george's tale - australia, home: Yes, Melbourne

Today I'll cover an interesting and important street from Melbourne's CBD - Bourke Street from Parliament Train Station to William Street. Why is it interesting and important ? Well, the major stores from Melbourne have a presence here - Myer, David Jones, Target, JB HIFI, etc, and also major events of Melbourne are organized here - like the Myer Christmas parade.

(photos from Monday 14/02/2011)

Palace Theatre
The Palace Theatre (also known as The Palace), is an entertainment venue established in 1860.

An old building on Bourke Street - the Job Warehouse

Bourke Street - view at 8am - nothing do to with the phrase 'busier than Bourke Street'...

The Salvation Army building

The Irish Pub

Australian Post Building / Medicare Centre

The arcade from Bourke Street to Little Collins Street - a good place to get a coffee.

Mid City Cinema

Bikes for rent in Melbourne - you can find them almost everywhere.

Commonwealth Banking Corporation - looks like a fortress

Many other stores / sho

The Target Store on Bourke Street

The main part of the Bourke Street - in the back the white MYER store.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia building in the middle.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (the building on the right)

David Jones

David Jones was founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. It currently has 37 stores located in most Australian states and territories. David Jones' main department store rival is Myer.

Myer ....

Myer is Australia's largest department store chain, retailing a broad range of merchandise including women's, men's and children's clothing, footwear and accessories; cosmetics and fragrance; homewares; electrical; furniture and bedding; toys; books and stationery; food and confectionery; and travel goods.

Hiding in front of the Myer store - the Royal Arcade.
Royal Arcade is a heritage shopping arcade in the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria. Originally constructed in 1869, the arcade connects Little Collins Street to the Bourke Street Mall, with a perpendicular passage running to Elizabeth Street in the west. It also connects to the smaller Hub Arcade near the Little Collins Street end.

Originally designed by Charles Webb, the arcade features a high glass roof and windowed stores. At the south end, the arcade features effigies of mythical figures Gog and Magog and a clock which chimes each hour. The arcade was restored between 2002-04 which resulted in additional natural light and consistency of the shopfronts.

It is a significant Victorian era arcade, recorded on the Victorian Heritage Register. In addition, Melbourne's Golden Mile heritage walk runs through the arcade.

Along with Melbourne's other arcade, the Block Arcade, and Melbourne's lanes, it is a tourist icon of the city. Royal Arcade is famous for its fashion stores as well as specialty stores such as tarot card reading store.