G'Day It has been another hectic day and we have spent it in the City. Our first stop was Melbourne Central Station as it is a special place for our family. Although the station has undergone a remodelling it still has the big pocketwatch clock where my Grandad used to sit drinking coffee and people watching whenever he came to Australia. And any family that visits Melbourne will go and spend a few minutes there and think of him. Once we left the station it was a short walk along La Trobe Street and Queen Street to Queen Victoria Market, there are hundreds of stalls selling everything you can imagine. It reminded me a little of Leeds market. After spending a while browsing the stalls we headed down Therry street in the sun to the Old Melbourne Gaol and the site of 136 hangings including that of the infamous Bushranger Edward 'Ned Kelly' It was completed in 1858 and is the coldest jail I have ever been in. It was a real insight to how convicts were dealt with in the early days and really grim some people were sent to Australia for stealing a pair of shoes!!!!!
It was eventually shut down in 1924 and briefly re-opened during WWII to house military detainees. We were also treated to the Ned Kelly story by 2 wonderful actors which really brought the thing to life. After a power lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe we took the tram round to Flinders Street Station then took the bridge to the other side of the river for a trip up the tallest building in Melbourne, Eureka. The views from the 88th floor were particularly good today as the weather was superb. It was then time to take the 25 minute train journey back out of the city so Mel could go for her catnap and recharge her batteries.
Bonza Mate M & M