Robbins Ramblings: Melbourne,the tourist highlights.

After spending the weekend with family today was an opportunity to take in some of the tourist sights of Melbourne. First stop was the Old Melborne Goal, which with our National Trust cards was free to enter,(Thank you Rosemary for the heads-up), the place where Ned Kelly was hanged. The prisoners were confined to small cells, where they were not allowed to talk, for twenty-three hours a day. They were only allowed out for exercise for the one hour during which they had to wear a hooded mask to prevent communication with other prisoners.

The prison housed inmates of both sexes and children, the youngest being three years old, imprisoned for idleness and insolence. Perhaps the most famous resident was the bushwacker Ned Kelly, who was nursed back to health after recieving 23 bullet wounds only to be found guilty of murder and then hanged!! I couldn’t resist the temptation to try a replica of his mask on.

A very interesting visit but very harrowing when you consider the way the people were treated and the numbers that were executed here.

Leaving the jail we had a short stroll through Chinatown towards Fitzroy Gardens and the oldest building in Australia, Cook’s Cottage.

The cottage originally built in Yorkshire by Captain Cook’s father was bought by a Melbourne business man in 1934 and rebuilt in its present position. There is little evidence that Captain Cook ever lived in it, in fact he probably only visited his father here on a couple of occassions. Hardly the historical building that you might imagine, the statue outside probably the closest Captain Cook has come to the cottage.

Next we walked to the Immigration Museum, taking a short diversion through some of the many arcades full of cafes and eating houses.

The Immigration museum highlights the importance that migrants have been to Australia and in particular the State of Victoria. The current exhibition focusses on the large influx of British immigrants in the years following the second world war, with personal tales from individual immigrants. Included in the exhibition were some of the advertising material used to encourage Britons to emigrate, some of which were quite amusing.

How could any teacher resist that!!

On a slightly more disturbing note the exhibtion showed how Australia at this time did everything to encourage white British immigrants while at the same time putting up barriers to others. These policies were not really changed until the early 70s since when a much more inclusive attitude has been seen, as indicated by this display of passports.

In the afternoon I had a wander up to the Moomba festival site. It was extreemly busy with plenty of sideshows, fairground rides, childrens entertainment and live music. On the river a water ski jump competition was taking place and BMX races were also being held. A excellent place for an afternoon with the children.