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awesomesheppard1 · 9 months

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Sliding Doors: A Window to Modern Living

In the realm of home design and architecture, sliding doors have emerged as a contemporary and versatile solution that seamlessly blends form and function. These doors, known for their sleek appearance and space-saving attributes, have become a symbol of modern living. In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits and design possibilities of sliding doors that make them a popular choice for homeowners and architects alike.

Space Optimization:

One of the primary advantages of sliding doors is their space-saving design. Unlike traditional swing doors that require clearance space when opened, sliding doors Geelong glide horizontally along a track. This means you don't need to worry about furniture placement or obstructed pathways. Sliding doors are ideal for rooms with limited space or for creating an open-concept living area.

Abundant Natural Light:

Sliding doors are designed with expansive glass panels, allowing natural light to flood your interior spaces. This not only reduces the need for artificial lighting during the day but also creates a bright and inviting atmosphere. The large glass surface of sliding doors offers unobstructed views of the outdoors, bringing the beauty of your surroundings into your living space.

Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Connection:

If you have a picturesque garden, patio, or balcony, sliding doors can provide a seamless connection between your indoor and outdoor spaces. When opened, they invite the outdoors in, making it easy to step out for a breath of fresh air or to host outdoor gatherings. This connection between the indoors and outdoors enhances your living experience, especially in areas with pleasant weather.

Versatility in Design:

Sliding doors are incredibly versatile in terms of design and aesthetics. They can be customized to match your interior decor and architectural style. Whether you prefer a minimalist and contemporary look or a more traditional appearance, sliding doors can be tailored to your preferences. You can choose from various frame materials, including aluminum, wood, or vinyl, and select from an array of finishes and glass types to achieve the desired look.

Enhanced Security:

Modern sliding doors are equipped with advanced locking mechanisms and safety features, ensuring the security of your home. These features provide peace of mind, especially in areas where security is a concern. You can also opt for impact-resistant glass to further enhance the safety of your sliding doors.

Energy Efficiency:

Sliding doors are designed with energy efficiency in mind. Many models feature double or triple glazing and advanced insulation materials, helping to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature year-round. This energy efficiency not only reduces your heating and cooling costs but also contributes to a more environmentally friendly home.

Ease of Operation:

Operating sliding doors is a breeze. They move smoothly along tracks, and many models come with easy-glide systems that require minimal effort to open and close. This ease of operation makes sliding doors an excellent choice for all age groups, including those with mobility challenges.

In conclusion, sliding doors are more than just functional entryways; they are a window to modern living. With their space-saving design, abundant natural light, seamless indoor-outdoor connection, versatility in design, security features, energy efficiency, and ease of operation, sliding doors have become a staple in contemporary home design. Whether you're renovating your existing space or building a new home, consider incorporating sliding doors to enhance both the aesthetics and functionality of your living environment. These doors not only elevate the design of your space but also improve your quality of life by connecting you with the outdoors and creating a sense of openness and tranquility.

#sliding door geelong

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bluepebbleslandscapingandfencing · 1 year

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The Importance of Artificial Turf in Different Settings

Are you having problems maintaining your garden but still want to make it look beautiful? The process can be extremely daunting, and your money is mostly likely to be spent in huge amounts. So, to avoid all these troubles, keep your home settings simple with artificial turf in Geelong. Dealing with an extreme drought is very challenging, and you may end up achieving nothing even if you work on the maintenance of your garden by spending a lot of both money and time. So, opt for artificial turf grass to restore the look of your garden, balcony, and roof terrace. Below are a few factors that may help you understand its importance in your home’s various settings.

Gardens and Landscaping

If you have a big lawn and it is used for your kids and dogs to play and run endlessly, it becomes hard for you to maintain the grass and keep it in good condition. In this case, artificial turf is the perfect solution for your lawn on all kinds of occasions. With the installation of this, you can enjoy relaxing and playing in your garden every day without worrying about any damage.

Playgrounds

When it comes to the use of natural grass, particularly in a playground, it is most likely to get damaged. The grass at that time undergoes extensive use, mainly by kids, and that is their fun area after all. Artificial turf is the most ideal solution for playgrounds, as it is strong and can be used for various purposes.

Urban Spaces

Every living environment deserves to have greenery because "green" is undoubtedly a feel-good factor. Nothing can be compared with a lovely green field of grass when it comes to brightening up and charming public areas. Artificial turf is known for its extreme endurance; it is tough and robust enough to deal with any situations, and incorporating artificial grass in Geelong into your living space can enhance your lifestyle.

Now that you know the importance of artificial turf in different settings in your home, make up your mind and bring it in. Your house needs the ideal uplift, and the artificial turf is perfect for it.

#Artificial turf geelong #Artificial grass #Natural turf #Artificial Grass Installation #Turf Grass Installation #Natural grass

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dustandshineservices · 2 years

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Are you looking for the Affordable House Cleaning Services in Geelong? Then, contact us now at Dust and Shine Services. We are the trusted and fully insured Local House Cleaners ensuring to Clean your Homes in top to Bottom Cleanliness from Window Cleanings, Bathroom Cleanings, Balcony Cleanliness, Gardening services, more.

#housecleaners #domesticcleanings #cleaningservicesgeelong

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architectnews · 3 years

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Melbourne Architecture News: Victoria Buildings

Melbourne Building News 2021, Victoria Architecture Photos, Architects, Australia Property News

Melbourne Architecture News

Key Australian Architectural Developments in Victoria: Built Environment Updates

post updated 17 July 2021

Melbourne Architectural News

Building News Melbourne, chronological list:

New Melbourne Buildings : current, chronological list

Melbourne Architecture Tours by e-architect

Melbourne Homes photograph : Peter Bennetts

29 June 2021 STH BNK by Beulah Design: ASPECT Studios with Grant Associates image courtesy of architects office STH BNK by Beulah Melbourne As momentum continues to build on Beulah’s unprecedented STH BNK by Beulah development, world renowned urban design practice Grant Associates and international design practice, ASPECT Studios, have been formally announced as the project’s landscape architects.

22 Jun 2021 Council House 2 Design: City of Melbourne photograph : Dianna Snape Council House 2 The CH2 office building was designed in collaboration with City of Melbourne to be a holistic system with its occupants as participants. The design follows a model that promotes a more interactive role between the city and nature.

21 Jun 2021 600 Church Street, Cremorne Architects: Wood Marsh photograph : Willem-Dirk du Toit 600 Church Street Building Sitting in contrast to the industrial grit of Cremorne as a progressive commercial building, 600 Church Street reinforces its corner allotment, boldly ascending as a monolithic crystalline glass formation. The building’s faceted outer shell is an intentionally ambiguous interplay with scale.

15 Jun 2021 Craftworks Office Building, Abbotsford Design: CHT Architects photograph : Binyan Studios Craftworks Office Building Holistic eco-urban commercial design fosters culture, community and collaboration.The exciting new nine-storey Craftworks project promises to create its own “creative ecosystem” in which commercial tenants and the community come together to share ideas, communal spaces and a holistic philosophy that fosters true community, culture, wellbeing and sustainability.

8 Jun 2021 There Cafe Design: Ewert Leaf photo : Jenah Piwanskis There Cafe Interior Conceived as a shared meeting place, There Cafe is an uplifting and authentic hospitality proposition harnessed by the strength of its architectural setting. Housed in a 19th-century wool store, the pared-back interior celebrates the site’s industrial character while softly layering new interventions; an evolution of its historic identity.

1 Jun 2021 Strathalan Integrated Community, Macleod, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Design: Billard Leece Partnership photo : Christine Francis Strathalan Integrated Community Strathalan Integrated Community offers luxury retirement living designed to facilitate a joyful and active ageing journey. BLP have worked closely with Baptcare to design a luxury boutique retirement living apartment complex in Macleod, complete with beautifully appointed community facilities.

17 May 2021 Still Light at 80 Collins Street Architects: Woods Bagot photo courtesy of Ramus 80 Collins Street Building

20 May 2021 Apartment 26 Design: Shelley Roberts Architects Apartment 26 Interior Tucked down a laneway, the Apartment 26 was reached only after proceeding up a very long set of stairs. From the beginning Manton Lane posed difficult site conditions, not least when a 5 m long stainless-steel kitchen bench had to be craned in through the balcony doors.

14 May 2021 St James Park Residences, Yarra Street, Hawthorn, Victoria Design: CHT Architects photograph : Oliver Lagasca Photography @olp_otography St James Park Residences, Hawthorn The recently completed St James Park boutique apartment project in Hawthorn, employs thoughtful, integrated design to maximise the site’s stunning park-front location. Located at just five kilometres from the Melbourne CBD – each of the 19 residences in the five-level development was individually designed to provide uninterrupted views of the site’s adjacent and leafy St James Park.

15 May 2021 The Orchards Architects: CHT Architects photograph : Kane Jarrod The Orchards Homes This residential retirement community that incorporates an on-site aged care facility reflects a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety by offering a ‘whole of ageing’ option for older Australians. Owned and managed by non-for-profit organisation Baptcare, The Orchards offers residents a range of specialised care and support services designed to help residents remain living independently for as long as possible.

27 Mar 2021 Coburg piazza, former Pentridge Prison, Coburg Quarter Architects: ASPECT Studios photo courtesy of architects office Coburg piazza at former Pentridge Prison The former Pentridge Prison in the northern suburb of Coburg has undertaken a transformation, turning a decommissioned landmark of controversial history into a new residential and retail precinct.

4 Mar 2021 Arbory Bar & Restaurant Architects: Jackson Clements Burrows Architects (JCB) photo © John Gollings Arbory Bar & Restaurant The brief for the Arbory Bar & Restaurant was to convert a disused rail line into a publicly accessible contemporary restaurant and bar venue that would not only sit comfortably within the surrounding heritage context but also contribute positively to the local residents and the tourist experience of Melbourne.

3 Mar 2021 Mercedes Me Melbourne Architects: Jackson Clements Burrows Architects (JCB) photo © Peter Clarke Mercedes Me Melbourne Store This is one of seven concept stores globally. Situated on the ground level of the Rialto, on the corner of Collins and King Streets, the site occupies a highly prominent position in an area of the city currently undergoing extensive regeneration.

12 Feb 2021 130 Lonsdale Street Design: Gray Puksand photo : Shannon McGrath 130 Lonsdale Street Gray Puksand’s recently completed fit-out is an agile, modern workspace that places the health and wellbeing of employees front of mind. The intent was to deliver an interior exuding a sense of calm and balance that essentially functions as a yin to the yang of the often high-intensity business.

27 Jan 2021 Beyond Rest, Collingwood Design: FMD Architects photo : Tatjana Plitt Beyond Rest, Collingwood Beyond Rest is a floatation centre housed in an industrial warehouse in Collingwood Melbourne. Float tanks are used for both relaxation and rehabilitation purposes by a wide ranging client base. This is a growing wellness industry which offers a range of physical and mental health benefits.

21 Jan 2021 Surgeon’s Rooms, Melbourne Knox Hospital Design: FMD Architects photo : John Gollings Surgeon’s Rooms, Melbourne Knox Hospital The Surgeon’s Rooms project is a renovation & extension the existing consulting rooms for Knox Orthopaedic Group, adjacent to Knox hospital. The main entry is via the Knox hospital car park, with the rear entry within a residential street.

8 Jan 2021 Markham Residence, Brunswick, Victoria, Australia Design: Preston Lane Architects photo : Dylan James Markham Residence The Markham Residence is a significant heritage renovation to an existing unliveable house in Brunswick, Victoria. The client’s brief for this project called for a four-bedroom house with two living areas as well as off street parking via a rear lane.

Melbourne Architecture News 2020

Melbourne Architecture News in 2020

21 Dec 2020 Little Creatures Brewery, South Geelong, Victoria Design: Robert Simeoni Architects photo : Nicole England Little Creatures Brewery, South Geelong Little Creatures Brewery established its east coast base in 2012 taking over the historic textile mill, The Valley Worsted Mills, in the industrial area of South Geelong. The new premises enabled the brewery to expand its facilities from Fremantle in Western Australia and to breathe new life into the five former wool store buildings constructed with distinctive red Geelong brick.

14 Dec 2020 Seaford Lifesaving Club, Seaford, Victoria, Australia Design: Robert Simeoni Architects photography : John Gollings and Trevor Mein Holy Name Church, Preston The Seaford Lifesaving Club was conceived as more than just a single building, but rather a community space surrounded by a collection of buildings. The project further envisioned renewing the beach and shorefront as a community zone.

14 Dec 2020 The Ivy facade Design: Robert Simeoni Architects photograph : Robert Simeoni Architects The Ivy, Melbourne Facade The curtain façade provides differing levels of transparency and diffuse lighting internally while allowing the building to be illuminated from within. Its appearance, ranging from opaque to transparent, responds to the location of the viewer and to the daily variations in the ambient light conditions.

1 Dec 2020 Melbourne Parkade Car Park Building, 34 Little Collins Street photo : Timothy Burgess Melbourne Parkade Car Park Building

25 Nov 2020 Melbourne Arts Precinct Design: Hassell + SO–IL Architects image courtesy of architects practice Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation The Victorian Government announces funding approval for the $1.46B Melbourne Arts Precinct including the 18,000sqm of new open public space and gardens designed by HASSELL + SO – IL. “The objective of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Masterplan is to improve the functional aspects of the existing institutions, incorporate the two new facilities, and invigorate and maximize the public experience in this exciting new chapter of the precinct”, claim the architects.

26 Aug 2020 Ocean 12 Architects: Cox Architecture photograph © Tom Blachford Ocean 12 Melbourne A sumptuous venue, Ocean 12 transitions fluidly between a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces utilising light and colour to define spatial uses, graciously providing a refined backdrop for a range of premium hospitality offerings, leading visitors on a journey of delight, setting a stage and hinting at glimpses of the range of entertainment and leisure activities on offer throughout.

20 Aug 2020 MPavilion Book News MPavilion: Encounters with Design and Architecture Published by Thames & Hudson Australia in collaboration with the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, MPavilion: Encounters with Design and Architecture is the first publication on the MPavilion project and chronicles the first six remarkable years.

18 Aug 2020 Piccolo House, Dorcas Street

8 May 2020 Orchard Manufacturing, Rowville, Victoria, Australia Architects: BENT Architecture photography © Tatjana Plitt Orchard Manufacturing Co. in Rowville Orchard Manufacturing offers a new approach to factory design, one which creates a happy and healthy workplace inspired by nature. The company espouse a natural ethos, yet it’s hard to imagine an environment further removed from nature than a manufacturing plant.

19 Apr 2020 Botanicca Corporate Park Scheme

6 Mar 2020 Galleria Design: Plus Architecture image : Tom Roe Galleria Apartment Tower Taking the form of a cluster of buildings, the architectural structure of Galleria features sinuous curve forms that interconnect and loop – creating a dialogue between the building form and seeking to reduce the visual bulk of the development from the pedestrian point of view.

5 Mar 2020 Little Sky Gelateria Architect/Interior Designer: Ewert Leaf photograph © Fi Storey Little Sky Gelateria in Brighton The approach to this new building sought to create an insertion of ‘playfulness’ housed within a late 19th Century building framework. Encapsulating the company ethos was paramount; creating a welcoming venue and fostering a sense of community.

6 Feb 2020 Fairfield Primary School, Fairfield Architects: NBRS ARCHITECTURE and Fleetwood Australia photography © Joe Vittorio Fairfield Primary School The award-winning new facilities have been designed with connectivity and transparency in mind.

2 Feb 2020 388 William Street Architects: Elenberg Fraser image : Pointilism 388 William Street Offices and Hotel The world is in flux. Barriers and boundaries that defined us? Gone. The spaces we inhabit need a dramatic rethink.

25 Jan 2020 Luminary Apartments, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria Design: Plus Architecture image : Tom Roe Luminary Apartment Building in Hawthorn Dramatic design meets luxury and sophistication at this property – a distinctive arrival in Hawthorn and a defining presence on a prominent site in this prestigious Melbourne suburb. The residential complex comprises twenty generously-sized apartments and four penthouses.

Melbourne Architecture News 2018 – 2019

Melbourne Architecture News 2019

Melbourne Architecture News 2018

More Melbourne Building News online soon

Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Architecture in Melbourne

New Architecture in Victoria

Melbourne Buildings : A-K

Melbourne Building Designs : L-Z

Contemporary Australian Architectural Projects

Australian Architecture News

Australian Architect Offices

Australian Architecture

Website: Visit Melbourne

Australian Houses

Buildings / photos for the Melbourne Architecture News page welcome

The post Melbourne Architecture News: Victoria Buildings appeared first on e-architect.

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jeremystrele · 4 years

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How To Start A Productive Garden TODAY!

Gardens

by Amelia Barnes

Ben Shaw in his Geelong garden. Photo – Marnie Hawson.

Now is a great time to be growing your produce before the chilly months set in. In fact, if you start planting your winter crop today, you could be greeted with delicious vegetables in as little as four weeks.

No idea where to start? We asked chef-turned sustainable-farmer Paul West, permaculture expert Ben Shaw, and TDF’s in-house gardening enthusiast Alice Ziebell for their beginner’s tips!

Rich, healthy and alive soil is key to growing successful productive gardens. Photo – Marnie Hawson.

Ben Shaw also hosts permaculture workshops and consults with people wanting to integrate permaculture principles into their own gardens. Photo – Marnie Hawson.

Photo – Marnie Hawson.

Peas! Photo – Marnie Hawson.

Getting started…

Contrary to popular belief, very little is needed to get started in the garden. Permaculture expert Ben Shaw is the owner of a thriving productive garden in suburban Geelong, and he says no tools are needed, especially in the beginning stages. He simply advises ‘access to a patch of dirt – either a backyard, community gardens or pots.’

‘It is very cheap to build a ‘no-dig’ garden. No tools required – just some time to collect all the ingredients! Longer-term it’s helpful to have a wheelbarrow, a fork and shovel to speed up the process.’

Get the best quality potting mix (for garden beds) or planter mix (for pots) you can afford, plus organic compost to mix in so the soil is nice and rich.

There are several locally based, online stores that can deliver seeds and seedlings straight to your home such as The Diggers Club and The Little Veggie Patch Co.

Paul West advises that you shouldn’t expect to be a pro straight away, and that rather the reward is in the process of growing (you and the plants!). Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

For Paul West, nothing trumps a deeply nourishing meal and made with ingredients you have grown yourself. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

Harvest time in the vegetable garden with Frankie and Wilco, in the garden of Horst Schoeps in Narre Warren! Photo – Kate Ballis for The Design Files.

Start simple, perhaps with one pot of parsley? Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

What to plant if you have little space

Not everyone has access to a backyard, but luckily there are plenty of fruit and vegetable varieties that lend themselves to being grown in pots and styrofoam boxes, either on a windowsill or balcony. This is Paul West’s area of expertise, and he recommends herbs such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano, coriander and basil. Edible leafy greens such as rocket, mizuna, mustard greens, butter lettuces and cress are also great options.

Once you’ve planted these varieties, it’s important to give them consistent love and attention. If you have two or three pots on an apartment balcony for example, dedicating an hour a week to maintenance is ample, but this must be spread out across multiple days. You can’t set up your garden to ‘set and forget’, or think one blitz on a weekend will provide you with food for months to come. ‘Plants need regular food and water just like us, so it’s best to think of food growing as a gentle marathon where you do a little bit every day, rather than a sprint where you go mad for two days and then never look at it again,’ Paul says.

Judy Sederof’s overachieving garden in Brunswick! Photo – Annette O’Brien for The Design Files.

What to plant if you want food quickly

Those leafy vegetables and herbs Paul West mentioned above? Not only can they be grown in pots to suit a small space, but if you put them in the ground right now, they’ll be ready to begin harvesting in four to six weeks! ‘When you do start harvesting, be sure to harvest the outermost leaves first, and never take more than one-third of the plant mass,’ he says.

Of course, you don’t need to be a literal expert to grow your own produce at home, as shown by TDF’s very own gardening enthusiast (aka our partnerships manager) Alice Ziebell! Alice spends every weekend tending to her crop of plants alongside her landscape architect husband, Marlon Ziebell. (Once your vegetable garden is underway, be sure to try out some of this pair’s delightful recipes!)

Alice says right now is the perfect time to plant your winter crop while the weather (and soil) remains warm. ‘It will give them a nice head start so that come the cooler weather you’ll have a thriving winter veggie garden. We’ve just put cabbages, broccoli, bok choy, carrots and beetroot in the ground.’

If you’re looking for something that you can start picking ASAP and is easy to grow, Alice says you can’t go past radish seeds. ‘Pop them straight in the ground and you’ll be picking and eating them in just a few weeks! (Don’t forget, radish tops are also delicious and can be used for making pesto, so you really can eat the whole thing!)’

What to plant now, for down the track results…

Garlic has to be one of the most used ingredients by any home chef, and if you’ve got a head on hand already, you can literally separate this into cloves, place them 2cm deep in soil, and start the growing process today! They should be ready in six to nine months. That being said, try to buy organic, Australian garlic where you can for the best results.

Fruit trees are a much longer investment, but one that’s incredibly rewarding. These are generally fine to plant in winter, but keep in mind they won’t yield fruit for a few years! Ben Shaw has had great success with plums, pears, apricots, tamarillos and limes. Be sure to research what fruit trees are most suited to your garden’s climate before getting started.

Our very own Alice Ziebell at her father-in-laws incredible Leongatha property! Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

Photo – Marnie Hawson.

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aestheticvoyage2019 · 5 years

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Day 335: Sunday December 1, 2019 - “Southern Aussie Sunday Roll”

This post contributed by Audrie after planning and executing a great ramble day for us today across Victoria.

We awoke to cape winds still howling by— grumbling remnants of the storm last night, and some blue sky trying to push through the gray cotton candy puffs that were still lingering. It was Sunday on a Thanksgiving weekend here in late springtime southern Australia. There is something about waking in an unfamiliar new place… The air feels crisper, the energy buzzes higher, and the tiredness from the adventure day before shakes more easily, knowing you have new places to see and soak up ahead of you. We didn’t move fast, but also not slow. One of the great things about this Keeper’s Cottage here at Cape Nelson was the laundry room. Last night between pizza slices and lamb masala bites we shuffled a few loads through, allowing us to reset our bags and regroup a bit. One of a traveler’s often unmentioned anxieties is how and where to get organized. And I have to say that the accommodations here in Aussie-Land have all been remarkably perfect to keep us on track. From the Apartment styled 3 stays in Melbourne & Geelong (Melrose, Avani, and Vue) all of which had full kitchens and space to spread out, balconies, and a functionality that you just don’t seem to get in a standard boxed-hotel room. Then we had the Eco-Cabin, which felt like a castle in the pines—the parrots, the Koala, the jacuzzi tub. And now this place. Built in the 1800’s, an important piece of Aussie Nautical History, and yet the interiors fully renovated and updated to modern accommodations. Indeed all our stays have been more like BnB’s than they were hotels. Total blessing. After breaky, again with eggies, new bacon provided by the lighthouse, and the rest of the Sauvignon Blanc, we set out, west by north west—the plan to cross the state line and tag another state for Jake, as well as check another Aussie NP. I had visited Adelaide back in 2005 with my dad on business, putting the state of South Australia on my board. But I’d never been to Mt Gambier, or any of the road between it and where we were. As we zipped along the countryside and reflected on all the great free range beef and lamb they were rising out here, I realized, shit, we haven’t seen ONE S I N G L E Kangaroo out here, except for a few road killed ones and the poor bloated sea washed bloke over the cliff edge at 12 Apostles. And then it donned on me: we cursed ourselves. Day 1. At the Market. Impulse purchase. The damn Kangaroo salami. “We gotta get rid of that stuff” and just about that time, Jake started seeing signs for the state line and a quarantine bin. And I knew just what we needed to do… Ditch the Roo. So we dumped the week old salami, in hopes it would tip our luck in a different direction and we might see some of these Australian staples.

When we rolled into the town, I told him “We’re here!” and he had a befuddled reply “We are?! Where’s the mountain?!”(Insert laugh emoji). The town actually had “underground mountains” aka caves. And unknown to us as we pulled into the CBD of the town we ended up parking by one of these limestone caverns. The settlers of the town built grandiose gardens around these holes in the ground and helped water the town by storing the rain in these natural cisterns. And, had I not had to use the toilet, we would have probably never even known that gem of a tid-bit. We walked a bit along the main strip checking out all the small town stores decked out in Christmas sale signs and all sorts of “AfterPay” stickers. 1/2 looking for food or an interesting pub to duck into and take a road trip respite, and 1/2 just stretching legs. Most of the stores were closed, Sunday in a small town. We pit stopped at the historic hotel for a toniced gin and a Mercury local cider. From there it was back to the winding roads again and full steam ahead to the next big green space on the map. Grampians NP.

I’d had my eye on this green patch for weeks. Still not sure what exactly we would cover on the road through it and to Ballarat. As we were about an hour out I did a little instagram and google search and found the couple places that would make the drive up and through worth it. MacKenzie Falls, and Boroka Overlook. And it didn’t disappoint. It was only about a 1/4 mile but steep step walk down to the falls from the parking lot. Big white cascade over a cliff face. I did some Audrie scramble up some boulders to snap a few cool shots. Even gave a moon view to Jake a few times today. Then it was back up the stair stepper to the car and a drive out to Boroka. The signs said unstable cliff face, but I trusted the instagrammers before me, and took a chance to capture a shot out on the cliff edge. The wind was whipping and the thermometer in the car read 8 degrees C, so we didn’t stay too long. But a little smugly satisfied was I, thinking I nailed the planning and execution, as we blasted the heat and drove the switch back zig zag down the mountain. And at the bottom, our quarantine stop paid off, as we saw an entire heard of Kangaroos in a field to our left. Pulled over and soaked it in and got a few far off photos. These were the first Jake had seen. Ever. A little further up the country winding two lane farm road, between the cheese and crackers and left over Bangkok Seafood Thai from Lorne, Jake exclaimed “there is something in the road up there…” and sure enough a juvenile joey, about 3 feet tall, gave us a nice run along side and in front of the car for about 60 seconds. Wow. We should have dumped that Roo Salami after we tried it on the first night! (insert double laugh emoji).

We pulled into Ballarat and found Craig’s Royal Hotel a welcome beacon as Michale rolled out the hospitality pulled us aboard this historic-haunt-castle-style-accommodation for the next three nights. We rested our heads satisfied with our Souther Aussie Sunday.

Song: Men At Work - Down Under

Quote: “When you think about a Kangaroo, it’s just a T-Rex Deer.” -Anonymous

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