Ol' Man River

Paul Robeson Would Have Loved This City

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Where's Batman when you need him? Naaaaah, relax, this ain't Gotham City and there's no sign of The Joker or The Riddler. This is Melbourne, the graceful southern city that is the capital of Victoria.

But why the reference to Batman? Because a bloke called John Batman chose this site, famously saying it would be a great place for a village. Not surprisingly, that village is now a world-class city, so I guess Batman knew a thing or two about picking a great spot.

I took this shot from the pedestrian footbridge that links the north and south banks of the Yarra River, the same stretch of water up which Batman travelled to find a suitably inhabitable spot. To my right, when I hit the shutter, was the CBD and Flinders Street Station. To my left was Southbank, famous for its promenade, its restaurants, Eureka Tower, its office buildings and its proximity to the true heart of Melbourne - the vibrant arts precinct.

Every time I fly back to Melbourne from a trip interstate or overseas, I give Batman a nod of approval. Come on over and you'll see why he was right. Let me know before you get here and I'll take you to Batman Avenue. No kidding ....

Visit the creative team behind That's MyWorld Tuesday.

Oil’s Well That Ends Well

All Part Of The Service

A motorist sent his "Batman" Lamborghini on a 10,000-kilometre round trip to London for an oil change - at a cost of more than $40,000. The $350,000 vehicle was flown from Qatar to London and back. The Murcielago LP640, a two-seater coupe, features in the film The Dark Knight.

FOOTNOTE: Coupé d’etat.

The Crepe Crusader

This Ain't Gotham City, Robin, It's Melbourne

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

This photograph is for Hammer, who told me some time ago that he is a Batman fan. This street sign is not a Photoshop effort; it's a real dinky-di, genuine picture. You see, John Batman was the founder of Melbourne. The historic building on the left is the old headquarters of the Herald and Weekly Times. CityLink, in case you're wondering, is the integrated tollway system that encompasses all the city's different freeways. Normal street signs here are white on a dark green background, while CityLink signage is yellow on blue.