Melbourne – Travels with Ali

After our first day in Melbourne had ended we were picked up by Laurence and Maddy for our weekend in Healesville. Situated in the Yarra Valley and just an hour’s drive North East of Melbourne. I had booked a two bed/bath house just off the high street. It was perfect for our two night stay. Healesville is one of many small towns/settlements in the Yarra Valley.

On our first night we had dinner at the Healesville Hotel. It had a cosy old world charm about it and the food was delicious. The next morning we drove into Healesville for breakfast, being Saturday everywhere was packed.

After finishing up we drove to Maroondah Reservoir Park. There is a 41 metre high dam wall offering scenic views. What I didn’t realise is that to see these views you had to hike up a steep incline. Using Laurence as a pack horse I wrapped my scarf around his waist and used him to pull me up.

The views from the top were worth it. Stunning autumnal colours in all shades of red, brown and yellow.

Maroondah Reservoir Park

Making our way up the Rose stairs, there was still a way to go. This pathway is paved with stones and brightly coloured roses line the edges.

“And all the lives we ever lived and all the lives to be, are full of trees and changing leaves” – Virginia Woolf

There are many picnic benches around plus gas and electric barbeques. The weather was definitely in our favour that day.

At the top

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” — Emily Brontë

Time for lunch now and we headed to Boat O’Craigo Winery. The name originates from a tiny place in Scotland where the owners’ ancestors came from. We were delighted with our choice. There were panoromic views from every window. We settled down to a charcuterie board and a bottle of wine. This winery is in the High Street, so within walking distance of hotels and apartments.

Boat O’Craigo Winery

Picturesque views as far as the eye could see.

Entrance to Boat O’Craigo Winery

With still a few hours left we headed off to another winery called Soumah. As it states on the website it has “the charm of Northern Italy within the provenance of the Yarra Valley”. It is actually located in Warramate foothills of Gruyere. As the temperature was still warm we sat outside and enjoyed another bottle of wine.

Soumah Winery

All too soon our little jaunt to the Yarra Valley was over. Sunday was a complete washout so we drove back to Melbourne earlier than planned. Venturing outside of Melbourne for a day or two is so easy. You can be somewhere completely different in just an hour.

“Wake up and Smell the Roses”

We have just returned from a trip to Melbourne and Sydney. It was mainly to catch up with our son and daughter-in-law and visit friends. Having seen much of Melbourne already we had to come up with something different to do. We caught the tram into town which is now free, we stopped first for a coffee. You can’t beat the coffee in Melbourne. I saw from the maps that Melbourne Gaol was only a short walk away. I do like an Australian prison, so much history.

We popped into The Scots’ Church on the way and were surprised at the size inside. Built in 1874, a prominent example of Gothic Revival.

Just opposite was another church. In Central Melbourne there are 111 active churches.

Built between 1863 and 1866 in the Lombardic Romanesque style.

The Abode Building – noted for its cascading facade, standing next to Iglu Melbourne Central – student accommodation.

Melbourne has such wonderful architecturally designed buildings, each one very different.

Melbourne Gaol is a great place to spend a morning or afternoon. It’s full of interesting history and artefacts. In nearly every cell there is information of former inmates. The most infamous of all was Ned Kelly. He remains a divisive figure in Australia, regarded variously as a Robin Hood-like folk hero and symbol of national identity, or as a murderous villain. He demanded justice for the downtrodden and the rural poor. Wearing a handmade suit of bullet proof armour he evaded the police for years. Ned Kelly was eventually captured in 1880 and executed in Melbourne Gaol.

Here I am modelling Ned Kelly’s suit of armour. I simply couldn’t resist. Anthony looked on in amazement as I struggled to put this on.

The imposing entrance

Inside the cells, seems there is one inmate still serving time.

“Phrenology gained wide acceptance in the late 19th century, with the making of death masks becoming standard practice. The brains of hundreds of criminals were examined after death, as well as those of many eminent people. Eventually the results showed that most criminals had similar sized brains to other citizens.”
Science has definitely come along way since! These scientists should have had their own heads examined.