One Year of Living in Melbourne in Photos

I can’t believe it has already been a year since I boarded a flight out of Brisbane without a return ticket. I’m celebrating one year of living in Melbourne this week, and I can’t believe how much has happened already.

Moving has been one of the most challenging but most rewarding things I’ve ever done. I’ve made wonderful new friends, have had a year full of amazing work opportunities and am enjoying seeing more of a part of Australia I’d neglected before. I learned pretty quickly that moving is much harder than travelling but it’s been so worth it.

I’ve already talked a lot about what I like and don’t like about living in Melbourne in my 6 month recap of living here, so today I just wanted to share some (read: one million) photos that reflect the past year in a new city.

I acknowledge the Boon Wurrung and Woiwurrung people as the First Nations owners of the lands now recognised as Melbourne. I pay respect to their Elders, lores, customs and creation spirits. I recognise that these lands have always been places of great natural beauty, culture and community. 

PS – Planning a trip to Melbourne? Check out my Melbourne Travel Guide.

Melbourne from Eureka Sky Tower

Melbourne Laneway-0025

Art, culture & events

Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital. I’ve been to more shows, exhibitions and events this year than I probably have every other year of my life put together! Going to a cultural festival, show or event has become the norm rather than the exception, and it seems to be the way for a broad demographic of people here. Melbourne is known for having high participation rates, as far as events, festivals and cultural life goes, which I think is a really nice thing. Highlights for me include Andy Warhol – Ai Wei Wei at the NGV; musicals like Sweeney Todd, Cats and Nice Work if You Can Get It; and the Night Noodle Markets at Birramung Mar.

Andy Warhol Ai Wei Wei NGV Melbourne

Regent Theatre Collins St Melbourne

Arts Centre Melbourne Summer

NGV Melbourne

NGV Melbourne

Anzac Day in Fed Square Melbourne
Anzac Day Installation in Fed Square

20151120_Melbourne_0035

Melbourne Night Noodle Markets

Friends & family

My boyfriend and I moved out of home, interstate and in together at the same time. I’m sure I’m not the easiest person to live with at times, particularly when I’m trying to find my feet in a new city. Moving to Melbourne is one of the best decisions I have ever made, and despite missing my family in Brisbane terribly, it has been exciting to start a new chapter of my life in another city.  I’m so glad we could make this move together!

Madame Brussels Rooftop Bar Melbourne

I’ve made new friends this year, and I love them to bits. The past year would have been nowhere near as fun without them and I’m so grateful to have such wonderful friends to explore Melbourne with.

Madame Brussels Rooftop Bar Melbourne

Another huge perk of moving to Melbourne has been spending more time with my uncles, Matt & Thomas. I’ve loved seeing them more regularly and feel very lucky that I’ve had such wonderful people to help me settle in. They know Melbourne like the back of their hand – even after a year of living here, they are still taking me to cool bars in my own neighbourhood that I’ve never heard of!

Family in Melbourne South Melbourne

Finally, my friends and family from Brisbane have been amazing this year. From Skype dinner dates, weekly phone calls and the occasional, but very much appreciated, visit, I feel lucky that my relationships with my friends & family from Brisbane haven’t suffered during the move. It’s not as easy to stay in touch, but I’m super appreciative of the ones who have made the effort. Couldn’t have done it without them either.

Untitled design (2)MelbourneIMG_6501

Laneways & Arcades

Melbourne is famous for its street art-covered laneways and hidden bars but it doesn’t get enough credit for the pretty arcades which tunnel through city blocks. I love the contrast in the city between old and new, elegant and edgy. Check out Melbourne’s laneways & arcades in black and white or Photos of the Week #1 for more photos of the city.

New graffiti Hosier Lane Melbourne Monsters Inc Graffiti Hosier Lane Melbourne

Royal Arcade Laneway Melbourne

Flinders Lane Street Art Melbourne
Flinders Lane

Rainbow street art alleyway windsor

Melbourne's laneways Royal Arcade
Royal Arcade
Union Lane Melbourne
Union Lane, Melbourne
Star Wars Street Art in Hosier Lane Melbourne
Star Wars Street Art in Hosier Lane

Coffee, brunch & cocktails

In the past year, I’ve spent a lot of lazy mornings and evenings unintentionally matching my flat white to my purse, catching up with friends over wine with city views, slurping down freakshakes or savouring bizarrely-flavoured cocktails.

Matcha Freakshake at Cafe Lafayette Port Melbourne
Matcha Freakshake at Cafe Lafayette, Port Melbourne
Eau de Vie Melbournes best cocktails
Popcorn cocktail at Eau de Vie

Brunch is my favourite meal of the day. My boyfriend and I always make time for a brunch on the weekend and we rarely go out for dinner – we’d rather save a dinner out for a special occasion and go to a handful of our few favourite places.

Some of my favourite brunch dishes this year have been the famous ricotta hotcake at The Kettle Black, the My Mexican Cousin at St Ali and the pumpkin smash at Giddiup. Half the time, I’ll sheepishly order avocado on sourdough with poached eggs, ignoring the silent derision of my waiter. It’s simple, but some morning there are things only a pulverised avocado, crusty sourdough and runny eggs will fix.

Coffee & Newspaper at World Bar Southbank Melbourne

Drinks at Fatto in Melbourne
Fatto Bar & Cantina, Arts Centre

Coffee at Cafe Lafayette Melbourne

Rose at Fatto Southbank Melbourne

Kettle Black Ricotta Hotcake Melbourne
Ricotta Hotcake at the Kettle Black
Cafe Melbourne Arbory
Coffee at Arbory

Cocktail jugs at Madame Brussels Melbourne

My Mexican Cousin Brunch at St Ali South Melbourne
My Mexican Cousin at St Ali, South Melbourne
Smalls Wine Bar South Melbourne
Smalls, South Melbourne
Brunch at Proper & Sons Melbourne
Proper & Sons at the South Melbourne Markets

Arbory Afloat Floating Bar Melbourne

Being by the water: The Yarra River & the Bayside

I was sad to leave Queensland’s beaches behind, but as it turns out, you’re never far away from the water in Melbourne. Imagine my surprise when I realise that there are beaches in South Melbourne and that parts of the bayside have water as clear as the Italian Riviera. The Yarra is tiny, so it’s much cleaner than the Brisbane River, with a lot of interesting architecture on either side to complement the view.

Yarra River MelbourneArbory Breakfast MelbourneMelbourne skyline from SouthbankPonyfish Island MelbournePonyfish Island Melbourne

St Kilda, South Melbourne, Black Rock, Brighton and Parkdale are just a handful of bayside suburbs and spending the morning by the water is the perfect mini escape from the city. Across the bay, Williamstown has beautiful views across the marina to the city. It’s only a 15-minute drive from the city, but it feels much further away.

Pier at South Melbourne Beach
South Melbourne Beach
South Melbourne Beach
South Melbourne Beach
Black Rock Beach Bayside Melbourne
Black Rock
Sail boats in Williamstown
Williamstown
Brighton Bathing Boxes Melbourne
The famous Bathing Boxes on Dendy Beach, BrightonBrighton Bathing Boxes Melbourne Brighton Bathing Boxes Melbourne
Parkdale, Melbourne Bayside | www.thewanderbug.com
Parkdale, Melbourne

My first real autumn!

Brisbane barely has a winter, but it definitely does not have a real autumn. Every time I left the house, I couldn’t help but gawk at the fiery golden foliage illuminating streets and parks. I know not to wish away a warm day, but I’m super excited for autumn again this year.

Carlton Gardens, Melbourne | www.thewanderbug.com
Carlton Gardens

Autumn in Melbourne | www.thewanderbug.com

Melbourne | www.thewanderbug.com
Autumn view from Arbory
Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne | www.thewanderbug.com
Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens. Australia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Listed building

Melbourne | www.thewanderbug.comwww.thewanderbug.com

Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne | www.thewanderbug.com
Royal Botanic Gardens

Discovering the true meaning of winter

Turns out, growing up in Queensland gives you a delightfully warped sense of what cold weather is. Let’s just say that I do not “winter” gracefully, but I did manage to find the beauty in it – at least sometimes! Psyching myself up for another long winter this year, with a ClassPass membership, a growing list of wine bars and an unnervingly long winter wardrobe wishlist in my arsenal.

Queen Vic Markets Winter Night Markets Melbourne
Winter Night Markets at the Queen Victoria Markets
Melbourne | www.thewanderbug.com
Chuckle Park, Little Collins St
Ponyfish Island Melbourne in winter
Wintery views from Ponyfish Island, Melbourne

NGV Melbourne

Spring in the city

Sweet relief! Truth be told, we skipped out on the last month and a half of winter and went to New York. By the time we were back, blue skies, green leaves and sunshine had returned to the city and I fell in love with Melbourne all over again. The city is particularly joyful in spring.

Picnic in Fitzroy Gardens Melbourne
First weekend back in Melbourne – picnic in the Fitzroy gardens!

Spring on Swanston St MelbourneSpring in MelbourneHuxtaburger FitzroyFlowers at South Melbourne Market

South Melbourne

Summer in Melbourne, or, the year I slow-cooked my internal organs

After slinking through a few scorching 42 degree days, I resolved to not utter a WORD of complaint about winter until at least June. That’s a three-month handicap on my 2015 weather whinging.

On the few days that it’s between 20 and 35 degrees, it’s gorgeous. People really make the most of the good weather here!

beautiful Melbourne in summer

Melbourne Laneway-0114

Flower Stalls Swanston St Melbourne

Genevieve
The day I learned to never complain about winter

Madame Brussels Rooftop Bar Melbourne

Exploring Victoria & Tasmania

Victoria is a tiny state packed with very diverse regions, making it perfect for day trips and weekend breaks. We went to Ballarat, a major country town in the Goldfields region, to visit Sovereign Hill. Sovereign Hill is an award-winning open-air museum, built like a replica of a Gold Rush mining town. The Australian Gold Rush is a really important part of Australia’s history. It drew free immigrants from all over the world to Australia, mostly to the two major Gold Rush towns that sprang up, Ballarat and Bendigo, which are still lined with elegant buildings, funded by gold. It also brought a lot of wealth to Melbourne, making it the richest city in the world at the time.

Sovereign Hill, Ballarat | www.thewanderbug.comBallarat, Victoria | www.thewanderbug.com

We spent a day exploring the Mornington Peninsula, visiting Mornington and Sorrento. It was the middle fo winter, so it was too cold for a swim! I’d like to go back to the region, to visit some of the wineries in Red Hill.

Sorrento Mornington PeninsulaSorrento Daytrip Small

We didn’t get to the Great Ocean Road or Yarra Valley, probably the two most famous regions of Victoria,  but they are non-negotiables in my second year here. I’ve got a glamping trip planned outside Daylesford and I’m also keen to visit the hot springs at Hepburn Springs. Fingers crossed!

We also hopped across the Bass Strait to Tasmania, for a weekend in Hobart. Travelling to Tasmania and South Australia is much cheaper from Melbourne than Brisbane, so I want to take more advantage of that this year.

Salamanca Markets Hobart
Salamanca Markets, Hobart

Have you been to Melbourne? Where is the best place you’ve ever moved to?

One Year of Living in Melbourne in Photos

7 thoughts on “One Year of Living in Melbourne in Photos

  1. Hi Genevieve. I found your blog because I’ve become a blogger and was writing about travel. Then realised I knew you. I was in the library at your primary school! Wonderful to see your work – and it’s so good. I love reading it. I’ve become a keen blogger (franstraveltales) writing about my travels and spend way too much time reading other blogs. I’ve just returned from a few days in Melb do enjoyed your latest post. Thanks.

    1. Wow! So nice to hear from you, Fran. Thank you so much, so glad you like it 🙂 I’ve just had a look at your blog too, it’s great – it looks like you’re a very busy traveller, you’ve been to so many interesting places!

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