Melbourne Places

The Hotel Albion is said to be ‘recognized as a Port Melbourne Landmark’.  I‘m not sure why this is because its architecture is the same as many corner pubs in the area – solid and square with little decoration.

The facade is even plainer than many pubs around Port Melbourne, Albert Park and South Melbourne– see [...]

Can you go past a bargain shop without popping in?  I can if I’m in one of the many shopping areas that have Two Dollar or Bargain cum Gift Shops dotted along the strip.  You’ve seen one you’ve seen the lot.
In Victoria Street, Richmond the Two Dollar Bargain and Gift Shops are different.

They can look [...]

I wanted to cook a duck on Saturday. Well two ducks, really – in my experience one duck feeds only two people.
We decided only on Friday afternoon to have  Peking Duck cooked at home for dinner on Saturday.  Buying  the ducks so you can do this is not always easy.
The only ducks available in my [...]

Winter afternoons are a great time for coffee and cake – well any afternoon but in winter I am more comfortable about indulging myself.   A reward for being out and about in the chill of the afternoon.
If you are out and about in  Port Melbourne and feel the need for such a reward a great [...]

If your idea of heaven is whiling away a few hours amongst retro/re-cycled/vintage clothing and collectibles, then head for Lost and Found 12 Smith Street, Collingwood.
It is said that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.  The odd thing is that there is so much ‘treasure’ left around.  When you walk into Lost and Found [...]

Take a trip into Asia on a Melbourne Saturday morning.
Take the 109 Tram and head to Victoria Street in Richmond. The moment you cross Hoddle Street the atmosphere changes. You are entering a different world.
Many people call this area little Saigon.  I’ve been to Saigon but it’s not Saigon to me.   To me it is [...]