Tag: Ian Potter Center: NGVAustralia

Monday, February 26, 2024

HAL Grand Australia & NZ Cruise

For your RovingRaconteurs, there is something totally unremarkable about Melbourne.  Perhaps it’s the similarity to the city of Chicago we remember from our youth.  Melbourne is the capital of Victoria, and as such, is large, bustling, and crowded.  But it also has a small town feel with friendly people, convenience of services, ease of movement.  We have been here several times and always find it a pleasant visit.  We tend to wander; we stop to eat and drink; we browse and shop; we very much, feel at home!!!

Let’s begin with a little info regarding Victoria and its capital, Melbourne:

In 1770, James Cook claimed the entire east coast of the Australian continent for England.  By 1788, organization came to the continent with the establishment of regions:  New South Wales being the eastern half; and New Holland the western half.  The first settlement in what would eventually become Victoria occurred in 1803 when 402 people were sent to explore the area and create a settlement thereby forestalling any efforts by the French to settle in the area.  Then in 1835, John Batman formed another settlement, administered by the New South Wales region, that would become Melbourne.  And then, on July 1, 1851, the first Legislative Council was formed, and Victoria left the ministrations of New South Wales to become the independent Colony of Victoria.  When gold was discovered in the colony, the population boomed.  The gold rush ended in 1893 with widespread bank failures due to rampant land speculation and overly optimistic construction.  But Melbourne was fortunate; it retained its status as the largest city in Victoria as well as Australia’s primary economic and financial center.  In 1901, Victoria became a state in the Commonwealth of Australia and even served (until 1927) as the first capital of Australia while Canberra was being built.  Today, it remains the state capital and houses 70% of the state’s population, dominating its economy, media and culture.

OK, let’s take a look at some photos:

The next ports are coming, nearly daily, for the next few weeks.  This will make posting a little difficult, but we will try our best!!!!

More to follow…..SOON!!!