Melbourne
After a 24 hour flight that started with a two hour delay whilst the plane was de-iced at Heathrow we landed in sunny Melbourne to a very welcome 35oC. A shower and a change of clothes saw us out on the streets enjoying the warmth of the weather and the very friendly people.
Melbourne has an extensive network of trams
The Victoria Parliament Buildings
The Aussie favourite word!
St Patrick's Church
Phew! It's warm (and I haven't slept for 36 hours!)
Captain Cook's cottage brought from Yorkshire
Many things are familiar....
The impressive Melbourne Railway Station
Melbourne Jail
Ned Kelly's famous armour
Melbourne Exhibition Hall
Ramsey Street
Our visit to Melbourne wouldn't have been complete without a visit to the famous Ramsey Street location for 'Neighbours'. The street is in fact a real one with all the houses occupied. Filming takes place once a week and the owners tend to move out for the day. The deeds of each house contain clauses relating to advance notice (3 months) of ANY alteration to the outside of the properties. The owner are paid A$30,000 per year for their trouble (£13,000). The studio provides nightly security for the street.
Harrold's House
Lou's House
Toadie's
Our 'incognito' transport!
Laurie didn't enjoy this at all!
Cool dog in Federation Square
We were there at the same
time
as the Australian F1 Grand Prix
Federation Square
Much of the architecture is a planned combination of the old and the new.
Sovereign Hill - Ballarat
A replica gold-rush township which re-enact the pioneer days of the gold prospectors (they also serve a mean cornish pastie!)
Kairen makes friends with the locals
Rupertswood (the birthplace of 'The Ashes')
The night scene in Melbourne is very relaxed and we enjoyed a meal each night outside on Hardware Lane with live jazz, great food and wine.
Hardware Lane
Healesville Sanctuary
This was a chance find as it is not mentioned in the guide books. An excellent animal sanctuary with many chances to get really close to Australian furry fauna.
Our first wallaby
Gene Bear gets up close with a platypus
Emu!
A wombat aaaah!.........
