Golden Mile Heritage Trail

The Golden Mile Heritage Trail is a walk I haven't actually done yet!......

.......I've seen most of the recommended buildings at some stage in my two and a half years here though so can heartily endorse it's merits!

It's a 4 kilometre walk in total though so I've no idea why it's been called the Golden MILE Heritage Trail!

This Melbourne walk is relatively (though not completely!) flat. The walk time obviously depends how long you stand looking at the buildings! Estimates range from 2 hours to 3.5 hours.

The walk starts from the Immigration Museum which is close to the alleged landing place of the first Europeans to arrive in Melbourne - both disputed facts by the way!

Check out the photo below so you'll recognise it, go down to the river from the Immigration Museum and you'll find the alleged landing spot with the plaque mentioning it's place in Melbourne's history.......

......Most Melburnians I've met don't even know about this place.

There's actually a little ceremony here every year which is well worth a visit.

When I came here during my first year in Melbourne I assumed the place would be packed with people but there couldn't have been more than about 200.

We were given tea and cakes (rather English I thought!), were able to sit down in proper seats under the canopy, heard a speech from the Mayor, watched the Australian flag being raised, watched some aboriginals playing music and ritual dancing and saw soldiers from the Historical Re-enactment Society carrying out a rifle volley and firing off a cannon over the river.

There was also a free tour of the Enterprize (a replica of the first ship to land here).

The event takes place on Melbourne Day......

.......Reminds me I must make up a web page about this day on my website as it was a really good event to watch and there are quite a few other free events on the same day too!......

...... Not sure if it's the same day every year or only on a weekend which is more likely. It's near the end of August, 30th August last year.

I seem to have gone off subject here!!......

.......Returning to the walk......

.......it goes from the Immigration Museum, along Flinders Lane then goes mainly along Collins Street which has a fascinating history and an abundance of building types and styles.....

......The route veers off to visit some of the lovely arcades, then on to Parliament House passing the Old Treasury, the Windsor Hotel and Princess Theatre.

It ends in the pretty Carlton Gardens which is home to the wonderful Royal Exhibition Building and is on the World Heritage List.

If you click on Golden Mile Heritage Trail you'll come to the Visit Victoria website......

.......write in Golden Mile Heritage Trail in the search box at top right hand side and you'll find a page where you can download a map of the route (Section 1) and print off information about all the places of interest on the route (Section 2).......

......Section 2 mentions a guided tour for $20 but look at the 'precinct' buttons on the top left.....

.......You can copy the route information from these 10 precinct buttons to take along with you (with the map) to do a self-guided walk.

I've got a couple of recommendations which you MUST add to this walk by the way......

......they rarely get mentioned but I think they're two of the best architectural sights in Melbourne - the ANZ Bank in Collins Street and the entrance lobby at 333 Collins Street ........

.......Don't forget!

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