A sunny and mild day saw 17 members and guests complete the Lonsdale street walk that was started last month. The distance was a bit over 3 kilometres.
The first point of interest was at the archaeological displays on the corner of Madam Brussels Lane and Little Lonsdale. This was the site of Melbourne's 19th-century red-light district. Archaeologists have unearthed hundreds of thousands of artefacts from early cottages and hotels,
Next stop was at Wesley Place which is one of Melbourne's largest urban renewal projects. It seamlessly integrates a restored mid-19th-century, Gothic Revival church complex with a modern 35-storey commercial tower and expansive green spaces, preserving a vital piece of the city's ecclesiastical and social history. It has an old olive tree planted in 1875 and relocated to its current position in 1988
Finally we went to the State Library and looked at various display galleries and the 4th floor of the domed reading room, including Ned Kelly's armour and a Lego model with a grumpy looking librarian saying"Shhhhooshhhhh"! (see picture on the left)
Coffee this time was at Ritz-Carlton hotel on the 80th floor. It was a bit pricey (coffee $9, tea $10, hot chocolate $12, cake $18) but worth it for the view (see picture above).