Me mum, as they say here, always spoke fondly of her hometown. Melbourne was the first capitol before they built Canberra ACT. More cosmopolitan, it has always looked down on bigger Sydney - like San Francisco does on Los Angeles, (a place Jean’s grandmother once warned they “don’t wear shoes down there.”)
Mom would have loved her Melbourne today. They never ripped out the trams like SF, LA and Sydney did. Largest system in the world now, and in the city center, rides are all free - go anywhere, just hop on and off. Many old Victorian buildings are still in use - often just facades for modern enlargements. One is the Rialto Building. It had been the Commonwealth Patent Office, Granddad’s office, before and after WWI. Built in 1891 during their gold rush era - when Melbourne was the richest city in the world - it is now half of the Intercontinental Hotel - saving 2 of these historic beauties.
Mom would not recognize the hue of the citizens though. “White Australia” was once official policy and Asians were legally excluded - like they once were in the US. But now a turbaned Sikh might greet her with the familiar “G’day!” - or a Chinese, Malay, Arab - you name it. I don’t know the ramifications of the social, economic or such, but all these new tastes means Aussie food is not just a lamp chop and shrimp on the barbie anymore. Each meal is better than the next with Melbourne said to have the best restaurants in Australia. And tonight we are off to check on that statement again. Trust but verify.
- Restaurant Rod
PS. Chatting with a local at dinner - turns out the Press Club, almost next door to our old pool hall hotel, is the original home of the Melbourne Herald newspaper. This is where, in 1937, Sir Keith Murdoch hired a young reporter then sent her to London. She met a dashing Spitfire pilot just over from the States, fell in love and became my mom. Last dinner in Australia will be in mom’s office. Don’t you love happy endings!
Mom would have loved her Melbourne today. They never ripped out the trams like SF, LA and Sydney did. Largest system in the world now, and in the city center, rides are all free - go anywhere, just hop on and off. Many old Victorian buildings are still in use - often just facades for modern enlargements. One is the Rialto Building. It had been the Commonwealth Patent Office, Granddad’s office, before and after WWI. Built in 1891 during their gold rush era - when Melbourne was the richest city in the world - it is now half of the Intercontinental Hotel - saving 2 of these historic beauties.
Mom would not recognize the hue of the citizens though. “White Australia” was once official policy and Asians were legally excluded - like they once were in the US. But now a turbaned Sikh might greet her with the familiar “G’day!” - or a Chinese, Malay, Arab - you name it. I don’t know the ramifications of the social, economic or such, but all these new tastes means Aussie food is not just a lamp chop and shrimp on the barbie anymore. Each meal is better than the next with Melbourne said to have the best restaurants in Australia. And tonight we are off to check on that statement again. Trust but verify.
- Restaurant Rod
PS. Chatting with a local at dinner - turns out the Press Club, almost next door to our old pool hall hotel, is the original home of the Melbourne Herald newspaper. This is where, in 1937, Sir Keith Murdoch hired a young reporter then sent her to London. She met a dashing Spitfire pilot just over from the States, fell in love and became my mom. Last dinner in Australia will be in mom’s office. Don’t you love happy endings!
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