Melbourne in a new light, from a different angle

With Mrs H out of town at a conference overnight, I had the use of the car to get to work this morning, instead of my usual tram trip, or my more recent Early Bird free train ticket. I left later than usual for my 7AM start, but even so, the drive in the dark was much quicker than I had expected.

It gave me a chance to not only see the City from a different angle of approach, in a new light, but also to drive around trying to find the best Early Bird parking rate. I made it into the entrance to Southern Cross station, but there was no Early Bird rate advertised, and since I was able to back out still due to the lack of traffic, I did just that, and made my way up Little Lonsdale to Flagstaff Car park (I had noticed it one day last week, on my lunch break – it advertises “Court and Football parking”, and the combination of demographics made me think).

My detour saved me $1.60 for the day’s parking – $11.90 versus the apparent going rate of $13.50. Every little bit counts, right? There was the aroma of baking in the air, as I drove up the car park level after level with my windows down, and a genius playlist tending towards hard rock on my newly – and painstakingly – reconstructed iPod, despite thinking last night as I went to bed I would go for something made up of The Dream Academy, Bucks Fizz, Eurythmics and Bros

I was dizzy by level 5, and the overhead lights went out after the permanent parking finishes – even though the lights are only neons. The casuals are left to park in the dark.

I saw so many photo opportunities, but hadn’t thought to pack my SLR, and the iPhone would not cope with the low lighting. Here’s the best of what I could capture, and for the music-minded, scroll to my playlist into and home from work at the bottom of this post.

THE RIDE IN:
1. Jane’s Addiction: No-One’s Leaving
2. Boom Crash Opera: Get Out Of The House
3. Foo Fighters: My Hero
4. Audioslave: Cochise
5. Tom Petty: I Won’t Back Down
6. Cheap Trick: Oh Caroline

THE RIDE HOME:
1. Bronski Beat: Don’t Leave Me This Way
2. Ride: Drive Blind
3. Queen: Hammer To Fall
4. Blonde Redhead: 10 Feet High
5. Pixies: Nimrod’s Son
6. Voice of The Beehive: I Walk The Earth
7. Alphaville: Big In Japan

afternoon light on Northcote Plaza underground car park

I was glad I parked underground; sure, I had to push the trolley further to return it to “tha ghettoe” Coles, near K-Mart, but on the upside, the car was much cooler, and I got to capture this scene.

Brunswick St, Fitzroy – a visual tribute

It was my rostered day off today, and I had planned to shoot a photo essay on Southern Cross station. I took tram 112 at the usual time – as if I was going to work – and got off at Edinburgh Gardens, then walked to Gertrude St. It was great to get up close to the sights I observe on a daily basis, as well as dig around to discover details I can’t usually see from the tram.

Here’s the pick of what I saw along the way:

And last but not least, here’s one of Melbourne’s top 100 influential people

here’s what I did on Sunday morning…

I set off early, through Thornbury to Brunswick East, and down Nicholson St to capture what was left of the former Oilily building on the corner of Brunswick St and Victoria Parade. I plan to do a full tribute post in time. I’m surprised the facade was demolished as well – I thought that might have been heritage-listed. But no. Please click through the photos – I hope you enjoy the trip!

Lonsdale St (between King and Spencer)

I took the tram to Spencer St this morning and stopped in at Gloria Jean’s on the corner of Collins for a caffe latte (since my International Roast on wake up wouldn’t be enough to get me through the morning).

I walked down Spencer St and turned up Lonsdale, where I happened to discover that the large redevelopment site which has already fascinated me for some time was, for once, open. As much as anything I am fascinated by its NOKIER tag practically on the wall of the nearby Men’s Gallery, and the notion of that sordid den’s excesses and allures juxtaposed with the devastation next door. I wasted no time darting in and furtively capturing these images.

The Bobcat appeared around the corner just after I had clicked the shutter, and without hesitation, I turned and scarpered – out, past the KEEP OUT warning signs, and off to work.

On the way home, I spied this car park entrance on Spencer St and I had to shoot it. Consider it a bonus shot if you like.

Southern Cross station car park entrance