The White Hat Melbourne Newsletter

Archived Newsletter No.37 - 12 Feb 2003

Contents

Free ferry
Country events
Music Bowl
Night market
An interesting contrast

Free ferry

A free ferry service is running on the Yarra until the end of March. It runs from Fed Square to Jeff's Shed and back again, with stops at Southgate, the Aquarium and the casino. Take your sweetheart out on Valentines Day and pretend you're in Venice. If you are lucky, you may even see the motorised gondola playing its CD of Mario Lanza favourites just to set the mood. The free city circle tram now runs through docklands with some interesting new views. Tram and train enthusiasts can find more activities at Steam Trains.

Country events

If you fancy a trip in the country, you could try the free family fun day at South Morang, or the Yarra Valley Grape Grazing Festivals. Details of country events can be found at Country Victoria.

Music Bowl

Free classical concerts continue at the Music Bowl. Also James Morrison on Sunday (not free).

Night Market

The last night market at the Queen Vic for this year is next Wednesday (19 Feb). Crowds have been large and a real buzz in the atmosphere. The food is a little over-priced and the stalls seem to be attempting a candle-led recovery of the economy, but - hey - parking is free, and there's fun for all the family (except Aunty Flo, and she never has fun anywhere.)

A fresh produce and night market is proposed for the large heritage rail shed in the Docklands. It will be interesting to see how that develops.

An interesting contrast

If, like me, you are a professional stickynose and like to see how other people live, you might enjoy a leisurely Sunday drive down to Laverton. Take the road out to Sanctuary Lakes and have a drive around the partially built estate. Have a wander through some of the display homes and imagine your lifestyle there. Most people would either love it or hate it. The development is centred around a Greg Norman designed golf course and a large artificial lake. The lake is interesting with a token sandy beach about 10 metres long and the bridges are so low that you cannot even fit a canoe under them. That means that if you do anything on the water you are confined to your little section of the lake up to the next bridge. However, water views are always soothing. I don't know what the environmental implications are of creating artificial lakes and canals in this dry country - maybe someone can tell me whether it is a good or a bad thing. Like most such developments, there is only one entrance to the estate and there seems little or no provision for utilities like schools, health centres, shops etc. It will be interesting to watch these areas develop. Will they become the new suburbs to aspire to or will they become a breeding ground for Stepford Wives? I will go back every few years and have a stickybeak.

After you have examined Sanctuary Lakes, drive further down the road until you hit the bay. Here you will find a hidden little community of 'boat sheds'. Technically they are boat sheds, but most of them have been converted for holiday or permanent living. The roads are unmade and that's the way the locals like it - it discourages the likes of you and me from disturbing the peace. Sitting on the beach, you could easily be in the 1950s or on the set of Seachange (however Mr. & Mrs. Bob Gellie would be living up the road at Sanctuary Lakes).

I find it fascinating to see two such strongly contrasting lifestyles next to each other. But then I'm easily fascinated. If it takes your fancy, drive down there and decide which is the lifestyle for you.