed reports regarding the toxicity of foliage and fruit, but like many members of the family Solanaceae, it may contain varying amounts of the toxic solanine.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

BREAKFAST IN THE LANES

Melbourne City’s laneways criss-cross the building blocks between the main streets and are narrow enclaves where mainstream culture gives way to one-off boutiques, unique galleries, tiny cafés and hidden bars. Desgraves St and its continuation into Centre Pl across from Flinders Lane are examples of Melbourne's premier laneways showcasing just what real Melbourne ambience is all about.

One of the best way to start an autumn or winter day is to have breakfast in one of the many eateries found in these distinctive Melbourne icons.

This post is part of the Signs, Signs Thursday meme.

RINGWOOD LAKE

Ringwood Lake Park is a significant asset, well valued by the Maroondah City community. The 8.5 hectare park has been enjoyed by many locals and visitors since its creation in the 1920’s. The significance of the park has been highlighted through the preservation of the local history, pleasant and naturally significant surroundings and by hosting various annual festivals.Community groups and individuals have contributed both time and funding towards the Park’s preservation, including recent works to enhance the cultural value of the park.

Ringwood Lake Park is located at the corner of Maroondah Highway and Mt Dandenong Road next to the Belgrave railway line. The lake is about 1 hectare in size with a shoreline of 1 kilometre and a maximum depth of 4.3 metres. In 1926 the lake was created, with community co-operation, by damming the Sandy Creek which flowed north-westerly to the Mullum Mullum Creek. It was an area of mud, fallen logs and grasses which now provides alternative habitat for wildlife as well as passive recreational opportunities.

This post is part of the Water World Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme.