Wishing you a happy new year and all the best for the year to come.
Fireworks on New Years Eve in Melbourne
As in previous years, we ventured into the city to see the fireworks. I took my camera and filmed the complete New Years Eve 2012 fireworks show from the Docklands, Melbourne. Watch the show in High Definition on YouTube.
Happy Christmas from Graham and me. I hope you have a wonderful day.
Merry Christmas sign Flinder Street Station on Christmas Eve
Merry Christmas sign on the side of Flinders Street Station in Melbourne, Australia
My work colleagues hosted a surprise farewell lunch for me this week, and gave me an amazing bunch of Australian native flowers and a bag of goodies that are difficult to find elsewhere in the world.
It was a lovely event. Thank you to everyone involved.
Farewell flowers
Oddly, Melbourne’s casino has a Christmas show aimed at young children. We caught the lunch time show along with crowds of tired parents and little ones. Australia has a strange relationship with gambling.
I managed to film the entire show. You can watch it below or in High Definition (HD) on YouTube.
Christmas Tree at Crown Casino in Melbourne
Yesterday, we managed to capture some footage of the butterflies I photographed previously. The butterflies were clustering in doorways and windows, presumably attracted by the office lights.
Butterflies on glass
The recent burst of the hot weather in Melbourne triggered an influx of beautiful butterflies. Over the last week they have fluttered around the city streets.
Butterfly on the ground in Melbourne
Now that brief moment is ending and the pavement is swiftly becoming their final resting place.
Detail of a butterfly on the ground
One of the things I love about living in the centre of Melbourne is being able able to shop at the Queen Victoria Market. Our market visits are usually limited to early mornings before work, but last week we went to the night market as well.
Sunlit produce at Queen Victoria Market
Over summer, there is a night market each Wednesday. The night market is more about entertainment than shopping. The usual stalls are transformed into seating areas, food vendors, and stages for live music. There are a handful of other stalls selling handmade soaps and candles, homemade fudge, and other pretty gift ideas.
Spanish food vendor at the night market
Food stalls at the night market
Asian BBQ vendor at the night market
While we were there, we took the opportunity to wander around the dairy hall. It was after closing time, and the normally crowded space was unusually quiet.
Quiet dairy hall after closing
Dairy hall at Queen Victoria Market
A small encampment of protesters has set themselves up in Melbourne. The group is mimicking the Occupy movement currently gaining headlines in the USA.
Having been moved on from City Square and the Treasury Gardens, the protesters have settled in Flagstaff Gardens. As part of their protest, chalk graffiti has appeared on the surrounding pavements and walls. I do not feel it is helping their cause.
Flagstaff Gardens with protesters
A small deployment of police are stationed nearby but they appear not to be stopping the chalk graffiti. I watched a man writing new slogans on the pavement as predestrians walked by, all within sight of the police without incident or harassment. Maybe a decision not to provoke the protesters?
Protest slogans with police nearby
Each time we pass the gardens the graffiti has changed or been removed; someone is taking responsibility for removing the chalk markings. I presume this is being done by those responsible for the gardens.
"You are the 99%" reads one protest slogan
Chalk left on the ground
Among the slogans of protest are fun counter comments.
Protest and counter slogans near Flagstaff Gardens
Over the last weeks Christmas decorations have been appearing around the city. The city is rolling out new decorations in many parts of the city centre. There appears to be a trend towards a nature based theme using living pine trees, with a move away from large metal structures of previous years.
This is the last year we expect to see Christmas in the city, so my camera has been kept busy capturing memories.
Looking through pine trees in Federation Square at Flinders Street Station
Pine trees in Federation Square Melbourne
City Square, recently occupied by protesters, is now filled with trees, Nut Cracker inspired toy soldiers, and a nativity scene.
Toy soldier from the Nut Cracker in City Square, Melbourne
The Docklands has continued with its traditional nautical theme.
Constructing a decoration at Docklands, Melbourne
The department store, Myer, unveiled its series of Christmas windows. The windows draw large crowds and demand staff to help guide families along. Inside the newly renovated building a Santa themed train ride is operating.
Myer store Christmas window
Myer store Santa train ride
Over the Yarra River one of central footbridges has been turned into a perch for mistletoe.
Christmas ornament on Melbourne footbridge
Detail of the footbridge mistletoe ornament
We passed a line of fun decorated motorbikes parked near Southgate.
Decorated bikes at Southgate
Detail of a decorated bike
One of the iconic Melbourne City Circle trams has been repainted for the Christmas season.
Decorated free City Circle tram in Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne is always full of surprises. On most weekends we can take a walk down to Federation Square and discover an event taking place. This weekend it was the turn of the Fair Trade movement.
At the Docklands, we found a series of Dragon Boat races taking place. Below are a few photos from the event and a short film. In the short time we watched it was difficult to determine what was happening and when, but those taking part looked like they were having fun.
Dragon boat racing at the Docklands, Melbourne
State Emergency Service (SES) looking after the boats
Dragon boats lined up to race
Dragon boats preparing to race
We stumbled upon Aporia, a fun sculpture exhibition by RMIT students. The exhibit caught our eye as we walked passed the university buildings on Swanston Street.
We could see the artwork inside through the low windows and suspected those milling around were members of the public. Our curiosity was rewarded when we were able to walk in off the street and enjoy the students’ work first hand.
A couple of pieces particularly stood out for me.
Skye Kelly’s “Creep (stain)” was fantastic. A large body of toffee slowly straining down onto the floor. Initially the piece looks static, but a little patience reveals the strands of toffee were still slowly extending and dripping.
Creep (stain) by Skye Kelly, RMIT student exhibition
Detail of Creep (stain) by Skye Kelly
A piece by Georgina Anderson, “Crystalline tears”, caught my imagination. A slew of domestic objects encrusted in salt crystals. The effect was fun and I would love to know how it was done; I imagine large baths of salt water big enough to submerge the bedstead were involved.
Crystalline tears by Georgina Anderson
Detail of Crystalline tears by Georgina Anderson
Close up of salt crystals on Crystalline tears by Georgina Anderson
Clearly salt was on someone’s mind, as the mens shower was also turned into a hidden exhibit.
Salt in the mens shower at RMIT Aporia exhibition
As we were walking back from the supermarket this evening, Graham captured this amazing photo of the sunset. Yesterday we had thunderstorms; today we had this beautiful orange sky.
Melbourne sunset looking back to the Docklands from the city.
A few recent photos from around central Melbourne. The season is changing and the weather is again turbulent.
Melbourne skyline after light rain
Art House spire on St Kilda Road
During the last two weeks, lights have been fitted to the rows of trees outside of Melbourne’s casino.
Lights adorn the trees outside the casino
Foot bridge over Melbourne's River Yarra
Foot bridge and cycle way over the River Yarra
Detail of bridge over River Yarra
I suspect the organisers of Melbourne Festival’s giant sculptures did not imagine this. In the last week, an Occupy Melbourne camp site has appeared around one of the monstrous angels on Melbourne’s City Square where Swanston Street meets Flinders Lane.
The Occupy Melbourne camp with the Town Hall behind
A mischievous monstrosity is surrounded by tents
The site of the camp is tightly constrained by the available space.
Tents fill Melbourne's City Square
The cafes surrounding the camp appear to be continuing to do a brisk trade and customers are sitting at the outside tables, seemingly oblivious to the camp next door.
A media crew film the Melbourne gathering
Two days later and City Square has been emptied and enclosed in fencing.
City Square emptied and enclosed by fencing
As part of Melbourne Festival 2011 large sculptures have appeared around the city. The sculptures of “mischievous monstrosities” are by AES+F (Russia).
We enjoyed wandering around the city today getting photos of most of the sculptures.
Angels-Demons - mischievous monstrosities outside the National Gallery of Victoria
Angels-Demons - mischievous monstrosity outside NGV in Melbourne
Angels-Demons - mischievous monstrosity
Angels-Demons in Federation Square, Melbourne