In Brisbane’s second Botanical Gardens, I noticed a curry leaf tree. The leaves not only add flavour to food, but are an antioxidant. I savoured the smell of those leaves dangling enticingly from the branches when a gardener appeared.
Continue reading Excitement over a treeCategory Archives: Australia
the australian open
In January last year, I wound my way through Melbourne crowds that crisscrossed from one stadium to another. We headed to court three where a series of doubles were played and later wandered across the complex to watch a singles game. Our passes allowed us into any stadium (as long as there were seats) but this wasn’t the day for the superstars — Federer and Nadal. Their games came later.
Continue reading the australian opencollingwood’s street art
I’d strolled along Smith Street before, past Vietnamese restaurants, European specialist food stores and alternative clothing shops, but this visit, I came from a different direction.
Featured image — a Keith Harding replica street art
Continue reading collingwood’s street artvictoria’s state library
While I was in Melbourne for six weeks, someone suggested I should visit the state’s library. I headed into the city by tram and found a not so impressive building — but that was only from its exterior. Inside was a different story.
Continue reading victoria’s state libraryport melbourne’s century old buildings
Once Port Melbourne’s seafront was dominated by factories and warehouses. Many were demolished and replaced with high rise apartments, but some were tastefully recycled.
Continue reading port melbourne’s century old buildingsBallarat’s shocking recent history
Ballarat had been at the centre of child sexual abuse committed by its Catholic dioceses. A Royal Commission uncovered a culture of secrecy according to ABC News where the church did anything to avoid scandal to protect the church and its priests’ reputations. Sadly, this story is not unique.
Continue reading Ballarat’s shocking recent historyBallarat’s art gallery
The gallery was opened in 1890 and was impressive considering the size of the town. Art work was displayed in mixed combinations. For someone like me who doesn’t linger by older examples, this forced me to notice all work on show. Most art was Australian with a splash of English artists.
Continue reading Ballarat’s art galleryWhy was part of ballarat closed off?
We hoped to park near Ballarat’s art gallery, but the road was closed. Police stood patrolling. People in iridescent green vests waved potential drivers away, but what was going on was hard to guess.
Continue reading Why was part of ballarat closed off?A city founded on gold
North-west of Melbourne was Victoria’s Ballarat, home to over 100,000 residents. The first Europeans settled in the area in 1838, but thirteen years later after an Aborigine found a nugget of alluvial gold, Ballarat’s gold rush brought thousands of hopeful prospectors from around the world. Although the alluvial gold became scarce after several years, underground mining continued until 1918.
Continue reading A city founded on goldgasworks arts park
Tucked away in a quiet part of Port Melbourne was a park dedicated to the arts. One building was especially for artists working on sculpture. On a different side of the park was a theatre where plays were often presented.
Continue reading gasworks arts park