More so Ray than myself, but we both pined for the smaller and quieter Melbourne, with one third of its 5,000,000 plus present population. Covid lockdowns gave us a taste of a very quiet Melbourne, and we decided perhaps we didn't want to turn back the clocks to a quieter Melbourne. But was it so quiet in our younger years? In my memory, traffic was so free flowing but was it? Generally yes, but clearly there were congested areas.
Perhaps Marine Parade, St Kilda in the early 70s was worse than it now is, with its current two lanes and bike lanes in both directions. It's an interesting photo. The single storey building to the left has gone, and I believe every building to the right has gone. No loss at all.
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And perhaps Nepean Highway in Rosebud was not always so quiet. But nowadays a freeway connecting to a major road to the east of Rosebud is in place, which has fixed the traffic problem on the beach road which has not fixed the problem on the beach road and it is worse than ever.
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I must share these photos with P. He'll probably remember those scenes quite well.
ReplyDeleteI think he will remember St Kilda, JayCee.
DeleteThe good old days. Memory is so subjective and I wonder how much of what I remember is true, or just true to me.
ReplyDeletePixie, which is why oral history is not a reliable record.
DeletePixie
ReplyDeleteThat is true, especially if you didn't have a driving licence back in the good old days.
But Andrew, thanks for the photos which provide good evidence. I remember when StKilda Junction had to be changed.
Hels, you go back just a bit further than I do. Ray remembered when High Street St Kilda was turned into the multi lane St Kilda Road, St Kilda, at the expense of buildings on the western side.
DeleteI remembered the first year I arrived in Australia over 32 years ago that there were no cars in Camberwell Junction or Bourke St on Saturday midday
ReplyDeleteRoentare, yes, the shops closed at noon on Saturday and did not reopen until Monday morning. But you know, we managed perfectly well with a commerce break at weekends.
DeleteMelbourne desperately needs a train line from the airport, it should have been built a long time ago. When I was picked up at Tulla the other day the driver said there was a tunnel entrance built years ago , he thought around where Virgin is . Guru Andrew is this so? I am still in love with the trams . The Domain interchange does look terrific, The landscaping is first class in the are surrounding it.
ReplyDeleteAnon, I've heard about the tunnel and I've heard it debunked. If it was there, the gov wouldn't be insisting on an above ground station to save money.
DeleteI think Anzac Station is terrific, and the surrounds, but not so good for tram passengers, with a clear glass small shelter, offering little protection from the sun. How many years will we have to wait for the PIDs to work?
Those photos are awesome; thank you for sharing. Be well, my dear.
ReplyDeleteThanks Darla. Luv ya.
DeleteI think we look at the past through Rose Colored glasses and oftentimes the picture is distorted.
ReplyDeleteUndoubtedly Bob. Our memories are nice but not necessarily accurate.
DeleteEdgewater Towers was and still is a bloody eyesore! And Rosebud is a nightmare. Especially in summer with all the campers on the foreshore.
ReplyDeleteYes and yes, Merlot. I can see Edgewater Towers from my bedroom and it does dominate. It was very interesting to visit at Open House a number of years ago. It cost a bomb to upgrade its fire worthiness.
DeleteI often Muse on the past sometimes with tears.... That is our superpower I suppose. Wishing you all the best, Andrew Aloha
ReplyDeleteCloudia, we all get the sads about the past at times, I think. But we go on and achieve a life beyond.
DeleteWhen I was growing up, musical groups like Sha Na Na, movies like Grease, and TV shows Happy Days presented the 1950s as a kind of Paradise Lost. And it wasn't just Big Media. My own parents assured me this was the case. For a while, I truly believed them, and felt I had missed out on something. Until I looked at it objectively, and realized that for a queer person as myself, and for so many other marginalized people, it would have been the Bad Old Days. Not that I don't understand how memories can go so awry. By most standards, the 1970s sucked, yet I find myself thinking of THAT era as the good old days. Funny what the aging process does to a person.
ReplyDeleteKirk, there were certainly some good in the past, such as neighbourly kindness, unless you were black or gay. Even gay was generally ok if you didn't shout it out.
DeleteThe 70s was a revolutionary decade, but I don't think much progress happened until the underrated 80s.
The good old days is a myth.
Thank you, Andrew. I always enjoy learning more about your country.
ReplyDeleteAh yes Deb, we have the same traffic problems as the rest of the world.
DeleteAuusies are a beach-loving people, traffic to and from all the beaches is always going to be problematic.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are probably right River, although I guess nowadays many like to just stay home with their aircon. That would be me.
DeleteInteresting to see photos of the past. Not as many people back then and it amazing how the landscapes changes for all kinds of reasons.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, yes landscapes change sometimes for the better as in this case, but not always.
DeleteAt our age, we can play, "I remember when".
ReplyDelete