There’s nothing wrong with indulging in a little nostalgia. What’s your favourite childhood memory of Melbourne?
Many things have changed in this city over the years, so which buildings, attractions and memories do you hold dear? What’s changed since then?
Share your answers and see who can surprise us with some forgotten memories of Melbourne.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
It is with out any doubt the butterfly section at the old museum when it was where the state library is. Actually the whole of that old museum was my favourite place in Melbourne. Cabinets of Curiosity. The second if I may say was sitting on the cushions of the Richmond Vahalla cinema all day on a Saturday for the matinees……in the chaos of heaps of other kids and icecream..imaging the rest….!
A pie and chips from the Myer or Coles cafateria every school holidays.
Mum and Dad dragging us to Trash and Trasure at the old Highpoint Drive In. Oh, and the Highpoint Drive In, saw many a classic movie there, Flashdance, Ghostbusters, ET etc!!!
Fireworks on the Yarra at the end of Moomba, when the sound of the bursts used to echo forever across the Jolimont yards.
Catching an old tram up Elizabeth St to QV markets and having hot jam donuts for the long train ride home. When I moved back to Melbourne 20 years later I ended up living next to the markets and having to avoid the donut van temptation every weekend :)
Going to see “Snow White” who was meeting children via a personal appearance in the Treasury Gardens. I took one look at her beautiful dark hair, white flowing dress and gorgeous face and started screaming in terror which eventually gave way to uncontrolled sobbing until my mother took me away smiling apologetically to the confused set of PR staff, children and Snow White herself. *shrugs. I have no idea why I did this, but it remains with me.
The Myer Cafeteria, paper show bags, red rattlers, blue rattlers, Moomba, The Rota at Luna Park, The Big Dipper at Luna Park, The Yellow Peril.
Living in the Southern Cross Hotel on Cecil Street in South Melbourne, with my grandparents and parents. I used to watch the city outside my window when I couldn’t sleep, I was like, 6 years old haha. And the smell of the water in the Crown Casino fountains (?). That one sounds weird, but it’s true. Oh, and the old school green and yellow trams :)
sitting on the window sill of puffing billy going to emerald lake eating jam tartssmelling the coal smoke from the stack.
I have many favourite childhood memories but the one that stands out for me was being taken by my father to Spencer Street Railway Station, Number 1 Platform for the arrival of the “Spirit of Progress” from Albury, pulled by a magnificent blue and gold S-class steam locomotive. Next to that would have to be the crowds and fireworks in St Kilda Road (near the Domain) following the arrival of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on their first visit to Melbourne in 1954, and of course the opening of the XVIth Olympic Games on 22nd November, 1956.
Wobbies World. But not actually going, just the ads on tv…
No 40 Zones or speed camera’s
Playing after school in Captain Cooks Cottage in the Fitzroy Gardens It was free then. Ranch Night at the pictures, Wednesday nights durinng the school holidays. My dad used to take me. The donut van at Port Melbourne, when we went to look at the cruise ships.
School excursions to the city were so exciting, all the people, and I loved the city square with all the waterfalls over the stairs, although not being able to play on them was frustrating!
Riding my bmx on the Nepean Hwy construction site.
Dancing for the Queen on the MCG in 1954. I was a fairy my friend was a spinning top. Going to the 1956 Olympics. Going to Yarra Park State School. Now not a school. Playing with friends in the street in East Melbourne. Swim training with Tom Donnett at the Richmond Pool. Also in the squad Bill Hunter.