You can live in a city all your life, as I've done in Melbourne, and be familiar only with parts of it. Parts such as the eastern, Parliamentary end of the CBD, to which I frequently gravitate.
Having traversed and photographed this area often I didn't know I'd be able to find anything new today. Above and below are views from out of the inside of Parliament Station.
Above, the Stanford Fountain in Gordon Square, created by William Stanford 1867-1870 while in prison for horse theft and escaping custody. Perhaps he was tired of walking. Perhaps he just wanted to run. He did, though, earn his freedom, I feel.
I wasn't prepared to risk arrest by entering this untended gate into Parliament House and be horse-whipped or brought before a jury. The gardens are open only one day a year and today wasn't the day.
The Station itself is all underground, and a show-piece when it was built. Its gardens are looking a bit down and out, greying, like the day...
...but retaining some suitable splendour.
There was a Princess here somewhere, wasn't there? This is her, or at least the side of her, the Princess Theatre, where this pedestrian for a time in his younger days ushered in the crowds and even got to see Lauren Bacall on stage.
But today I was ushering myself down Little Bourke Street to lunch, glimpsing the past as I went, relieved to see some green amid the prison-grey.
I do like the greenery around Parliament Station. :-)
ReplyDeleteIf only more train stations were as discreet, Matthew, we'd glide into town, not be jolted into it.
DeleteGreat images.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bob, though I'm not sure if the moodily grey atmosphere was entirely the result of the weather or if it wasn't added to by an inadequately skilled photographer!
Deleteushering yourself, that's very nice. I'm going to usher myself up to see some mountain flowers tomorrow. Is that echium I see, or something Australasian?
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed Jane; that's a whole lot of echiums you see, one of a handful of plants that survive there, without much care.
DeleteI wonder, is there the verb, 'to ush'?
( You don't need a ticket if you usher yourself. )
interesting walk, and some good memories for you?
ReplyDeleteCertainly, Diana. This part of Melbourne was on my tram route when I was at school, so it's about 40 years I've been admiring it.
DeleteBefore I blogged I saw Australia as an arid place with a fringe of green round the edge. Now I know better.
ReplyDeleteFriko, we've got rainforests and snow and places such as Melbourne with all four seasons ( it's said we get all 4 in one day ). The arid parts dominate, but most of us don't witness them on a daily basis. And I'm glad I don't have to.
DeleteWhat a lovely wander, so pleased you shared it. You might have showed me my seat, although i don't think I ever saw LB.
ReplyDeleteAlways nice around there Sue. What were called 'The Gods' - did you ever sit up there - enough to give you vertigo!
Deleteof course - although in those days I didn't get vertigo, and wasn't quite so visually challenged, so it was perfect, and that was where all my friends were.
DeleteIt was a mad place to work. Mostly we ushers just sat around in our bits of evening suit clobber - I couldn't believe how undemanding it was!
DeleteI don't know Melbourne very well so I enjoy the glimpses you show. I certainly didn't know about Parliament Station. Ah, the echiums, one plant I do remember from Melbourne. I liked them so much I've been growing them in my garden ever since.
ReplyDeleteHi Carol.
DeleteEchiums can be so touchy at times, but then when they decide they like being where they are, you can't stop them. They've done alot to improve the look of things around here.
Love your blog it really adds an aspect of individuality to the writing. Please keep it up.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been attending to my blog too well of late Alex, so your high praise might inspire me, especially as it comes from someone with such skill as you have.
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