Melbourne Adventures

Frances has borrowed "Walk into History 1" published by the Malvern Historical Society in 2009.  I think there are later titles in a series.  This one covers 6 walks in Toorak, Malvern and Glen Iris.  Our first foray was the first walk, in Toorak, which was described as 'hilly'  and taking 1.5 hours.  We took almost exactly 90 minutes and did notice a slope in a couple of places, but nothing extreme like (eg) Fitzroy Street, St Kilda.   The start was easy to reach as it was simply a matter of hopping on a 72 tram outside the front door and getting off at the corner of Glenferrie and Malvern Rds - one left turn onto Commercial Rd and then straight! Here is a map downloaded from eBird of our route.  I had walked ~100m before starting eBird: the start and finish were in the same place.  ( Birds were barely evident , but they were not the objective of the outing.  Perhaps this miserable list is a baseline?)  On the subject of things not...

 We have visited Elsternwick several times recently chasing a reported Black-tailed Native-hen  (BTNH) at Yalukit William Nature Reserve.  This is apparently a redevelopment of the Elsternwick Golf Course.  The trip began with spotting a very young Australian Swamphen with its parent. We then met up with Danny Fog who appears to be one of the principle birders active in the Reserve.  He explained where the BTNH was to be seen and then showed us a family of Tawny Frognouths.  Here are Dad and Junior ... ... and Mum nearby. A close up of Mum, showing the tawny elements of her plumage. We then went in search of the BTNH and Frances spotted it! Mission accomplished we then went for a walk along Glen Huntly Rd with a specific focus of visiting the Coles supermarket: one of the few in the chain with a 'kosher' aisle.  I'm not sure how the ultra-orthodox would accept that the aisle was in line with dietary law, but the company has tried.   Heading o...

This begins with some buildings photographed as we walked back from the Remembrance ceremony at the Shrine.  Information about the history of the buildings is taken from "Walking Melbourne's Domain Parklands" by L. 'Oscar' Slater (2004).  This post may well get updated as I take more photos. 148 Domain St, The Gables.  Note the address is Domain St, not Domain Rd.  The Street runs from  Toorak Rd up to Domain Rd.  A particular feature is this cantilevered balcony.  Slater thinks this is the oldest brick building in this part of South Yarra. 107 Domain Rd: known as 'Pasley' the ironwork is a key feature.  There is also a Pasley St on the Eastern side of Fawkner Park and I suspect both reference Charles Pasley who seems to have been a major player in the administration of Victoria in the mid 19th Century.  11 Domain Rd, 'Melrose'.  One of several houses designed by the local architect Joseph Crook.  The windows are a special feature....