CBD(ish)

 This starts off with some scenes (or 'seens') around the CBD, or close thereto.  The first outing is in the 'close' category of Docklands.  We went there to have a look at the shiop formerly known as the Steve Irwin (now "Ship 4 Good"),  As described in this article it spent a lot of time protecting whales in the Southern Ocean. 

The ship is moored on the Newquay Promenade in Victoria Harbour.  I was surprised to see how small it was forspending much time in the roughest seas on the planet fightig off the whaling fleets.

I suspect this pump squirted many litres of water at the forces of evil.

The funnel design is quite attractive and I am somewhat surprised, in view of the manner of Steve Irwin's death, to see it featuring a Ray.

Moving on a day I had fond a small disaster had occurred with my camera with the UV filter on my biggest lens shattering somehow.  I couldn't get the ring off the camera so took it to Vintech on Lonsdale St for repair.  They did that very efficiently (and checked that the lens was still working correctly).  Although they work with very modern optical gear they operate from the art deco Mitchell House on the corner of Elizabeth St

The lift lobby is very much still original ..

.. as is the interior of the lifts.

While waiting for the lens to be fixed I walked down Elizabeth St and came across this art work.  Google Lens identifies it as "Mercury Rising" by Matthew Harding with the pillows representing drops of the liquid metal Mercury rising through isotherms drawn on the pavement.

A little further down the street is the Children;s Tree by Tom Bass (meant to be climbed upon especially by small people).

Tom Bass is a major creator of public art in Australia.  One of his works in Sydney was thought, by the editors of Oz magazine to look like a Parisian pissoir and they duly got a photo taken of themselves simulating micturation as a way of taking the piss out of it (see linked article).  This earned them an obscenity charge, thrown out of court when the sculptor turned up as a witness for the defence!