Farewelling Melbourne

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                            The clocks indicate the departure times for trains on each line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 9th - Time to Say Goodbye

And where better than under the clocks at Flinders Street's iconic station, it's where we started our exploration of Melbourne on December 2nd 2005 and where we began our farewell visit

It's a great time to be in the city which is looking its very best ahead of the Commonwealth games which begin on March 15 and end 11 days later

Four thousand athletes were converging from 71 countries and for the first time ever the 'Queen's Baton' had visited each one of them including Castlemaine, before being delivered into her hands at the opening ceremony

 Federation Square

Resulted from a competition for a public space above the railway lines on the edge of the business district. To be used for arts, culture, and public events and completed for Australia's Centenary of Federation in 2001.  By the time it was opened in October 2002 it had cost $467 million, 4 times its original estimates.   Melburnians seem to either love it or hate it, I liked it

The Fracture Gallery Wall - Atrium

 The Atrium Fracture Gallery with ACMI

Spring 2019: Apple had applied for permission to tear down the Yarra Building and replace with one of their stores,  thankfully saner heads prevailed and the plans were declined.  The future of the square is currently under review
The Yarra Building

 The Australian Center For The Moving Image
Victoria Police Band

The bands lead singers perform with their colleagues at the permanent stage in the square.  They were terrific and had us dancing while watching ourselves on the screen

               Large fixed public screen  

During this last visit the city was bustling with activity ahead of the upcoming Games, we walked along to see the riverine preparations

 The River Show

Each participating nation was represented by a marine creature metaphorically swimming up the Yarra from the sea to the Melbourne Cricket Grounds where the actual opening and closing ceremonies would take place

Aboard a flotilla of 36 barges were 71 large beautiful intricate fish and sea creatures, dolphins, whales, prawns and a turtle.  Each indigenous to the country they represented or an important part of the local economy

The floating spine down the centre of the river stretched for almost a kilometre from the Princess Bridge to the Swan Street Bridge

The batons journey down the spine ended with footballer Ron Barassi 'walking on water' to enter the MCG via a Perspex walkway set just below the surface of the water.  A series of Australian sporting heroes carried it around the stadium until it was passed into the hands of Elizabeth 11.  She read the message she had placed in the baton a year earlier and declared the games open
 
For each nation there was also a floating platform in the shape of their flag and a poster with information about the sea creature representing them
Leatherback St Lucia

 Flying Fish Barbados, Southern Stingray Cayman Islands and Blue Tang Monserrat

 

 
Zebra Moray Samoa, Tri Colour Parrot Fish Tonga, Clown Anemone Fish Vanuatu

Australia's 'Eiffel' Tower sits atop the Melbourne Arts Center

Cascadura Trinidad and Tobago moored by the -  University Rowing Club

 

And This Is What We Missed

Stunning images kindly made available by lighting designer  Philip  Lethlean  Light Designs Australia

 Spirit of Tasmania

The Spirits, 1 & 2 were built in Finland in 1998.  They were purchased in 2002 and refitted in Hobart.  Their maiden voyage across the Bass Strait was in September of 2002.  They make 800 sailings a year, can hold up to 1400 passengers and 500 vehicles for the 9 to 11 hours crossing.  We should have booked a berth as the seats were very uncomfortable and our fellow passengers inebriated and very noisy

 

Under way and no turning back, but I did sneak a look back to the stunning Melbourne nightscape

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