This post, from October 2018, features: Brisbane, Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne, Wodonga, Berridale, Jindabyne, Milawa, Myrtleford, Wangaratta and Beechworth
Brisbane
Greetings from Brisbane: a balmy 18 degrees and raining – Welcome to the Sunshine State…The Brisbane River
Sydney
Castlereagh Hotel, built in 1926 and was the tallest building in Sydney at the time. I decided to stay here as it’s central and on the rail link from the airport.I hadn’t been to Sydney since 2007…
Churches:
St Mary’s Catholic CathedralSt Mary’s Catholic CathedralSt Mary’s Catholic CathedralThe Great Synagogue – closed to the publicSt Andrew’s Anglican CathedralSt Andrew’s Anglican CathedralPitt Street Church built in 1833St Stephen’s Church – (thanks, KK)St James’s Church, built in 1819St Philip’s Church is open to visitors on Thursdays…St Patrick’s Catholic Church – not far from St Philip’sSt Patrick’s is a gem inside…
Heroes and Villains:
Captain James Cook: hero or villain depending on your point of viewKing Edward VIICaptain Arthur Phillip, first governor of NSWA statue of Prince Albert – here referred to as “the good Consort” …
Civic Buildings:
The excellent Australian MuseumNSW central libraryThe NSW Art Gallery had an exhibition of paintings from the Hermitage in St Petersburg and an exhibition of paintings by John Russell – an excellent galleryThis is by Grayson Perry – who I thought was just some random quirky bloke the BBC put on quiz shows occasionally when they want to appear a bit avant-garde – but this is quite intriguing and rather goodThe Mint dates from 1816 and is Sydney’s oldest surviving public buildingThe old Hyde Park barracks, dating from 1817 or 1819, depending on which sign you read
George Street:
The QVB – Queen Victoria Building is a stunning piece of Romanesque architecture, designed by George McRae. Fully refurbished in 2008 it is a wonderful building – yet there were plans to demolish it in 1959 and again in the 1970’s…Roof people keeping watchSydney’s Town HallGeorge Street is in chaos as a new tram system is being installed (it opened in December 2019)
Walkabout:
The Edinburgh Castle pubThe Criterion HotelRoof people sheltering from the heat of the sun8 wise monkeys adorn the British Medical Association buildingPart of the old Sydney hospitalThe Railway Department building – another Art Deco gemAmalgamated Wireless Australasia. The Art Deco building with radio tower in the shape of the Eiffel Tower was built in 1939 and is now heritage listed. It was the tallest building in Australia until the late 1950’s. It’s a bit of a Sydney landmark. The company still exists and does ICT stuff…The Grace HotelBeautiful Art Deco cinema in Potts Point
Barangaroo:
Thanks to a friend from England now living & working here, I discovered Barangaroo – think London’s Docklands and you get the idea – a whole new suburb has been created. This is Tower One…View from the 43rd floor of Tower No1 View from the 43rd floor of Tower No1 The three towers, Barangaroo…The three towers, Barangaroo…The three towers, Barangaroo…
The Rocks:
The Lord Nelson is still here – first came here in February 1994 – hardly First Fleet, but hey…
Harbourside:
The harbour at Circular Quay
The Big Debate:
I was instructed to try Messina – as it recommended by a couple of friends as “the best ice cream in Sydney” – this branch is at Circular Quay and the vanilla was indeed very nice…Rivareno Gelato, Barangaroo was recommended by a waitress at The Pavilion Restaurant, opposite the NSW Art Gallery – the vanilla was even nicer and richer than Messina (my friends insist that I’m wrong but I’m going with the waitress)…
Sydney From The Tower:
Sydney from the Tower observation deckSydney from the Tower observation deckSydney from the Tower observation deckSydney from the Tower observation deckSydney from the Tower observation deckSydney from the Tower observation deckSydney from the Tower observation deckSydney from the Tower observation deckSydney from the Tower observation deck
Old Photos of Sydney:
Some intriguing shots of Sydney from years gone byTrams were removed from Sydney in 1961 – 58 years later trams are back in service…
Hobart
Street Scenes:
Walkabout in HobartRoald Amundsen was staying here when he wrote to notify the King of Norway of his expedition’s success in reaching the South PoleSt David’s CathedralSt David’s CathedralA statue of Admiral Sir John Franklin, governor of Tasmania and discoverer of the north west passage – although Roald Amundsen was the first person to sail through it…Ingle Hall dates from 1811 and is one of the oldest buildings in TasmaniaThe Bathurst Street Sunday market in full swingThis grand house dates from 1833Excellent maritime museum – nearby is the equally good Tasmania Museum and Art GalleryThe Hope and Anchor also claims to be Hobart’s oldest building…
Harbourside:
Down by the harbourDown by the harbourThe ship is called: Lady NelsonThe Lady Nelson
Salamanca:
At SalamancaAt SalamancaAt SalamancaAt SalamancaParliament HouseSt David’s Park
Blackman’s Bay:
The view from my friend Angela’s front door in Blackmans BayView over Blackmans Bay from Angela’s garden
Melbourne
It’s great to be back in Melbourne – the waitress has just called me “darl” – as in: “there’s your long black, darl” – it feels like coming home…
Churches:
St Paul’s Cathedral is difficult to photograph – hemmed in by buildings, roads and metro-constructionSt Paul’s CathedralSt Augustine’s dates from 1869…St Peter’s Catholic CathedralSt Peter’s Catholic Cathedral
The CBD:
The Town Hall is quite grandFlinders Railway Station is amazingDying of neglectThe magnificent H&M store used to be the post officeThis must be the poshest H&M store in the worldBourke Street Mall has lots of glorious buildingsZara is guarded by roof sprites…Melbourne has several sweet little arcadesOne of Melbourne’s iconic old tramsColourfulThe Forum Theatre dates from 1929 and was designed by John EbersonThe Parliament BuildingThe Windsor HotelThe Windsor Hotel
Museums and Galleries:
The Exhibition Centre and surrounding park is a UNESCO World Heritage site – today the centre is being used for students examsMelbourne Museum is very good but the building itself is shockingFederation Square is home to the National Gallery of VictoriaThis is a model of the Gas and Fuel Corporation offices – demolished in 1997 to make way for the Federation Square developmentStreet Art
Gertrude Street:
Gertrude Street is full of lovely old houses and buildingsGertrude Street Gertrude Street Gertrude StreetGertrude StreetGertrude StreetOffices of the National Trust of AustraliaOffices of the National Trust of Australia
Wodonga
The Cube, Wodonga: where it all happens on the first Friday of the month – music, food, stalls, games – a fantastic community eventTammy and I hadn’t seen each other since 2006 – lovely to catch up and hear about the brilliant work Tammy is doing with the council hereClever bins – they are being trialled to see how effective they areWodonga’s landmark water tower will stay during the next phase of the town’s regenerationThe Goods Shed – a bistro and bar in one of the old railway station buildingsAn amazing selection of local beersI stayed in the Quest Hotel – another section of the town’s regenerationFierce clouds threatening a stormThe threat soon fadedThe Bean Station – nice coffee and good breakfast
Rasa and Richard’s house in Jindabyne…The view from their veranda with Lake Jindabyne and the dam in the distanceKangaroos grazingThe view from the Jindabyne Brewery pub – very good beerThe tragically hip…The Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre – www.snowyhydro.com.au – absolutely fascinating and absorbing exhibition about the construction of the dams and introduction of hydro electricityA Dodge LancerA view from Dead Horse Gap in the Snowy MountainsGiven how beautiful the Snowy Mountains are it is an achievement to come up with two such dull photographs…
Milawa
Brown Brothers Milawa…Brown Brothers Milawa – the old barnBrown Brothers Milawa – the Epicurean CentreBrown Brothers Milawa – the cellar doorBrown Brothers Milawa – the cellar doorJazzy new wines and smart new labelsAlbariño should have been the next big thing for Australia – but the early wines turned out to be Savagnin and so the dustbin of history beckonedBrown Brothers wines in Melbourne’ Tullamarine Airport duty free
Myrtleford
Dee’s new house in Myrtleford With Dee’s lovely German ShepherdsThe Buffalo RiverLake Buffalo…
Wangaratta
The Gateway, Wangaratta hasn’t changed – still as friendly and still my favourite hotel – several of the reception staff I knew from the old days are still there – lovely to see Kerry, Kerri and Jane again… Walkabout in Wangaratta (“Wang” to the locals)WangarattaWangarattaWangarattaWangarattaWangarattaSt Patrick’s Church, WangarattaWangaratta now has an Aldi…That could work both ways… You know you’re in Australia when the pies are Four and Twenty
Beechworth
Gold was discovered in Beechworth in 1852 and it soon became a very wealthy town…Gold was discovered in Beechworth in 1852 and it soon became a very wealthy town…BeechworthBeechworthBeechworthBeechworthBeechworthBeechworthBeechworthA Bunya Pine – a native tree of Queensland – it seems to be thriving in the less than tropical climate of north east Victoria So: my second farewell tour of Australia draws to a close – time to start planning a third one…Darwin is down there somewhere…Clouds playground
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