HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

FAIRFIELD RAILWAY STATION

Fairfield is a railway station in Melbourne, Australia, located in the suburb of Fairfield, on the Hurstbridge railway line. Fairfield is classed as a Host Station and is in myki Zone 1.

Fairfield is located at the western end of the Station Street level crossing, with station access from Railway Place, Wingrove and Station Streets.The station consists of two side platforms; platform 1 has a large weatherboard building, while platform 2 has a smaller weatherboard building. A footbridge is situated at the Flinders Street end of the station, whilst a disused signal box is situated at the eastern (Hurstbridge) end of the platform 1.

This post is part of the Monday Mellow Yellows meme,

and also part of the Mandarin Orange Monday meme,

and also part of the Nature Footsteps Inspiring Photography meme,

and also part of the Night Shot Monday meme.

ST MARY STAR OF THE SEA, WEST MELBOURNE

St Mary Star of the Sea is one of the most beautiful and historically significant churches in Australia. The foundation stone of St Mary's was laid in 1882 and the building was completed by 1900. Since 2002 restoration has been ongoing to restore the church to its original splendor. Built with seating for over 1,200 people, it has been described as the largest parish church in Melbourne, in Victoria, or even in Australia.

The foundations of the current church were laid in June 1892. A young and as yet unknown architect, Edgar J. Henderson, tendered plans for a grandiose sandstone cruciform in the French Gothic style. At 175 feet long and 94 feet wide, the proposed church was criticised by Archbishop Carr for being too large, but parishioners embraced the ambitious project. Within a year, however, economic depression had wrought havoc on the project's finance. Remarkably, in the face of devastating poverty, parishioners managed to fund ongoing construction, and church was built in eight years.

Phillip Kennedy took over Henderson's architectural role, and the contrast between the church's exterior and interior can be attributed to his influence. Henderson's rose windows, battered plinths, cylindrical turrets, and soaring groined timber ceiling exemplify the French Gothic Revival. Kennedy's glossy marble and granite pillars, intricate marble fittings, and pink tinted walls, however, betray an Italianate influence.

On 18 February 1900, Cardinal Moran opened and blessed the new church to great fanfare, before an assembly of 1,400. Local Catholic newspaper The Advocate remarked that "The congregation has literally emerged from the worst ecclesiastical building in the colony to enter one of the finest." The church was finally completed in 1925. On 12 February, His Excellency Archbishop Cattaneo, Apostolic Delegate, dedicated the new marble high altar and consecrated the completed church.

This post is part of the inSPIREd Sunday meme.

FISHPOND

This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of the Weekly TopShot meme,
and also part of the I Heart Macros meme.

FLIGHT TO PERTH

On a flight from Melbourne to Perth - the advantages of a window seat...

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

FRENCH MARIGOLD

Tagetes patula, the French marigold, is a species in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is native to the Americas with several naturalised populations around the world. The flower is an annual, occasionally reaching 0.5 m by 0.3 m. In some climates it flowers from July to October. In its native habitat of the highlands of central Mexico, blooms are produced from September to killing frost.

Achenes ripen and are shed within two weeks of the start of bloom. The heads contain mostly hermaphrodite (having both male and female organs) florets and are pollinated primarily by beetles in the wild, as well as by tachinid flies and other insects. The leaves of all species of marigold include oil glands. The oils are pungent and are harvested for use in perfumery.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

DIGHTS FALLS

Dights Falls is one of only two easy crossing places of the lower reaches of the Yarra River in Melbourne. It was a favoured camping ground of the Yallock bullock clan of the Woi wurrung. It was also a meeting place for many clans where they would trade together, settle disputes and exchange brides.

On a hill above the falls is an historic marker commemorating the "first white men to discover the river Yarra reaching Yarra Falls on 8th February, 1803. Also to make the first crossing near here with the cattle by the first overlanders John Gardner, Joseph Hawdon and John Hepburn in December 1836".

Dights Falls located downstream of the junction of the Yarra River with Merri Creek, as the river narrows and is constricted between 800,000 year old volcanic, basaltic lava flow and a much older steep, silurian, sedimentary spur. The north side also contains abundant graptolite fossils in sedimentary sandstone.

This post is part of the Waterworld Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

All the best for the Festive Season!

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme.

CHRISTMAS IN MELBOURNE

A walk around the City shops for some Christmas cheer!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

This post is part of the Monday Mellow Yellows meme,
and also part of the Mandarin Orange Monday meme,
and also part of the Nature Footsteps Inspiring Photography meme,
and also part of the Blue Monday meme.

ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, MELBOURNE

St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne is the metropolitical and cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, Victoria in Australia. It is the seat of the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne and Metropolitan of the Province of Victoria. The cathedral, which was built in stages, is a major Melbourne landmark.

A distinguished English architect, William Butterfield, designed the cathedral, in the architectural style of Gothic transitional. The foundation stone was laid in 1880 and, on 22 January 1891, the cathedral was consecrated. St Paul's replaced St James Old Cathedral which then stood on the corner of William Street and Collins Street - later moved to a site near the Flagstaff Gardens. To fit the block, the cathedral building is orientated NNW.

The erection of the spires began in 1926, to the design of John Barr of Sydney instead of Butterfield's original design. The 1960s saw extensive work completed to the exterior of the cathedral and the T.C. Lewis organ was restored in 1989 by a major National Trust appeal. Major restoration works were completed in 2009 with significant repairs to the spires, the building of the Moorhouse Tower Lantern and the new processional doors.

This post is part of the Scenic Weekends meme,

and also part of the inSPIREd Sunday meme

View towards the South from Melbourne City Square, all decorated for Christmas

View towards the North from Federation Square 

View towards the Northeast from the Flinders St Station

FREO FISHING HARBOUR

Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour is a commercial marina in Fremantle, Western Australia adjacent to the more recently constructed Challenger Harbour. It provides large sheltered mooring areas, wharf space for vessels up to 60 metres, refuelling facilities and support services to the Fremantle fishing industry.

The harbour was built in 1919 when a 300-metre breakwater was constructed to provide an anchorage for fishing vessels. South Jetty was immediately adjacent and included a fish market which was removed in 1929. A southern breakwater was constructed in 1962 and land reclaimed to house fishing companies and service industries.

Between 1969 and 1972, up to 120 fishing boats were housed in the harbour and in 1982, construction of a boat lifting facility commenced. Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour is now surrounded by a well established tourism precinct, and over a dozen restaurants and a brewery are immediately adjacent.

This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme,

and also part of the Weekly TopShot meme,

and also part of the Scenic Weekends meme.

NORTHCOTE SUNSET

Be still, sad heart! And cease repining;

Behind the clouds the sun is still shining;

Thy fate is the common fate of all,

Into each life some rain must fall,

Some days must be dark and dreary.

                                    Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.

PHILADELPHUS - MOCK ORANGE

Philadelphus, (mock-orange) is a genus of about 60 species of shrubs from 1 to 6 m tall, native to North America, Central America, Asia and (locally) in southeast Europe.They are named "mock-orange" in reference to their flowers, which in wild species look somewhat similar to those of oranges and lemons (Citrus) at first glance, and smell of orange flowers and jasmine (Jasminum). Philadelphus is named after an ancient Greek king of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphus ("he displaying brotherly love").

Gardeners visiting spring gardens in New Zealand or England cannot fail to notice how these beautiful shrubs, often with arching to slightly pendulous growth habits, are covered with snow-white, deliciously scented flowers. They are especially effective when used in borders or as background to old-fashioned roses. The species illustrated here is: Philadelphus × purpureomaculatus,cultivar 'Belle Étoile'.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.

OLD ENGLAND HOTEL, HEIDELBERG

The Old England Hotel in suburban Melbourne was established in 1848. Celebrating its 164 birthday this year the Old England is an iconic part of Heidelberg’s rich and vibrant history. The hotel with its warmth and historical significance has been engrained in the traditions and social landscape of Heidelberg since its foundation.

For the last century the old England hotel has attracted Melburnians as a fashionable place to dine, drink and socialise. Some of the most notable patrons of the day included Heidelberg School of Arts founders: Arthur Streeton, Fredrick McCubin, Tom Roberts and Charles Conder who as young struggling artists would frequent the hotel during the years they were painting the Heidelberg area around 1888. During this time they would meet regularly to share their dreams, stories, struggles and achievements.

This post is part of the Outdoor Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Signs, Signs meme.