Events, traits and quirks that make Melbourne such a great place to live, work and play
As Melbourne springs back to life, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the events, traits and quirks that make our city such a great place to live, work and play.
Victoria
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There is a certain time of day where Melbourne shows her most ravishing profile.
The most faithful will see her finer points at any time, whether the soft grey morning or the afternoon lull.
But that moment the sun is setting and casting the city’s glory in golden light draws gasps from even the most seasoned Melbourne lover.
Follow the amateur photographers to the best vantage point on Princes Bridge with cameras ready or, if you are lucky enough to not need a memento, stroll along the upper Southbank Promenade and take it all in.
From the expansive grandeur of Flinders Street Station stretching along our mysterious Yarra, with the spire of St Paul’s rising in the background and the dainty lights of the bridge trimming the frame, it is a moment to reflect on the city’s beauty.
It is a city that has been dormant for much of this year.
At the best of times the pulse of Melbourne happens behind the scenes, in the bustling laneways and hidden corners. But this year, all of its pulse points have been deafeningly quiet.
Now the heartbeat of Melbourne is not only coming back to life, it is blooming.
And, like a satellite, the city’s energy — urged on by the Let’s Melbourne Again campaign, which aims to bring people back into the city — is radiating throughout the state.
The parks and gardens are such a signature of the city and suburban streets, with the Tan still being the walk of choice for most, but city dwellers are restless to climb the 1000 Steps of the Kokoda Memorial Walk again, venture into the hallowed grounds of Hanging Rock or further to the High Country, Prom or Grampians.
In the city we are almost ready to endure the bottlenecks, the “Monash carpark”, wonder how we can still become caught in the wrong lane of City Road and even cherish a smooth, only occasionally clunky, tram ride.
Above all, there is the indomitable Victorian spirit, which actor Shane Jacobson believes is our greatest asset.
“We are the wine in a bottle called Victoria,’’ Jacobson said.
“The thing that makes any place great is the people. Plus, we can also get to the beach, the city and the bush all in the one day.
“If it’s a long drive to the ocean, the good news is that it’s because you’re already in the bush.’’
ARTS AND CULTURE SCENE AS STRONG AS EVER
We have seen our cultural institutions thrive and move with the times.
Who would have thought the austere National Gallery of Victoria would transform, as it has in recent years, into a cultural play park for children while their parents experience the greatest art collection in Australia?
The Arts Centre’s Hamer Hall and Melbourne Recital Centre are admired by musicians for holding the country’s best acoustics while the State Theatre boasts Australia’s biggest and grandest stage for the large-scale opera and ballets Victorian audiences relish.
The stable of Marriner theatres, along with Mike Walsh’s wonderful Her Majesty’s, gives us the East End theatre district and a range of delights on stage.
But Melbourne has wanted more, so the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Immigration Museum and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image have brought a new light to our cultural life in the past 30 years, while always holding the Melbourne Museum and its beloved Phar Lap close to our hearts.
A FOODIE’S PARADISE
It may be the sporting — from the famed MCG and Boxing Day Test to the Australian Open — and arts capital of Australia, but the dining culture of Melbourne takes great inspiration from its regional produce.
Country and city work in great harmony to provide our wonderful diversity of food, celebrated most keenly at the bustling Queen Victoria or Prahran markets.
The heritage of fine Italian restaurants from old European families built a strong dining foundation.
Even our fast food now sees dumplings wrestling with doughnuts as the most popular options.
The new face of Melbourne shows the character lines that are key to any beautiful visage.
No matter what, the marvellous Melbourne of old is still there in the city’s heart spreading to the productive regional pockets of our state of rich natural beauty.
It is time to celebrate all the gifts of our great state and, above all, the strength of Victorians to pull together, pull through and say welcome home.
MELBOURNE THROWS OFF SHACKLES
Melburnians have embraced a move to reinvigorate the city and support its economic recovery from COVID-19.
Let’s Melbourne Again is a campaign designed to help Melbourne back on its feet.
The campaign was started by creative company Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, which has been based in the city for 75 years.
Chief executive and Let’s Melbourne spokesman Jim Gall said the campaign had received overwhelming community support.
“Melburnians are back out there and starting to return to a level of COVID-safe normality, which has been the best response we could have asked for,” Mr Gall said.
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“Seeing how everyone has put on their masks, sanitised their hands and taken to the streets, parks, restaurants, cafes and all the other things that make us uniquely Melbourne has been phenomenal.”
Some of the city’s biggest names in business have signed up to attract people back to
the city by hosting fun initiatives and special deals in coming weeks.
Mr Gall said small businesses were also getting involved using the #LetsMelbourneAgain hashtag and planning reopenings.