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Melbourne, Victoria February 2018
For my 60th birthday last year, my husband promised me a trip to Melbourne to see the musical, The Book of Mormon. A year later, on my 61st birthday, we finally made the trip and caught the final day's performance of it here. We also had the most wonderful week of discovering the delights of this marvellous city.
Each morning I would get out early and walk for kilometres, taking in the sights and fresh air and making exciting discoveries. Then the rest of the day was spent exploring specific things in more depth. The week went far too quickly, and despite packing in as much as possible each day, there is so much more to do yet, so I look forward to a return visit soon.
Each morning I would get out early and walk for kilometres, taking in the sights and fresh air and making exciting discoveries. Then the rest of the day was spent exploring specific things in more depth. The week went far too quickly, and despite packing in as much as possible each day, there is so much more to do yet, so I look forward to a return visit soon.
Melbourne was founded on the Yarra River in 1835 after an abortive bid in 1803 to establish a settlement inside the Port Phillip Bay heads near Sorrento. The Port Phillip District gained independence from New South Wales in 1850. Melbourne boomed in the 1850s as a result of the gold rush in the region to the north.
The city is located on the traditional land of the Kulin Nation and today has an extensive multi-cultural population. Melbourne is regarded as a great centre of sport, art, and culture. It boasts some of the country's finest restaurants and is acknowledged as the country's most important financial centre. All this, and yet it has the most wonderful laid back feel interlaced with the buzz and excitement of city life.
The city is located on the traditional land of the Kulin Nation and today has an extensive multi-cultural population. Melbourne is regarded as a great centre of sport, art, and culture. It boasts some of the country's finest restaurants and is acknowledged as the country's most important financial centre. All this, and yet it has the most wonderful laid back feel interlaced with the buzz and excitement of city life.
Melbourne is famous for its laneways and they have been revitalised with street art, bustling cafes and atmospheric bars. The street art is internationally renowned and offers a feast of colour, ideas and energy. AC/DC Lane and Hosier Lane are possibly the most well known, but there are many more. and one can take special walking tours to see them. I enjoyed sussing the lanes out on my own one morning, but I often stumbled on more during the week.
Wherever you go in the city, there is art, and I loved the variety. Coming upon a piece unexpectedly brightens the moment and lifts your spirits. The 'Play Me, I'm Yours' pianos were a sheer delight, not only for their beautiful art work, but for the pleasure of listening to beautiful music in the most unexpected places - under a bridge, at the train station, in the market place, by the river, in a park. There are 21 in all around the city, as well as a great many talented pianists who stop to play them and spread some joy.
One morning while walking along the Yarra I heard beautiful music nearby and so discovered the Federation Bells. For an hour, three times a day, the Federation Bells can be heard playing more than 100 compositions per week. The 39 harmonic bells were created by Dr Anton Hasell and Associate Professor Neil McLachlan, inspired by ancient European and Asian bell traditions. The bells were officially unveiled on Australia Day January 26, 2002 to commemorate our 2001 Centenary of Federation.
At www.federationbells.com.au you can find out further information including the full playing schedule, workshops and special events, and to create your own music for the Bells. |
Although the outdoor art is extensive, I still had to pay a visit to the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia - an art gallery that houses the Australian part of the art collection of the National Gallery of Victoria. It is the world's first major gallery dedicated exclusively to Australian art.
A morning at the Old Melbourne Gaol was an eye opening adventure. When the Old Melbourne Gaol was built in the mid-1800s, it dominated the Melbourne skyline as a symbol of authority. Inside the Gaol, dangerous criminals were held alongside petty offenders, the homeless and the mentally ill. Between 1842 and its closure in 1924 the gaol was the scene of 133 hangings including Australia’s most infamous citizen, the bushranger Ned Kelly. Within the cells of the three floors of the cell block, displays and storyboards depict prison life, specific prisoner stories, the hangman's trade, etc.
The City Watch House inside Police Headquarters was the place where felons were brought to face justice whether arrested in the streets of Melbourne for minor misdemeanours or being brought before the court for significant crimes. The Watch House was built in 1909 and operated until 1994 and its original interior is complete in every respect. Included in the ticket price is a 40 minute interactive experience combining fun and fear. With a Charge Sergeant as guide, visitors are ‘arrested’ and encounter what it is like to be locked up.
The Old Magistrates Court sits on the site of the original Supreme Court of Victoria where Ned Kelly was sentenced to death by Judge Redmund Barry in 1880. Many of Victoria’s most notorious criminals stood here for committal and bail hearings including gangster Squizzy Taylor, Julian Knight and Chopper Read when the Court operated from 1911 to 1994.
The City Watch House inside Police Headquarters was the place where felons were brought to face justice whether arrested in the streets of Melbourne for minor misdemeanours or being brought before the court for significant crimes. The Watch House was built in 1909 and operated until 1994 and its original interior is complete in every respect. Included in the ticket price is a 40 minute interactive experience combining fun and fear. With a Charge Sergeant as guide, visitors are ‘arrested’ and encounter what it is like to be locked up.
The Old Magistrates Court sits on the site of the original Supreme Court of Victoria where Ned Kelly was sentenced to death by Judge Redmund Barry in 1880. Many of Victoria’s most notorious criminals stood here for committal and bail hearings including gangster Squizzy Taylor, Julian Knight and Chopper Read when the Court operated from 1911 to 1994.
An afternoon at the State Library of Victoria was another eye-opening experience. Established in 1854, it is Australia's oldest free public library and a veritable treasure trove. On arrival I joined a free guided tour of the dedicated display of some of the world's rarest books and then explored the exhibitions in other galleries that line the dome before browsing the genealogical section where I found information and photographs of some of my pioneer ancestors.
The heart of the library is the LaTrobe Reading Room, opened in 1913, with a soaring glass ceiling and three levels of galleries. The octagonal space was designed to hold over a million books and up to 600 readers. It is 34.75 m in both diameter and height, and its oculus is nearly 5 m wide. The dome was the largest in the world on completion. Today it houses the Library's Australiana collection. |
So much to see, so little time. With my trusty walking shoes I kept on exploring day after day, And when my feet became too weary, I made use of those wonderful trams - free within the CBD, and outside fares for 'Seniors' very affordable.
A trip to Melbourne isn't complete without a visit to Queen Victoria Market, an authentic working market officially opened in 1878, though a range of markets operated from the site in varying forms prior to that date. The historic landmark spread over two city blocks, is a vibrant and bustling inner-city Market where you can shop for everything from Australian fruit and vegetables, and local and imported gourmet foods, to cosmetics, clothing and souvenirs.
Talking food, we of course enjoyed it here, from the burgers at Betty's Burgers situated conveniently next door to our hotel to the Thai eatery Chin Chin, one the most successful restaurant Melbourne has ever seen. We enjoyed dumplings in China Town and cocktails on the Southbank. It was, after all, my birthday celebration week.
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The main reason for our trip to Melbourne of course was to see the Book of Mormon, an hilarious musical I have been longing to see, and luckily we caught the second last Melbourne performance at the Sunday matinee. The other reason I was looking forward to was to do some more research into family history. On Sunday morning (before heading over to that irreverent musical) we went to a church service at the Trinity Lutheran Church. This was where my great-great-grandfather was ordained as a pastor in 1878 - 140 years ago. The service was held in German and though we could not understand it, it was quite lovely. I had previously visited this church, but never seen the interior before. In a book at the church I found the following reference to my ancestor, Joseph Giezendanner. My grandfather lived for 7 months with the Pastor Schramm mentioned below and we were also able to visit his cottage which is now a National Trust building.
On the day of my birthday we went to von Schramm's cottage, where a very kind gentleman especially opened it for us to visit. Normally the cottage is only open to the public on a Sunday afternoon, and that was my "Mormon musical" day. The cottage was moved from Doncaster Hill in 1971 when the road was widened. Brick by brick the local historical society moved and reconstructed it on the present site where the original Trinity Lutheran Church of Doncaster sat. Schramm not only provided my G.G.grandfather with a place to stay, but he also helped him study to become a pastor. For me the visit was especially wonderful due to my personal connection, but the complex is a very interesting site and well worth a visit for anyone interested in history. You can read more of this site's history (and of the Melbourne Trinity Lutheran Church's history at:
giezendanner.weebly.com/melbourne-victoria.html https://giezendanner.weebly.com/melbourne-victoria.html
giezendanner.weebly.com/melbourne-victoria.html https://giezendanner.weebly.com/melbourne-victoria.html
Despite being a year late, this trip proved perfect. I got to explore all I had hoped, I delved further into my family history, I enjoyed the Book of Mormon, we dined like kings, and caught up with old friends. And the weather was especially kind.