Melbourne’s weather is notorious. The best advice you can give someone is to be prepared for all four seasons in the one day. It’s warm and the sun may be shining but an hour later, it’s all changed. The weather has turned and it is now cold and wet but don’t worry, the sun may be back in a couple of hours.
There had been a light drizzle when I started walking along Southbank from the Exhibition Centre to the Arts Centre, but this didn’t last long. It left a fresh and sparkling glow to the city. The film of water covering the ground reflected the bare leaved trees.
Clouds were slowly moving over the city on the other side of the river….
……but every now and again the sun shone through long enough to brighten the arch of the footbridge.
I passed a row of Melbourne hire bikes colourfully placed next to the yellow foot bridge leading across the river.
……and headed to the  Arts Centre which was crowned by vivid blue skies.  I could have been in a different country!
I’d come to see the giant bouquet of pink gladioli that had been presented to Melbournians by the government as a way of thanking everyone for their patience whilst Hamer Hall, their concert hall, was rebuilt.  Aptly it was presented by Barry Humphries, better known as Dame Edna, the Queen of gladiolis,  whose show was having it’s last performance in Melbourne. The bouquet, standing 13.5 meters tall was only here for a week , but everyone was enjoying it so much that it is likely to be back for a repeat performance.
Then the heavens opened!
Do you have a fun sculpture in your city?
Ha – I love the gladiiolis reflected in the pavement – so creative. Your photos take me back to when I lived in Melbourne as a teenager. Melbourne never changes, in that the weather always changes!
Thanks Jan. It was incredible to think that it had been raining ten minutes prior to taking the photo of the gladioli…typical Melbourne!
You’re right – some things never change!!
Ah Melbourne. Kinda my home town too (Geelong actually). Despite the weather …. it is still my favourite city! Thanks for sharing it’s beauty!
I’m actually a Perth girl Vicki, so I still find the weather here very fickle but I’m getting used to it. Melbourne’s a great city. Glad you liked the post. Thanks for your comments.
Beautiful photos, especially the first one! Ahh I’ll miss dame Edna and her gladdys
Thanks Sarah. Shame you missed the gladies- they looked fabulous next to the Arts Centre.
Those reflections caused by the rain are amazing and you captured them so well, too. I need to experiment more with the rain – although I think we’ve got a good few weeks before we have any chance of rain, here. 🙂
Julia
Thanks Julia. It was one of those days when the photos worked and thankfully there were not too many people about so the reflections could be seen. Sounds as though it has been quite hot in Turkey- your turn will come!!
Reflections make for great photos don’t they? I love Barry Humphreys and I have been to every live performance he has done in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. I have all his books. We even went to see him on Broadway. I have been to every book signing he has done here……I think I may be a groupie!
I would love to see his last show.
Well I never Debra. A Barry Humphries groupie! He’s going to the Gold Coast at the end of August so there’s still time to see the last show yet!!You’d have loved the vase of gladies!!
What a contrast of weather! I love the picture of the reflection of the flowers in the puddle….so pretty!
The weather is always a surprise in Melbourne but on this day I didn’t mind!Thanks Jeannie for your comments.
Love those flowers! I always think of Australia as just being hot, although I really do know that’s not the case.
This is the first day in over two weeks that the temp has fallen below 30cel in Daejeon, and I’m sure that was only for moments!
The winter here can be very cold here, Nancie. It’s often the humidity combined with the heat that makes it so unpleasant in Asia, isn’t it. Very soon we’ll be having those sort of temperatures and you’ll have winter. The flowers are a bit of fun – it’s a shame they didn’t stay longer than a week
I always think of Melbourne as being hot and sunny all the time. I think that’s usually the only time people take pictures so enjoyed seeing these. 🙂 Also, LOVED the pictures of the pink flowers.
Melbourne changes all the time! I think it’s cold and wet more than hot and sunny but having said that I’ve had some beautiful days here this time! The flowers are a hoot aren’t they!
I really like this article and loves the pictures. The flowers are just awesome and very pretty.
Thanks Sarah. I can’t think of another city other than Melbourne where you can experience four seasons in one day. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Nice Clicks, Especially the flowers… Melbourne is really a wonderful city to visit in Australia.
Thanks you Rupert. I spend quite a bit of time in Melbourne and love it too.