Picture special: How Covid lockdown changed Victoria

In the past two years Covid has affected every aspect of Victorians’ lives. Now, thanks to stunning aerial photography, we reveal just how much the pandemic has changed us.

These are the stunning images that show just how much Covid lockdowns changed the lives of Victorians after Melbourne claimed the title of being the world’s most locked-down city in October.

Photos from aerial imagery company Nearmap, combined with images taken on the ground by our reporters, give a snapshot of the changes.

While restrictions continue to ease across the state with double vaccination rates set soar to 90 per cent by December, these photos remind us just how much lives were impacted.

The aerial images are courtesy of Nearmap, an Australian company which provides photography for clients around the world.

The company which provides high-resolution aerial imagery and location data for countries around the world, has captured key sites in Melbourne and the rest of Victoria before, during and after lockdown.

The images reveal the impacts of the pandemic and how it changed the way we lived, travelled and worked.

Melbourne Airport was pictured at capacity in January 2020 but in September 2021 the devastating toll Covid had taken on the aviation industry was laid bare.

A spokesman from the airport revealed it had only handled 1 per cent of its daily average from January of last year, with September being its worst performing month for international travellers recorded this century.

“Before the pandemic Melbourne Airport was handling an average of around 100,000 passengers per day, but in September 2021 that number had fallen to around 1000 per day,” the spokesman said.

But that’s already started changing dramatically as the airport welcomes travellers back.

“In the past three days we have processed almost as many people as we did in the entire month of October,” said Melbourne Airport spokesman.

Covid also took a toll on the tourism industry as usually bustling hot spots became barren.

Local cafes were forced to reduce at strict capacities, staff were let go and other tourist destinations, such as Cheese World in Warrnambool, were forced to temporarily shut their doors.

Business and tourism were not alone as retail also suffered the crippling hangover of the state’s lockdowns.

The Queen Victoria Market and Chadstone Shopping Centre are both pictured deserted during lockdown.

Despite the market never shutting its doors during the lockdowns, chief executive, Stan Liacos, said Covid was the “ultimate, perfect storm”.

“We went from 10 million visits each year to 5 million,” he said.

Throughout the pandemic, Mr Liacos offered $16 million of rent relief to his traders, which he believes sheltered most of them from the worst of it.

With the progressive easing of restrictions, businesses are beginning to feel a sense of optimism as the state begins to find the normalcy millions took for granted before Covid.

“We’re seeing shoots of recovery,” Mr Liacos said.

“It will not happen overnight, but we project our recovery will take six months to get back to pre-Covid levels.”

While only a few months ago Melbourne’s CBD was abandoned, crowds have returned to Bourke Street Mall.