Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
With the weather warming up, the cruise vessels down the Yarra River get proportionally busier. When we first came to live in Melbourne 20 years ago, there were four months of daylight saving every year, from the last weekend of October to the first weekend of March.
Things have changed now. It was decided a few years ago to extend daylight saving until the end of March. And this year, for the first time, daylight saving began on the first weekend of October so we now have long daylight hours for exactly half the year.
Back in 2000, when Sydney hosted the Olympics, we actually went into daylight saving at the start of September, specifically because of the Games. So there's an interesting piece of Olympic trivia that you might not have known.
Oh, and here's another Olympic story - when Melbourne hosted the 1956 Games, the equestrian events were actually held in Stockholm, Sweden, because of Australia's strict quarantine laws.
The move towards longer daylight hours is good news for tour operators and for the restaurants that make this city famous. It was a warm, sunny afternoon when I took these shots. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll just go and grab a ticket for myself …..
By the way, if you're wondering about the huge silver figures that grace the diagonal bridge in the background of this shot (above) let me tell you they are an integral part of this city's multicultural background. The figures pay homage to those who left their homelands to live here, in this sunburnt country.
The story of the huge figures that actually move up and down the length of the disused Sandridge Rail Bridge is detailed in a previous post I wrote, and can be found at Action Figures.
Visit the creative team behind That's MyWorld Tuesday.
21 comments:
Here's me just thinking about what to post for My World and you already have a great post up from Down Under.
Very interesting David and lovely piccies too.
Do you enjoy the changes with Day Light savings time? I know the youth over here love having the sun up in the summer until 10pm.
That is interesting trivia about the Olympic games. And hosting in Stockholm? That sounds completely against the definition of "hosting".
Well, there's lots of things that I have learned there David and the pictures were good too.
Like the idea of the silver metal things moving along the bridge. Looks like a lovely city.
Very interesting post David! great photos and lots of wonderful info from your adopted country!
My cousin lived in Sydney for 6 years...
And referencing the title of your post I'm happy to see that there isn't any evidence of the crazy scientologist anywhere! haha
I would love to do that one day, just as soon as I save up enough to fly business class!
Love your narrative and your pictures, so interesting and great photos. Always enjoy a little Olympic trivia, my kids Dad was a silver medalist in the 64 Olympics in Japan. Thanks for sharing.
Very interesting post and very informative. That river cruise looks like a must-do when in town eh?
Interesting to learn that Australia has 'daylight saving'.
Oh great David, you have SUMMER while we have WINTER. lol.
Just you wait till next year haha.
Great post.....
Question for you David,-----but you will have to visit my post of Skywatch on our Thursday ---
Love the little yellow boat. And the figures on the bridge look fun to view. Thanks for showing us about Melbourne.
Fantastic images, David!
I could get melancholic about our approaching winter, but on the other hand, I very much love the fact that I don't have to live with Daylight Savings Time right now. It upsets my biorhythm way too much. ;-)
Thanks for the tour, I would love to go on that boat ride.
Cheers!
Regina In Pictures
Excellent perspectives on Melbourne!
I actually was there two days ago.
Not THAT Melbourne though. ;)
Cheers, Klaus
David: A wonderful post from your town Melborne. Did you catch the next boat?
Wonderful shots of the water and the boats and the bridge. I also did my river today but the light is totally different. You'll have to come and check it out. (On my Photologue blog)
Your photos bring everything to life...the water running neath the bridge seems to move, I can nearly see the water bobbing the boats about.
Sandi
With so many and varied months of daylight saving it makes it very confusing for your adjoining states! Nice shots of the Yarra.
love the artwork on the bridge...quite interesting. and the back story even more interesting.
thank you for sharing your wonderful pictures with all of us.
erin
Love the title, and the photos. Taking boat cruises through or around a new city is one of my favorite things to do. The statues on the bridge are very, very interesting and enjoyable.
It looks fun and warm.
They are extending our Daylight Savings, too. I hate it. I don't know what is wrong with light in the morning and dark at night. But I guess for tourism it is a good thing.
Let's go today
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