Another weekend in Melbourne finishes, and another period of wistful longing to move there begins. I keep banging on about it to everyone - I'm always asked the question WHY I love it so much and have always answered with the same broad statements without actually really thinking it out. This time I went with a view to try and figure out the reasons with a little more specific clarity. I've tried to separate the tangible from the subjective, but I may have mixed this a little as the crossover can be vague (like that last sentence)
Specific
- City Design: I love the CBD and the extended inner-city grid system. I love the wide tree lined boulevards and the ease with which they flow and integrate with trams and cars alike
- Architecture: a mix of old & stately, and new & daring. Grand old buildings restored and maintained sit comfortably beside or under challenging and interesting structures and shapes that provide visual stimulation at most CBD streets. Inner city suburban grandeur mixes with funkier & trendy shabby chic with ease and style
- Trams: love them love them love them
- Parks & Trees: they are dotted around everywhere and lush and green. I am aware that Julian Clary also liked this feature of Melbourne, and would like to disassociate myself from his reasons for admiration :)
- Climate: I like real seasons. I know a lot of Australians don't seem to get that, but I like my summers to be warm or hot and my winters to be cool or COLD. I like the visible changes to my environment in the transition seasons of Spring and Autumn. It grounds me.
Non-Specific
- Vibe: yes I know it's a cliché for Melbourne but the reality is it is there and easy to find. It's not self conscious. It's not try-hard. And I pick it up and feel it whenever I am there.
- Social: another cliché perhaps, but the small bars, laneway restaurants and intimate cocktail lounges are soooooooooooo much more appealing to me than loud, brash booze barns. I'm too old to get excited about standing in some huge crowded bar with ear bashing music that I don't like, yelling to my friends and getting bumped around by the constantly moving and shifting crowd.
- People: don't seem to be so self obsessed or cliquey. (this is a very subjective view I know - but it's just how I perceive it. Attitude is noticeable by it's absence in my experience). Theatre, live music and comedy festivals engage the citizens in a way not seen by me here.
- Ease of movement: using trains, trams and buses to get around, the city and it's features just seem to be so accessible.
Of course, the undercurrent throughout all of this is an implied comparison to my current home of Sydney. And of course, that does feature in a lot of the points above, and I could now rattle off a load of reasons why I am over Sydney and my frustrations with the city and State of NSW in general. But that would be no surprise to anyone so suffice to say there are a few key reasons why I don't think I've ever really connected with this place.
First - I'm not a beach person (mostly). One of the key reasons for living in Sydney is the amazing beaches right on our doorstep. But this has never been a drawcard for me. Second - it's too pocketed. There are parts of this city that I love to spend time in but getting there/getting back is a nightmare or bloody expensive. Third - whilst Sydney has probably the most beautiful natural harbour of any city in the world, unless you live near it (rich) or use a ferry to get across it regularly (lucky), it's somewhat too easily forgotten. And beyond its glamour and appeal lies a hotch potch of dead CBD streets and raucous superpubs around The Rocks or George Street that attract unattractive groups.
And yes maybe I would like a change. How many further reasons or analysis should one engage in before a decision can be made on a reasonable level of consideration?
So a great weekend in many respects, not least of which forcing me to define a direction and point of view on this topic which has lingered with me for years. Here's hoping I can now activate this ambition someday.