Anna S. E. Lundberg

Coach, Speaker, Writer

Melbourne: The world’s most liveable city?

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If this had been 20 years ago, the biggest draw of Melbourne would have been a tour of the Neighbours soap opera set. Aside from that, I’ve often been told that Europeans usually love Melbourne: it’s the cultural capital of Australia, artsy, international, and the number one city in the world according to The Economist’s “liveability index”. While I enjoyed my stay, I have to say: I’m definitely a Sydney girl.

Melbourne street art
My apartment was on Southbank, where I enjoyed walking every day, past the restaurants and hotels. This is one of the officially sanctioned areas for Melbourne’s street art.
Southbank, Melbourne
Walking along the river did remind me somewhat of being in Paris, and I can see why Europeans would feel at home here.
National Gallery of Victoria
I continued the French theme and my cultural experience of Melbourne with a visit to the National Gallery of Victoria for the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition.
Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition
Only a little bit creepy, an animation of Monsieur Gaultier himself wished us la bienvenue to this voyage through his career.
JPG teddy bear
Jean Paul Gaultier’s original muse, his teddy bear Nana, wearing a prototype of the iconic conical bra later made famous by Madonna.
JPG perfume
A display of the first perfume bottles designed by JPG.
JPG fashion show
The first, and only, time I’ll ever be in the front row of a JPG fashion show.
Melbourne Christmas tree
It’s Christmas! And summer! At the same time! I did do a little bit of shopping but this time limited to my first pair of Toms, after I had just finished reading the company founder’s book, Starting Something that Matters.
Royal Botanic Gardens
Looking back on the city centre from the calm of the Royal Botanic Gardens. I think I’ve been to more botanical gardens on this trip than I ever have in my whole life before!
Royal Botanic Gardens
Fancy a punt?
The Shrine of Remembrance
The Shrine of Remembrance, built as a place where families could mourn the loved ones they lost abroad in the First World War.

But where is the ocean?! My favourite part of Sydney, or of any city, unfortunately missing from Melbourne city centre. As a result, I took a boat trip out to Williamstown, a suburb of Melbourne, to get closer to the sea (and I had fish and chips again!).

Williamstown harbour
Arriving at the little harbour of Williamstown.
Path in Williamstown
A walk along the coast, having left behind the skyscrapers of the big city.
Williamstown Botanic Gardens
Botanic Gardens again! Very small, these, though…
Ball Tower
The Ball Tower used to help seafarers to calibrate their chronometers: from 1858 to 1926 the ball would drop at exactly 1pm.
Williamstown Ferry
Returning to Melbourne on the Williamstown ferry.

On my last day in Melbourne, my flight wasn’t leaving until 3am and I had already checked out of my apartment the previous morning. What to do? Late night cinema showing of Interstellar, of course. (For the record, as much as I love wormholes and relativity and space in general, I really didn’t get this film for all the hype it’s had. Nowhere near as good as Gravity, which really moved me as well as being ground-breaking in terms of the filming itself.) Although my flight was a little delayed, my free upgrade to business class made up for the inconvenience. A glass of champagne and a short sleep on a horizontal bed later, and I arrived in Kuala Lumpur for the next part of my trip…

 

The practical bit:

National Gallery of Victoria: The Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition is on until 8th February 2015; $22 for an adult ticket.

Williamstown Ferry: The ferry leaves from outside the Southgate shopping centre; $28 for an adult return ticket.

Apartment: I booked a studio at Melbourne Short Stay Apartments and got a free upgrade to a one-bedroom with a balcony. Very nice, and great location by Southbank.