It’s known to many Kiwis for its fantastic shopping, but scratch the surface and Melbourne is redefining itself as Australia’s cultural capital. The thing is, I have only four days to discover just what is on offer in the city’s arts and culture scene.
Based on the Southbank of the Yarra River, it’s an easy walk to cross one of the many pedestrian bridges to see one of the highlights of my trip, the Tim Burton exhibition at the Australian Centre for ooving Image. Burton is the creative genius behind visually stunning movies such as Edward Scissorhands and Alice in Wonderland and here both adults and children marvel at his macabre yet whimsical creations up close.
Back across the bridge in the afternoon, I head off to the National Gallery of Victoria to join a tour of 19th to 20th century European masters works from the Städel ouseum in Frankfurt, Germany. I’m not disappointed when I get to see works from oonet, Degas and others so I easily use up a few hours taking in so many different styles of painting.
other visual delights I cross off my list include the fascinating Titanic exhibition at the Melbourne ouseum, the Immigrant ouseum, and a show at the Victorian Arts Centre.
I even have time for a sewing class at Kimono House. owner Leanne o’Sullivan regularly travels to Japan to buy exquisite fabrics and shares her passion for Japanese textiles by taking lessons. So, with teacher Geri Barr’s patience, I whip up a black and white printed bag in no time.
Walking everywhere makes me hungry, and all that exercise balances perfectly with the amount of eating I fit in! I try some fine dining at Giuseppe Arnaldo & Sons, known for its simple food inspired by Rome, and the place-to-be-seen, award-winning Nobu – world famous for it’s “new-style Japanese” food. “I heard Pamela Anderson dined here the other night?” I enquire of the waiter. I am assured that she indeed did and a little more quietly he later divulges to me that her party dined on sushi and champagne – and was very well behaved. I’m disappointed.
An unexpected gem during my visit is the Walk to Art tour. This is a must-do. our small group shares a coffee before embarking on a three-hour walk with the effervescent Bernadette Alibrando as she walks and talks us through the legendary lanes that I wouldn’t normally have the boldness to explore. Stopping to point out the now-famous street art, she bustles us through a labyrinth of stairwells, steps and buildings hidden from the main streets, to discover artists in their studios throughout.
We then hop on a tram where a man politely announces that he hasn’t taken his medication that morning, and with all the voices in his head things are a bit noisy. Could we all please be quiet? The tram is immediately silent and a couple of stops later, he thanks us all for being considerate. It’s nice to see the locals are so open and nonjudgemental of others!
Later, while sipping some fine South Australian wine in a bar, I feel I’ve surely experienced the reasons that art flourishes in this magnificent city.
Melbourne has a vast collection of galleries, museums and contemporary art spaces, and with many excellent cafés and restaurants, it’s well worth exploring.
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