Melbourne : Last Day (Australia:Prior to RS)
Public Toilets
Melbourne’s first public toilet was built in 1859, just outside the Post Office (now a clothing store) on Bourke Street. Its prominent location was short-lived, with prudish 19th century attitudes forcing its relocation to a less obtrusive spot on the south side of Flinders Street, near King Street.
While men now had a place to go, it wasn’t until 1902 that women would be afforded the same right. Women were then permitted to use the city’s first underground public toilets on Russell Street, just south of Bourke Street.
Mostly made of iron and timber, the first public toilets were built directly over the city’s gutters so the waste could flow into the Yarra River. It was said the gutter location allowed a man ‘to use the facility and hold onto his horse at the same time’.
With the construction of the city’s underground sewerage system in the 1890s, urinals began popping up all over the city. By 1911, there were 71 urinals with 210 stalls scattered throughout Melbourne. Of these, at least 40 were made of cast iron, and only eight remain today.
These surviving toilets are heritage listed because of their historical and architectural significance to the state of Victoria.
It’s something to keep in mind if you ever happen to find yourself in Melbourne, and in need of a humble toilet.
Morning Walkabout
After covering most of the activities that Road Scholar doesn’t cover, we hopped on the town trolley for a scenic ride around the city. Crowded yet charming, the historic City Circle Tram(#35) is a free trolley allowing us to complete the entire loop in about an hour, giving us a glimpse of the city's vibrant neighborhoods. Once we disembarked, we found the Fitzroy Gardens and had a lovely stroll. We looked up a local brewery thinking we would enjoy another leisurely stroll, but our adventure turned into a hike. The good news, the brewery had tasty beer and a good lunch.
Afternoon Graffiti - Hosier Lane
Hosier Lane is the city's most famous graffiti lane, known for its vibrant and ever-changing street art. It's a popular tourist destination, showcasing a mix of tags, stencils, and murals created by both local and international artists. The lane is essentially a "free-to-paint" area, relying on the understanding and appreciation of its value by authorities and stakeholders.
*This also includes graffiti from other locations around the city.
