Melbourne

On Saturday I drove to Melbourne and returned my hire car and checked into Spencers Backpackers, which is a typical old Australian hotel just on the edge of the city centre in a light industrial /warehousing / commercial area. The above ground floor of Spencers Hotel now used for backpackers.

On Friday evening I went to the inner city suburb of Richmond to meet Owen's friends from Amsterdam, Anna (US) and Aleks (Dutch). They moved Melbourne 7 months ago. Aleks is in IT and Anna a reception class teacher. We went out for a Burmese meal in a very trendy restaurant near their home and then a couple of drinks in some local bars before tiredness overcame us. It was really nice to meet them both and they gave me some tips for my visit top Melbourne and a new perspective on Owen!

The next day I wasn't feeling too good, aching muscles etc, so I took an easy option of a tram to the suburban beach resort of St Kilda. It was pleasant warm sunny day and I enjoyed the stroll in along the esplanade craft stalls and visiting the cafes in Acland Street.

In the evening I discovered the real strength of Spencers Backpackers is the separately managed restaurant/ bar downstairs. For very reasonable prices the bar serves excellent restaurant quality food. During this first visit I had delicious belly pork with mash and green beans. During this delight I got talking to an older English couple at the next table, John and Carol, from Cheltenham, who were also knocked out by the food. They are shortly to return to England after staying a few months in New Zealand and returning via Australia.

Yesterday I took Anna's advice and went on a day trip up the Great Ocean Road which is spectacular stretch of coast line for surfers and tourists because of the cliffs and rock formations on the coast. Bells Beach is used for annual world surfing championships. the surf was described as average but there were scores of surfers like flies on a pond making the best of the surf. Near Bells Beach is the memorial arch to the people who built the road. The road was publicly funded after the first world war to provide work to returning soldiers. The arch has been replaced twice since the original. First because of the road widening and secondly following a bush fire which swept down to the road.
On the way west we stopped at small resort called Kennett River. Here I at last I saw my first wild Koalas, and were they cute? Judge for yourself.

Most famous part of the Great Ocean Road is a series of sandstone stacks just off the coast called the 12 Apostles. However there are now less than 12 as some have succumb to the pounding of the sea. This stretch of coast is also known as the Shipwreck Coast due to the large number of shipwrecks that used to occur in the days of sailing ships. One particular cove is known as Loch Ard due to the story of a ship wreck in 1878 which foundered on the rocks on the final night of its voyage from England to Melbourne. The only two survivors from 55 crew and passengers were the ship's apprentice and an Irish girl, both aged 18. There was no romantic ending. She went back to Ireland to the disappointment of the press.

Today I went on a pilgrimage to see the pub, the Polo Club, Ascot Vale, where my late Uncle Tony lived for a number of years prior to him returning to UK. This is a pleasant suburb just a few stops on the train north of the city centre

Tony was a keen sportsman, including being a National Hunt jockey and the Polo Club is close to the Flemington Race Course where the world famous Melbourne Cup is held every year. Unfortunately I found the Polo Club is now closed and boarded up, presumably awaiting redevelopment so no drinking pictures from this trip.