MORELL BRIDGE, EVENING

Morell Bridge, also known as the Anderson St bridge, near the starting point of The Tan running track. Completed in 1899 by John Monash and J. T. N. Anderson, it is notable for being the first bridge in Victoria to be built using reinforced concrete. It features decorations on the three arch spans, including large dragon motifs and ornamental Victorian lights. The gutters on the bridge are cobbled bluestone, with a single lane bitumen strip running down the middle.

This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of the Sunday Bridges meme.

SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE BY NIGHT

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic image of Sydney, New South Wales, and Australia. The bridge is nicknamed "The Coathanger" because of its arch-based design.

Under the directions of Dr J.J.C. Bradfield of the NSW Department of Public Works, the bridge was designed and built by British firm Dorman Long and Co Ltd of Middlesbrough and opened in 1932. The bridge's design was influenced by the Hell Gate Bridge in New York. It is also the sixth longest spanning-arch bridge in the world, and it is the tallest steel arch bridge, measuring 134 m from top to water level. It was also the world's widest long-span bridge, at 48.8 m wide, until construction of the new Port Mann Bridge in Vancouver.

This post is part of the Scenic Weekends meme,
and also part of the Sunday Bridges meme.

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, MELBOURNE

The pedestrian bridge connecting Melbourne City with Southbank was built in 1992 and its distinctive white arch is a Melbourne landmark. Found under the pedestrian bridge on Southbank, and only accessible from stairs which descend from above, there is Ponyfish Island, a good place for ad rink or a meal on the Yarra River.

Ponyfish bar and restaurant has a location as unique as its name, hidden away in a floating haven on the Yarra River. The vibe is eccentric, and the city perspective is very different, but the menu hits the spot with breakfast toasties, lunchtime quesadillas, platters to share and a range of barbequed burgers.

This post is part of the Sunday Bridges meme.

PARKLANDS MORNING

The Darebin Parklands is a reserve of bushland through which runs the Darebin Creek. It is situated very close to where I live so it's a pleasure to walk there at various times during the day, as on this fine morning.

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,
and also part of the Sunday Bridges meme.

RICHMOND, TASMANIA

Richmond is a town in Tasmania about 25 km north-east of Hobart, in the Coal River region, between the Midland Highway and Tasman Highway. At the 2006 census, Richmond had a population of 880. Richmond's most famous landmark is the Richmond Bridge, built in 1823 to 1825, around the time of the town's first settlement. It is Australia's oldest bridge still in use. St John's Catholic church was built in 1836, and is considered the oldest Roman Catholic church in Australia.

The town was initially part of the route between Hobart and Port Arthur until the Sorell Causeway was constructed in 1872. Richmond is best known as being preserved as it was at that time. It is a vibrant tourist town, with many of the sandstone structures still standing.

This post is part of the Scenic Weekends meme,
and also part of the Sunday Bridges meme.

FLYING TO SYDNEY

Approaching Sydney from the South, one can take is some great sights weather permitting. I was lucky enough to get these shot looking towards Homebush and the Sydney Olympic Park. The two bridges seen are in the vicinity of Rhodes, one a railway bridge, the other a road bridge (Concord Rd becoming Church St).

This post is part of the Weekly TopShot meme,

and also part of the Scenic Weekends meme,

and also part of the Sunday Bridges meme.

SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic image of Sydney, New South Wales, and Australia. The bridge is nicknamed "The Coathanger" because of its arch-based design.

Under the directions of Dr J.J.C. Bradfield of the NSW Department of Public Works, the bridge was designed and built by British firm Dorman Long and Co Ltd of Middlesbrough and opened in 1932. The bridge's design was influenced by the Hell Gate Bridge in New York. It is also the sixth longest spanning-arch bridge in the world, and it is the tallest steel arch bridge, measuring 134 metres from top to water level. It was also the world's widest long-span bridge, at 48.8 meters wide, until construction of the new Port Mann Bridge in Vancouver.

This post is part of the Scenic Weekends meme,
and also part of the Sunday Bridges meme.

SYDNEY BY NIGHT

Sydney is Australia’s largest city, and capital of the state of New South Wales. Located on Australia’s southeastern coast, Sydney has a magnificent harbour and a strategic position, making it one of the most important ports in the South Pacific. In the early 19th century, when it was still a small convict settlement and the first settlers had barely penetrated the interior, it had already established trade with the Pacific Islands, India, China, South Africa, and the Americas.

The first sight of Sydney, whether from the sea or the air, is always spectacular. Built on low hills surrounding a huge harbour with innumerable bays and inlets, the city is dominated by the bulk of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, one of the longest steel-arch bridges in the world, and the Opera House, with its glittering white shell-shaped roofs that seem to echo the sails of the many yachts in the adjacent harbour. The intricate confusion of water and buildings makes a striking impression either by day or by night.

Because of its history as a great port and its status as the site of the country’s main international air terminal, Sydney is perhaps the only city in Australia with a genuinely international atmosphere. Yet it remains a very Australian city, with a nice compromise between the Anglo-Saxon efficiency of its British heritage and the South Seas attractions of its climate and environment. The area of the City of Sydney is 26.2 square km; while the Sydney Statistical Division is 12,406 square km. The population of greater Sydney is nearly five million people.

This post is part of the Sunday Bridges meme,

and also part of the Scenic Weekends meme.

CHALKIDA, GREECE

Chalcis or Chalkida, the chief town of the island of Euboea in Greece, is situated on the strait of the Evripos at its narrowest point. The name is preserved from antiquity and is derived from the Greek χαλκός ("chalkos" - copper, bronze), though there is no trace of any mines in the area. In the late Middle Ages, it was known as Negropont (Italian: Negroponte, "black bridge"), a name that was applied to the entire island of Euboea as well.

The town is now connected to the mainland Greece by two bridges, the "Sliding Bridge" in the west at the narrowest point of the Evripos Strait and a suspension bridge.The Evripos Strait which separates the city and the island from the mainland was bridged in 411 BC with a wooden bridge. In the time of Justinian the fixed bridge was replaced with a movable structure. The Turks replaced this once again with a fixed bridge. In 1856, a wooden swing bridge was built; in 1896, an iron swing bridge, and in 1962, the existing "sliding bridge"; the construction works of the 19th century destroyed the most part of the medieval castle built across the bridge. The cable stay suspension bridge which joins Chalcis to the mainland to the south was opened in 1993.

A unique phenomenon takes place at the straits of Evripos. The phenomenon is known as the "tide". Tides are the rise and fall or water levels. The strait of Evripos is subject to strong tidal currents which reverse direction approximately four times a day lasting for about six hours each. This creates an amazing sight for visitors from all over the world.

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

FLYING IT TOWARDS SYDNEY

A few weeks ago I was flying to Sydney and took these photos. The two bridges visible are the Taren Point Rd Bridge and the Princess Highway Bridge, at Taren Point and Sylvania Waters respectively.

This post is part of the Sunday Bridges meme.

YARRA RIVER PANORAMA

A panorama of the Yarra River at sunrise, showing the Queen's Bridge on the extreme left (where I am standing to take the photo) and the Sandridge Bridge in the centre, showing the outline sculptures adorning it.

This post is part of the Sunday Bridges meme,
and also part of the Weekly Topshot meme.