To 505 April

 We decided to avoid driving on the Easter weekend, and to give ourselves a gap between driving days so headed for Melbourne at 0624 on 12 April.  Thanks to swapping back to normal time it was reasonably daylight by then, albeit rather cool (~7o C).  Genoa Rd was in quite good condition with a major pothole filled in and many unnecessary signs removed.  We didn't see another car on that stretch.  In fact by the time we got to Orbost (150km) we had only crossed with 10 vehicles, overtaken 2 and been passed by 1. 

The weather started to get ungood as we got towards Orbost.  As Frances took over occasional sprinkles of rain began and continued through her 2 hour spell to Rosedale.  We stopped to refill with diesel at a Mobil station in Bairnsdale where the price was only horrendous (309.9 c/l)) - in that town prices varied between that and 315.9c/l. The pumps for 95 octane were flagged 'Empty'.  There was a bit less traffic around, but not as dramatic as the first leg.  From Rosedale onwards the weather was awful, with rain varying from drizzle to bucketing, but we made it.  As we got on to Kingsway I noticed the fuel prices - 315.9c/l for diesel but 'only' 212.9c/l for regular unleaded.  

After unpacking I headed for the Prahran Market area.  On the way I decided to see if the Greek Orthodox Church was open for a look round.  After crossing the railway and getting to Grosvenor St I noticed a small Salvation Army building.

This is the church which was well locked up.  It seems only to be open on Fridays and Sundays from 0730 to 0930, so I might take a stroll down next weekend
While there a couple of folk who looked as thought they might know stuff turned up.  The reason they had come was because the woman's parents had been married in the church 65 years ago!  Her dad was Constantine and her mum Helen, so they matched the Saints after whom the church is named and who are shown on a banner.  
As well as chatting about the church it turned out the couple were interested in purchasing an apartment in The Muse, nearing completion at St Kilda Rd and Toorak Rd, so they had a few questions about the area as a place to live  My responses were pretty positive.

I revisited the church on Sunday 19th to see inside.  A service was happening so I didn't take any photographs.  One of the sidesmen (who was very welcoming) advised that the church was open during the week, but at irregular times as it depended on when the priest attended.  So I think we will have to call in 'on spec' when we go to Aldi and see if it is open.

There is a lot of street art in the area.  Snowball Lane has a number of garage doors most of which have been quite skillfully decorated.

These are on/near the junction of Barry St and Chapel St,

I have added a few more images from my visit on the 19th.  The first 2 are in Grosvenor St at the intersection with Snowball Lane.

The next three are an un-named lane off Commercial Rd. 


This statue (on Barry St behind the car park) is intriguing as there is no plaque to suggest who it is or what it is commemorating.  It looks as though the person is holding an Olympic Torch so perhaps dates to 1956?  I have sent a query to Stonnington Council and will ask at the Library when we visit later today.  (Neither of them has - so far - provided an answer.)
I also contacted the Prahran Mechanics Institute, who have an excellent library and historical section.  They were better at Google than me and came up with 2 references in Neos Cosmos and an instagram post.  The former is an excellent review of the Greek history of the area and includes a reference to the statue, bemoaning the fact that there is no plaque.  It also suggests it was originally located at Chapel on Chapel (a few 100 metres SE from the current location).  The latter post explains that it was a link between the Greek community and the 1956 Olympics and was a marker for the route of the torch relay of that event.

Looking out from the Winter Garden the Bay was very rough but the kite surfers looked to be having fun.  Less amusing was the very poor performance of AGPC in not having removed the Grandstands erected along Pit straight for the Grand Prix 5 weeks ago.
A shocking photo, through the tinted glass, but the white dots in the trees are the flock of Corellas which have moved into the Park.
We can see part of the Lake and in this image I can ID Black Swans and Great Cormorants!





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