Melbourne Places » Tram Route 8

Guilfoyle’s Volcano in the Royal Botanical Gardens – look into the crater.

Melbourne — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 06:49:20 +0000

There has been some water seepage from Guilfoyle’s Volcano. To address this, the water has been drained and a new liner on the bluestone wall is being installed.

At the time of writing this – mid July -it is a chance to look inside the crater of this folly and see what an enormous space it is. It is mind boggling to think of the amount of water that it will take to refill it.

Guilfoyle’s Volcano is part of the water management plan which enables The Royal Botanical Gardens to improve the use and management of water. So this huge reservoir of water is put to use.

When these repairs have been finished the floating islands will be restore. I guess they will be start from scratch and it will take time for them to become established again.

It was interesting to return to Guilfoyle’s Volcano again and of course fascinating to find it empty. It is about 15 months since it was established and I first saw it. See here

The plantings have grown. Most of the species have taken to their new home with love and have flourished. They help to create an architectural structure to the garden. This gives a strong visual impact.

Getting there:-
Tram 8 will take you almost to the Volcano. Get off at the Corner of Domain Road and Park Street and walk into the gardens. It is right there.
The Botanical Gardens can also be accessed from St Kilda Road – follow the signs to Guilfoyle’s Volcano.
Parking:- 1 hour free in Domain Road. Paid parking in Birdwood Avenue.

Opening Hours:-
The gardens are open from 7.30am to sunset every day of the year.

Tours:- can be arranged by calling (03) 9252 2429

The sealed capsule in Women’s Pioneer Garden, Royal Domain Gardens

Melbourne — Mon, 16 May 2011 06:16:09 +0000

The nice thing about doing this blog is that I keep learning more interesting information about Melbourne from the comments people leave on my posts. I have written about this beautiful and tranquil garden before in the The Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden Post. Julie has left a comment asking about the capsule that is underneath the sundial.

This is the result of a fund raiser for the establishment of the garden. In the 1930s women paid one shilling to put their name or the name of a pioneer woman ancestor on a list. I have read that thousands of names – the exact number doesn’t appear to be recorded anywhere- were collected and the capsule was buried under the sun dial with the supervision of the Unemployment Relief Programme. Thinking on that it suggests that one shilling was a lot of money for people to pay. There is a plaque.

Julie asks if there was a copy taken of the names and a record kept of them. From what I can understand that wasn’t done. I imagine that in the 1930s it wasn’t easy to copy documents.

Does anyone else have any further information? It is good to remember the women who helped to make this country great.

Getting there:-
The Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden

Any tram from Federation Square that runs along St Kilda Road as far as the Domain Road Intersection, or if you want to get off in Domain Road and walk across the park lands from there catch the No 8.

There is metered parking along Birdwood Avenue and Linlithgow Avenue.

Melbourne Botanical Gardens and the Terrace Cafe on a wet day

Melbourne — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 09:30:20 +0000

I joined friends for lunch at the Terrace Cafe in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens on a wet weekday morning. It was a long standing date and we went despite the rain.

The easiest way to reach the Terrace Cafe that overlooks the ornamental lake is to enter the gardens from the corner of Anderson Street and Alexandra Parade. The paths are lined with trees which shelter them from too much rain.

The entrance on the corner of Anderson Street and Alexandra Parade

The gardens are different in the wet. The first sound we noticed was the pure ringing note from the bell birds. They appear to like warm, wet, still days.

As we walked moorhens scooted around us giving their high pitched squawk, the earth smelt of vegetation and the noise from cars in Anderson Street was deadened.

Friendly Moor Hens

We passed this notice.

I always look for turtles but I have never seen one even on a wet day like this one. I wonder if they are real and if any one has ever seen one.

It is quiet expect for the birds, the sound of rain on the leaves and the voices of visitors. Even voices seem to quieten on this moist day. It was peaceful and relaxing wandering along to the Terrace Cafe.

The cafe was restful too. We sat outside at the back completely protected from the rain and with glimpses of the lake. For a wet day the Terrace Cafe was busy, couples chatted over coffee, singles read, someone wrote and a group of mothers met there with very young and quiet babies. The voices came from the mothers in animated conversation.

The ornamental lake in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens as seen from the Terrace Cafe
The cafe is known for its scones, cream and jam. It is the one of the best places to have a Devonshire tea. The scones are so good you want to go home and try making them so you can keep indulging.

Scones cream and jam at the Terrace Cafe

Lunch is fairly simple.

Baguettes with a variety of fillings. These ones are smoked salmon and avocado.

Thai chicken pie.

The chips were excellent. If you like chips order a serve to have with your coffee if you just want a snack.

Presentation is tops. One of our group brings her own bread to have sandwiches made to order. This is what they created.

To cleanse your palate the fruit salad not only looks good but is refreshing. I like the way they write on their white plates

Rain or shine the Terrace Cafe is a relaxing place to be with good simple food. There is a garden shop next door with some interesting items including a very beautiful umbrella covered in pansies. Too beautiful to use – a beautiful present, perhaps.

Getting there:-
Tram No 8 get off at the corner of Domain Road and Park Street.
Enter the gardens from there and follow the signs.

Parking:-
There is 3 hour parking in Anderson Street and 2 hours on Domain Road.

Opening Hours:-
The Royal Botanical Gardens:-
Every day of the year from 7.30 to sunset.

The Terrace Cafe:-
9.45am to 4.00pm, May to September
9.00am to 5.00pm, October to April

Shakahari – fine vegetarian dining in Carlton.

Melbourne — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 00:35:12 +0000

My first visit to Shakarhari, the vegetarian restaurant at 201/203 Faraday Street in Carlton, was a few years ago.

I was with a vegetarian friend who was visiting from overseas and I wanted to give her a experience of fine dining –something more than the average vegetarian fare which often seems to include beans or Dahl. Actually I quite like Dahl but I don’t see it as fine dining. A work colleague suggested Shakarahri.

We dined well. The evening and the food were a great success.

This year an old friend suggested Shakahari for a pre-Christmas catch-up lunch. I was excited and I wondered why I had left it so long between visits.

The outside of the restaurant is the same. A cute cottage painted yellow. It opens up inside and flows through to the right, which takes you into the next door house and to the courtyard.

The inside is still the same orange colour and still furnished with a few Indian/Asian artifacts. It is comforting to find something you remember with affection is still the same.

However the menu had changed since my last visit so it was like a new adventure. No change in the wine list and we ordered the Richmond Organic Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, that I remember, to sip on while we chatted and discussed food. I have always been wary of organic wines but this is a good Sauvignon Blanc. $8.00 per glass.

There is a touch of romance to the menu. For example ‘Scent of a green papaya’ in the entrees. How could you go past a dish with a name like that – as you read it the scent seems to waft around you? You immediately want to taste it. $14.50

Scent of a green papaya

This is how the menu describes the salad -” Northern Territory green papaya (high medicinal qualities) lightly crushed and tossed with green beans, cherry tomatoes,cashew nuts and seaweed tofu crisps. Dressed with a sourish tamarind palm sugar chilli sauce”.

We also chose Croquettes de Chine.

Croquettes de Chine

This dish is described as; “Crunchy patties of steamed mashed yam, potatoes, roasted macadamia nuts, pickled turnips and diced vegetables. Served with herbal oil, tossed greens, kim chee and a mild black bean ginger sauce”. $19.5

We shared these dishes and thought them good choices for lunch. The papaya salad was especially interesting. The taste was light and different, possibly like the scent of a green papaya. We would order it again. The Croquettes were filled with a subtle flavour. I remember them from last time but I think they had something different served with them.

We had intended to have dessert and we had talked about their ‘Black Rice and Sago Pudding’ as we headed to the restaurant only to find it was one of those things removed from the menu.

Another disappointment was the change in the seating. It was a calm warm day with some sun and we wanted to sit in the courtyard but there were no tables only benches for seating. We asked about a table but we were told the manager, who wasn’t there, had wanted it that way. I hope he has a change of heart and puts tables and chairs out there again.

Friendly service, fine vegetarian dining. The restaurant has been operating for about 20 years so they must be doing something right. For me it is the different slant on the usual vegetarian fare giving the meal a touch of lightness, that is often the romance of food. In the winter a gas fire looks cheerful and welcoming– try for a table near it.

The menu is labeled for gluten free, non dairy and vegan dishes see here. If you plan a visit have a look at the menu on line before you go. It will help you work out what you want to eat.

Where:- Shakarahi Vegetarian Restaurant
201/203 Faraday Street
Carlton
Phone:- 9347 3848

Opening times:- Monday to Thursday Midday to 3.30pm then 6.00pm to 9.30
Friday to Saturday Midday to 3.30pm then 6.00pm to 10.30pm
Sunday 6.00pm to 9.30pm

Getting there:- All trams that travel north along Swanston Street eg, 3, 6, 12,1, 8, 67. Get off at the University stop and walk along Faraday Street to Lygon Street. The restaurant is just over Lygon Street.

Camellia time at the Royal Melbourne Botanical Gardens is July and August

Melbourne — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:46:04 +0000

The camellia collection at the Royal Botanical Gardens Melbourne is planted in an imaginative way. The area is a sort of square with a twisting path that wanders between the plantings giving a touch of magic – almost as if you were in a private room of camellias.

Turn right after this beautiful tree and you are in the camellia garden

The magic is more pronounce at the moment with plantings of daphne amongst the camellia trees. The perfume from the daphne wafts around as you stroll along the path. It’s a heady sort of perfume.

There are early and late camellias so you are never there when every tree is in flower but the Royal Botanical Gardens say August is The camellia month. There is plenty to see at the moment and many of the species are identified by name.

Some beautiful white blooms.

Clumps of snowdrops tucked between the camellias give a touch of early spring.

Getting There:-
Any tram that goes down St Kilda Road.
Tram 8 runs alongside the gardens and into Domain Road which also borders the gardens.

Opening Hours:-
7.30am to sunset

The Oriental Tea House on Chapel Street, South Yarra – good eating

Melbourne — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:20:14 +0000

The Oriental Tea House is something different.

The Oriental Tea house in Chapel Street was once a pub

Yum Cha on Sunday is something I enjoy – watching the trolleys come past, studying the food and deciding ‘yes’ or ‘no’. The frustrating part is that when I have eaten enough I see something new appear from the kitchen, glide past me and I am temped all over again.

At the Oriental Tea House there is none of this. You order your Yum Cha from the menu. It is rather like a ‘Chinese Tapas’.

You can pop in at any time during the day order a tea and a Yum Cha snack.

I ate at the Oriental Tea House on Chapel Street for the first time before we attended a gold class session of ‘Sex and the City 2’ at the Jam Factory.

We went early to give us time to talk, relax and to get into the mood for the glamour and style we were to see on the screen. It was a good choice.

The good thing about the Oriental Tea House is that it severs the same food all the time so we could create our own stylish early dinner.

The name ‘ The Oriental Tea House’ appeals to me. Just the sound is relaxing. The clean white open space when you enter, with the store of interesting teas and other merchandise including Chinese herbs in the front and then the restaurant at the rear, is welcoming and soothing.

I like the emphasis on tea but as we were preparing to watch over-the-top glamour on the screen we decided bubbles were appropriate.

This is what we ordered:-

Spinach Seafood Soup

Won Ton Soup

Vegetarian Buckweat Dumplings with Chilli

Delux Basket (nine different pieces of dumplings steamed in a large basket).

Calamari in Spicy Salt

The dishes appeared haphazardly with the squid coming a distant last. It occurs to me now that each dish may travel from the kitchen as soon as it is cooked – something to think about when you order. If you order soup it is nice to both get your soup at the same time.

The dumplings are delicious. The best I have had recently. As I write this I am still thinking about them and plan to pop in for one of their teas and a ‘variety basket’ of dumplings. At $6.90 it is excellent value

We didn’t try the Tea-Tails – cocktails made with tea blends. The idea of a tea based cocktail served in a teapot is a whimsy that brings a smile to the face – it has to be worth a try.
Here is an example of some that are available:-

Campari Treasure 8.5
Bitter sweet with a hint of orange Campari.
+ Calm & Concentration TEA served on ice

Russian Spy in Shanghai 8.5
This one really packs a punch with Vodka
+ Gun Powder TEA served with fresh lime

Baileys Kiss 8.5
Spicy with a tasty kick of Baileys & milk
+ Chai TEA served over ice

Luck of the Irish 8.5
One to really help you unwind with a warm blend of Irish Whisky
+ Relaxing TEA

Where:-
The Oriental Tea House
455 Chapel Street
South Yarra (opposite Bridie O’Reilly’s)

Phone:-Restaurant 9826 0168

Web site:-

http://www.orientalteahouse.com.au/chapel-street/w1/i1001202/

Opening Hours:-
10am until late – every day.

Getting there:-
No 8 Tram to Toorak. Get off at the corner of Toorak Road and Chapel Street.
No 78 Tram – this tram runs along Chapel Street from St Kilda to Richmond.

Guilfoyle’s Volcano overlooks Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens

Melbourne — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:09:09 +0000

Guilfoyle’s Volcano sits on top of the highest corner of the Royal Botanic Gardens and from here you can look over the rest of the gardens and to Melbourne’s CBD.

For years this strange wonder was hidden under an uncared for wilderness.
It was built in 1876 by William Guilfolye, who is quoted as saying, “ Combine the useful with the ornamental.” Originally it was a reservoirs and Guilfoyle’s folly. The restoration has made it into a reservoir again – combining the ornamental with the useful.

It has been restored with a path winding to the crater lake and a water resistant garden of cacti and succulents. The plantings are startling and it gives a weird effect of a planted moonscape.

The red areas represent the lava flows – they are planted too.

I found the cacti fascinating and felt impressed with the production of so many perfectly round bright green cacti that look almost as if they were on the move. They are called Golden Barrel Cacti ( Echinocactus grusonii)

The recent hail has damaged some of the succulents and the pole cacti. Some of the pole cacti are now staked and one is preparing to produce a couple of large flowers.

Numbers can be interesting and daunting for example; approximately 17,000 plants of 250 different species have been planted, of those species 97 are native to Australia. There must be hundreds of these round cacti and I managed to let go of my urge to count them.

The lake in the crater is full. The idea of looking into a crater lake creates an expectation of seeing steam rising or a few bubbles coming to the surface. It is a slight let down when nothing of the sort happens. Instead there are floating islands. These are to improve the water quality and in time this water will be used to help irrigate other areas the gardens.

The garden is new as are the floating islands and it will be interesting to see how the area looks when everything has become established. If all these pole cacti flower it will be a startling and beautiful sight.

Getting there:-
Tram 8 will take you almost to the Volcano. Get off at the Corner of Domain Road and Park Street and walk into the gardens. It is right there.
The Botanical Gardens can also be accessed from St Kilda Road – follow the signs to Guifoyle’s Volcano.
Parking:- 1 hour free in Domain Road. Paid parking in Birdwood Avenue.

Opening Hours:-
The gardens are open from 7.30am to sunset every day of the year.

Tours:- can be arranged by calling (03) 9252 2429

Trash, Treasure or vintage? It is hard to decide in Womango, 47 Chapel Street, Windsor/Prahran.

Melbourne — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:50:50 +0000

The Windsor end of Chapel Street is know as the funky end of Chapel Street, Prahran To me it is the fun end. I often pass Womango and I can never resist the window. It’s a ’stop and stare and stare some more and chat to your friend’ sort of window. It’s a collectors paradise.

Womango’s Window –
Inside it is as crammed with goods as the window. The old saying ‘there is nowhere to put a pin down’ is spot on.

At the entrance there is a notice saying ‘No Big Bags’ and you can see why. Even without a big bag you have to be careful not to send some of the treasures flying.

There’s a yellow and green jug in the window that I like and I can spend ages gazing at the rings that are in a case inside and then there is something about those long white evening gloves of the fifties. What romance they conjure up. Yesterday there was an old wooden ladder in very good condition filling up some of the entrance space.

If you are a visiting Chapel Street for vintage, retro, antiques and treasures from the recent past , I’d start here.
If you are a collector and looking for something in particular the owner knows her stock – that’s a feat in itself. She is knowledgeable and is happy to talk. She is also happy for you to spend as long as you like exploring this visual feast.
Note the opening hours – they are unusual for the area:-
Closed Monday and Tuesday. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 12.00pm to 6.00pm.

You can ring the owner if you need to make contact at other times – 9533 6650 or 0410 750 310

Getting there

Take the Sandringham Line Train to Windsor Station. Come out of the Windsor Station and you are there. Womango is more or less opposite Syber’s Book Shop, by the pedestrian crossing.

Trams 78 and 79 run the full length of Chapel Street between St Kilda and Richmond.

If you are coming from the CBD by tram you need a tram number 8 or 6 or 72. These trams intersect with Chapel Street at some point.

Peace and relaxation in the Tropical Glasshouse, Melbourne’s Botanical Gardens, St Kilda Road,

Melbourne — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:27:45 +0000

Your’re in Melbourne’s CBD and you want time out – peace, time away from crowds and the concrete jungle and some tranquility? How about the Botanical Gardens and in particular the Tropical House?

The Melbourne Botanical Gardens are at the edge of the CBD – walking distance if you are feeling energetic or a few minutes on a tram – see below.

As soon as you open the sliding doors and walk into this heated Glasshouse the atmosphere changes. You may say of course it does but you don’t expect the feeling of peace that comes with it. I expected warmth but not the peace. Warmth and peace may go together and perhaps that is what happens when you walk into that heated space.

The air is heavy and slightly damp and perhaps that is why it is relaxing. It quietens us. We start to speak in soft voices almost whispers and we notice the people around us are doing the same. We walk gently and we slow down. There is a background hum of machinery that goes on and off. You do notice this as it changes from on to off and then a bit later on again, but it is still peaceful.

As you enter there is a free pamphlet that directs your viewing of the plants. These are described as ‘vital plants’, that is vital-tropical plants that effect our every day quality of life,for example coffee, rubber and cocoa are identified by numbers. The pamphlet gives you interesting information about each of them. For example did you know that Attila the Hun demanded 3000 pounds of pepper in ransom for the City of Rome in the 5th Century. It’s probably not information your are ever going to need; just something to file away.
More useful, perhaps, is the information that a pineapple plant can produce a pineapple every year, for up to 50 years. Now that plant is a good investment.

Paths wander through banks of greenery and overhead foliage. There are splashes of white flowers and every now and again a dash of a bright coloured flowers. There are some strange and wonderful plants, too.

At the far end of the glasshouse water runs over rocks and splashes into a fish pond complete with fish. There are benches to sit on while you absorb the atmosphere of water and the tropical forest.

The Botanical Gardens are open from 7.30 to dusk every day of the year and the Tropical House or Glasshouse as it is called on most of the signs around the gardens is open from 10am to 4pm.

How to get there:

Any tram from Federation Square that runs along St Kilda Road as far as the Domain Road Intersection, or if you want to get off in Domain Road and enter from there catch the No 8.

The Tropical glasshouse is at the Domain Road end of the gardens but you can wander into the gardens anywhere along St Kilda Road and you will find good signage leading you to the glasshouse.

Remember it is called the glasshouse – there’s nothing about the tropical plants.

The Block Arcade – Downtown Melbourne – CBD

Melbourne — Thu, 21 May 2009 09:50:22 +0000

Add some magic to your shopping

There is magic in the Block Arcade. It grabs you and takes you back to the past. It’s a romantic past where imaginations were given the money to roam. The Arcade was designed by David Askew for local financier. The brief was to produce something like the Galleria Vittoria in Milan.

There is a distinct European flavour in The Block with its beautiful glass ceilings, a glass dome in the centre, wrought iron and carved stone finishings.

It is shaped like an ‘L’ with identical entrances on Elizabeth Street and Collins Street. Strangely, most people enter from Collins Street and that is the busiest section.

The mosaic tiled floor runs throughout the precinct and the wooden shop fronts are elegant. In fact the whole area is elegant.

This stunning mosaic is under the huge central glass dome. The dome is so large I didn’t manage to get anything decent in the way of a photo to show it off. You’ll have to see it for yourself and try to take a photo.

I suggest you have coffee at the Cafe Duomo. It’s on the corner of the ‘L’ and runs into Block Pace that comes out in Little Collins Street. You can gaze at all the splendor from an outside table and watch the passing parade. Coffee is strong and good.

Another favourite place to eat is the Hopetoun Tearooms at the Collins Street entrance but I prefer outside at Café Duomo so I can see where I am and enjoy the experience as I watch people wandering around admiring and staring in that ‘gob-smacked’ sort of way. You can tell the visitors from the locals.

The Block Arcade is in the CBD Running between Collins Street and Elisabeth Street. You can also enter from Little Collins Street and walk through the cafes in Block Place