Melbourne's Lanes

Who’s looking after Melbourne?

Only eleven days before I set off. My apartment is let and my car loaned out.
But what might become of marvelous Melbourne while I am gone?
There is a well balanced committee being set up, under the stewardship of Melbourne university academics, to develop new vision for the future of the city and whilst the membership is no doubt worthy and able, the history of such bodies does not give me comfort. Thank god that the likes of Michael Angelo, Leonardo, the builders of Venice, St Petersburg, Vienna, Istanbul and Cordoba had only to satisfy the whims of powerful individuals rather than whole gaggles of them.

But there are some promising signs
• The proposal to integrate the arts buildings into a seamless complex, back of Southbank, suggests an exciting counterpoint to the inner city’s numerous sports arenas.
• Spielberg and Hanks’ making of the Pacific war sequel to Band of brothers in Melbourne, may save the bacon of the state government’s latest bet on film making as a winning industry .
• Forecast late Autumnal rain has begun to fall but whilst missing the catchments that preserve people, at least the trees and gardens might be here to greet me on my return.
• Despite all the prophets of doom, docklands continues to be populated by major employers and live in tenants. Think how long it took in London and look at it now. In a few weeks I will.
What will I miss most?
• Impromptu Sunday bayside walks along the cliffs and beaches where Roberts and Streeton painted. Have you seen the Australian Impressionist exhibition at the Ian Potter gallery?-It’s a must.
• Real coffee and real food from cafés and restaurants, offering varied international cuisine, that are not part of chains or franchises.
• Service that is quick, efficient, cheerful and irreverent without being intentionally unkind.
If I had to single one thing out, however, it would be the labyrinth of lanes through which people and their disposable cash flow to sustain an amazing variety of cafés, boutiques and sundry other attractions, north from Flinders street to Lonsdale and East from Spring to Queen. They form a veritable Melbournian Soukh.

Of the many entry points, De Graves Street entices you in with Salzburg style shop signs and the imposing fortress of the Majorca building, standing guard over an amazing sequence of ‘hole in the wall’ eateries. Pens, hand made toffee and chocolates, Russian dolls, foreign language books, outdoor gear, maps, games and puzzles, baguettes, CDs, lingerie and jewellery, await you there. Pathways take you through the major stores and link the newly developed Melbourne central and QVB complexes, insulated from our variable weather.

So please keep an eye on the would be visionaries to ensure Melbourne remains marvelous whilst I am gone.