Gullible's Travels: Part II
Updated: Nov 10, 2023
This is part two of Gullible's travels, where I outline some more exciting things to do in Melbourne on a budget. This is for all of my art pals who enjoy a slow day of admiration, and awe inspiring adventures.
NGV - National Gallery of Victoria
ACMI - Australian Centre of Moving Images
The Shrine of Remembrance
National Gallery of Victoria (NGV- International) - Melbourne CBD
The National Gallery of Victoria is one of the first places I visited in Melbourne, just simply because it is so hard to miss. The sheer size of the NGV International building is exciting enough, let alone what it is home to. It is a free venue, however, there are donation boxes on entry and donations from the public are encouraged. As you approach the building, you will see the iconic glass windows, showered in real flowing water. This is the first sign of the absolutely dreamy and transcendent experience that awaits. The building is home to 31 different exhibits, including the square and the NGV Garden; each dedicated to a different genre, time period, or artist (https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NGV-INTERNATIONAL-MAPS.pdf). One of my personal favourites was the grand hall, dedicated to life size paintings from the victorian era, featuring huge portraits and antique furniture. This exhibit genuinely encapsulates a sense of outdated regality, only valued in such a time period as the victorian era. It is important to note that there are two sites to visit for the National Gallery of Victoria. NGV International is located on 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne; and is dedicated to art developed in Europe, Asia, America and Oceania (https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/plan-your-visit/). NGV international is easily accessibly by tram (Tram numbers: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67, 72). NGV Australia is located in Federation Square, Melbourne, and is home to Australian indigenous and non-indigenous art.
2. ACMI - Australian Centre of Moving Images
ACMI is located in Federation Square, in the heart of Melbourne CBD and is the place to be if you are an aspiring film maker or artist. I am calling this a hidden gem because I spent days walking around the city and nearly missed this magnificent experience. This may be because I am completely clueless and 'gullible', but If it wasn't for my partner who pointed it out to me, it could have been months before I even stepped inside. On first glance I was slightly underwhelmed, and sensed the vibe of a "video game museum", to which I thought would not interest me in the slightest. However, once you get passed the first exhibit, the venue becomes a maze of moving images, interactive art and various displays of film equipment from different time periods. Every corner turned at this place is a new "wow" from the audience. My absolute favourite exhibit is called The Memory Garden, where you have the opportunity to stroll through a collection of cylinders that project Australian home videos onto your hand. There is no other way to describe the experience, except magical.
3. The Shrine of Remembrance - War Memorial
The Shrine of Remembrance is a war memorial located on St Kilda Road, and is easily accessible by train, bus, or tram. This is an activity that I loved, not only because it is free, and beautiful to look at, but because it is a place of rich history, that can infuse a sense meaning into your day. The shrine is Victoria's national war memorial and is home to over 200 plaques, and various monuments. The grounds consist of acres of beautiful green grass, a memorial garden, The Eternal Flame, a memorial forecourt, a crypt, and, a gallery. This memorial is one of the biggest I have visited in Australia and is absolutely breathtaking; with archaic buildings, huge stone stair cases, and a view of Melbourne City. The memorial is conveniently located across the road from The Royal Botanical Garden - another must-see in Melbourne, and is perfect for a day of sight-seeing, outside of the chaos of the inner city.
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