Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
After exploring the vibrant precincts around Yarra River and spending time at State Library Victoria in
Part 1, let's continue to discover more sights in Australia's cultural capital. From historic landmarks to colourful laneways and lively public spaces, Melbourne offers an endless variety of attractions that cater to every type of traveller.
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AUS: Melbourne Downtown (Part 2) <YOU ARE HERE!>
AUS: Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary Tour
... (more to come!)
The Chinatown of Melbourne is pretty compact compared to its counterparts in other major cities across the globe.
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| The Chinatown primarily runs along a stretch of Little Bourke Street between Swanston and Spring Streets. |
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| Did you know that D'Penyetz was first established in Singapore in 2009 by an Indonesian-born enterpreneur? |
My travel buddy and I stumbled upon a DIY bubble tea shop.
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| Taro milk has always been my absolute favourite. |
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| We only bought one cup to share, a sensible move to keep the calories in check. |
There are, of course, more Asian eateries and shops beyond Little Bourke Street.
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| It's been a while since I had amok, the national dish of Cambodia. |
We returned to Chinatown the following day to grab lunch,
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| Walking through the gate brings one to Museum of Chinese Australian History. |
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| Look up and admire the glass atrium skylight! |
Named as a tribute to an iconic Australian hard rock band, AC/DC Lane is best known for its vibrant, graffiti-covered walls.
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| The pathway was originally named Corporation Lane. |
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| Cherry Bar Wall of Fame, in the shape of a lightning bolt, features plaques dedicated to individuals who crowdsourced funds to soundproof the live music venue founded in 1999. |
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| Elvis Presley as a duck! |
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| The mural of a man carrying a tree trunk speaks of environmental disconnect, displacement and urban development. |
There is a free tram zone within the heart of the Central Business District, where anyone can hop on and off trams without paying a single cent.
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| The free tram zone was first introduced in 2015. |
Do you know what's Australia's first ever UNESCO World Heritage listed building?
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| The 26-hectare Carlton Gardens an example of Victorian landscape design. |
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| Inscribed by UNESCO in 2004, Royal Exhibition Building is one the world's oldest surviving exhibition pavilions. |
The garden also hosts Melbourne Museum and IMAX Melbourne.
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| Those carved stone blocks are from the former Colonial Mutual Life Building constructed in 1896. |
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| At the point of writing, IMAX Melbourne features the world's third largest movie screen. |
St. Patrick's Cathedral stands as the tallest and largest church building in Australia.
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| Its central spire soars to 105 m. |
Construction of the cathedral began during the Gold Rush in 1858, but it wasn't completely finished until 1939.
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| The inner walls are finished with a warm, cream-coloured plaster that creates such a golden glow. |
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| The 19th century liturgical stained glass depicts the Ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven. |
Melbourne is certainly a walkable city.
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| The cantilevered blade roof of Melbourne Exhibition Centre is 138 m in length. |
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| What do you think a sculpture of grass blades symbolises? |
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| The bronze artwork is titled 'The Genie'. |
As the sun slowly set over Melbourne, we found ourselves quietly taking in our last evening in the city.
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| There are 14,000 incandescent bud lights running along the skirt of the spire of Arts Centre Melbourne. |
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| Just look at the colours of those sweetgum tree leaves! |
Inside the Atrium at Federation Square hangs striking suspended art installations inspired by speculative deep-sea creatures and prehistoric life forms, creating a surreal display that appears to float effortlessly above visitors.
When we were there, we witnessed 'SPARK' that transformed Federation Square into a glowing canopy of light. Created by Daan Roosegaarde, a Dutch artist known for projects that blend technology, design and environmental art, the installation released 'sparks' of non-toxic bubbles from plant-based, biodegradable materials as an alternative to traditional pyrotechnics.
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From a distance, I initially thought it was a flurry of artificial snow.
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I shall close this post with a quintessentially Australian thing that I saw.
For reviews of some of the food and beverages I tried, check out my food blog posts:
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Chin Chin (Chinese, Indian, Thai and Fusion)
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