Labyrinth of Worlds

CuteOtter and were passing through Melbourne CBD from one grandparent to another and stopped for dinner near the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Carlton Gardens, on the edge of city. The gardens are an example of Victorian landscape design, with sweeping lawns, and a variety of European and Australian plants. The gardens contain the Royal Exhibition Building which was chosen as the site for the Federation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The building is representative of the financial wealth and pride that the city of Melbourne and state of Victoria had in the 1870s. To me, it represents where I did all my University exams! 🌳

You took the train to Werribee, home of the notorious cache, “Eagle Rock”, that has never been found. Eleven years old now. Sorry to say that you didn’t find it either. Werribee was established as an agricultural settlement in the 1850s, originally named Wyndham and later renamed Werribee in 1904.its on the far western fringe of Melbourne about halfway toward Geelong. The name is derived from Wirribi-yaluk, the Wathawurrung and Boonwurrung Aboriginal name for the Werribee River and meaning "backbone" or "spine". 🩻

You visited an Earthcache overlooking the Yarra River which runs through Melbourne today. The lower stretches of the Yarra are where Victoria's state capital Melbourne was established in 1835. From its source in the Yarra Ranges, it flows 242 kilometres west through the Yarra Valley before emptying into Hobsons Bay in Port Phillip Bay. The Yarra mouth including Swanson and Appleton docks are used for container shipping by the Port of Melbourne, which is the busiest on the continent. Hopefully my container of belongings from London will arrive at the docks in a week!

The river has been a major food source and meeting place for Indigenous Australians for thousands of years. Shortly after the arrival of European settlers, land clearing forced the remaining Wurundjeri people into neighbouring territories and away from the river. 🐟

Looking at more houses but passed by the Melbourne Cricket Ground (The MCG or just the G) on my way. The MCG is the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere and the world's largest cricket ground and has a seating capacity of over 100,000 people. It hosts a variety of major sporting events, including Australian Rules Football (AFL), cricket, rugby, and soccer, as well as large concerts and the 1956 Olympic Games. It is renowned for its importance in Australian sports culture, something very important to Australians. Walking on, I found this cache with you at The Royal Society of Victoria (RSV) , a scientific society founded in 1854 to ‘promote the understanding and utilisation of scientific knowledge for the benefit of the State of Victoria’. 🏟️

Into the centre of Melbourne for an event and then a tour of the State Library Victoria. I used to come here to study when I was at school. The dome room used to be dark and lit only by green desk lamps. Now that the roof windows have been fixed, it’s beautiful and light. It is Australia's oldest public library and one of the first free libraries in the world. It is also Australia's busiest public library and, as of 2023, the third busiest library globally.

Amongst the library’s collection are items related to infamous Victorian bushranger Ned Kelly, notably his iconic armour and the original Jerilderie Letter, a 56-page document of approximately 8,000 words. In it, Kelly aims to justify his actions, including the murder of three policemen in October 1878 at Stringybark Creek. He describes cases of alleged police corruption and calls for justice for poor rural families. The myth surrounding Kelly pervades Australian culture, and he is one of Australia's most recognised national symbols. 📚