ROAMING ON ST KILDA BEACH (Australia)

ROAMING ON ST KILDA BEACH

(Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)

By Frances Harris

I woke up this morning and after peeping thought the curtains of my bedroom, I saw a wide expanse of blue sky, dotted with little white clouds here and there. Well, there was only one thing left for me to do and that was to jump out of bed, eat a hearty - break all the rules - breakfast, only just this once, then look for an enjoyable place to walk. Recently it’s been a long drizzly fortnight of chilly winds and bleak days.  My spirits could do with a boost of bright sunshine and lovely views. My favourite walks are sentimental ones, that include history and perhaps some enjoyable memories to call on.  

Thinking for a while, I realised there was one place that stood out above the rest. I decided to head for St Kilda Beach on Port Phillip Bay. So if you like, and you need a little pep in your step, you might like to join me and explore the sights.



Anyone would feel good after seeing this sunny face greeting them at the entrance of Luna Park, where generations of people remember taking their siblings, children or grandchildren for a day out. Others would have their own fond childhood memories of riding the scenic railway and other features. I recall being a hesitant child wondering why so many people were happy to be eaten up by this big scary monster, and nobody seemed too worried about it. I feared that once I went in there, I would never come out alive. It took some bribery and coaxing from my family before I would join the others and go in. I remember feeling like Alice in wonderland once I was inside.  

Luna Park has been around since the 1930’s. Over the years some rides have been removed and replaced by others. I stood on the corner across the road while taking photos, and enjoyed watching the excited expressions on the faces of children standing in line to go in, and their engaged parents.  

Then I walked up the hill, heading in the direction of The Esplanade on the beach. As I roamed I imagined earlier days, when crinoline ladies with parasols and top hatted gentlemen paraded stiffly up and down here in the late 1800’s, or relaxed on the benches.  In my thoughts I could almost hear the clip-clop of horses pulling heavy coaches, sulkies and buggies along the roads. I looked around and noticed a few interesting remnants of Australia’s colonial past scattered here and there.  

From an earlier patriarchal society, there are still statues and busts of wealthy citizens, but rarely is there one of a woman.  Looking up I saw the clock tower and at its base staring blankly into the distance, is the face of an important man of the day. Exactly why he was important, I’m not sure, except that he was – A good Public Servant.  On my way I wondered what those thousands of people back then would have been thinking as they looked up at the clock. Would their thoughts be very different to ours today?

This is the clock tower, standing large on the way to The Esplanade.

The Bust of Carlo Catani staring out from the base of the clock tower. He was said to be - A great Public Servant.

On the other side of the road I liked the look of this building.

How things have changed. For nearly a century or more, the Australian flag has proudly fluttered on the flag pole above this building, which was once the St Kilda salt water baths. Back then; it would have been counted as treachery to take it down. The flag you see here I think advertises a business in the building complex.

Sail boats at St Kilda beach.

View of the road under the bridge. In the distance is the clock tower from where I walked.

While looking out from the bridge at the beautiful scenery, I could feel the endorphins kicking in. I remember taking in a few breaths of clean beach air.

Waiting down below, on the lawn by the water, was someone I seem to have grown up with. Captain Cook was in every history book during my education years. He has gone out of favour a bit, since it was established his claim to have been the first captain to discover Australia was about five hundred to one thousand years too late. It seems the Dutch, Spanish and Chinese were way ahead of him.

If you look for a water fountain suitable for polite society in colonial days, this is what you’ll find. It even has a little Viking ship balanced on top.

Here is another reminder of finer days - The Royal Melbourne Yacht Club.

This photo is a closer look at St Kilda Pier. After strolling around for a while, enjoying every moment, I was ready to find a quiet place to reflect and have an iced chocolate, with the cream mound on top. Calories out - replaced by calories in; that’s the way I like it.