Structure : The Perth Mint

Structure (Post#17) : The Perth Mint

Photos of the day are all about Perth Mint. It is the oldest operating mint in Australia and the only remaining gold rush mint since Sydney Mint and Melbourne Mint were both closed. And to recognized the architectural work of this building, it is one of the first building entered on the State’s heritage register. These photos are part of Perth and Surround October 2016.

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Notes :
Photo : Heritage Building, Mint
Location : 310 Hay St, East Perth WA 6004, Australia
Transportation : Perth CAT
Official Website : Perth Mint

Structure : Longshan Temple – Taiwan’s Famous Old Temple

Structure (Post#13) : Longshan Temple – Taiwan’s Famous Old Temple

Longshan Temple is visible in my tourist map that I was holding on while walking in Ximending. Not realizing how famous the temple, I decided to visit the structure after finishing my walk in Ximending. When I reached the temple, just discovered the crowd that visits the temple, proven that its famous to Buddhist alike. These photos are part of Taiwan Experimental Travel Adventure Photo Collection January 2017.

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The Classic Time in Queen Victoria Building (QVB)

If I did not fall into IT career, maybe I took an architecture course before. I just remembered before when I was still in my rudimentary studies that I had some talents in drawing things, but that skill wasn’t developed anymore when I went to high school as my life changed and somewhat pressured to be like my siblings and be a student with flying colors so I focused in academics.

During my two-days trip in Sydney, the first day was spent in CBD. I checked-in in one f the hotel located near at Kings Cross station. I rested a bit in my room and then I started my walking adventure in the afternoon. I took train from Kings Cross Station and got off at Town Hall Station. After leaving the station, I wandered and my steps started moving but it does not have its specific destinations at first. I walked along George Street towards Druitt Street. In that walk, one building caught my attention and that is Queen Victoria Building. Maybe because it stands-out within CBD as it is surrounded by buildings and offices which emphasize the building to be unique. I had seen old structures in Melbourne which converted to a commercial space and yet it still able to preserve the lavish design and architecture of the building, meaning the building was not only preserved to be a heritage site but to be a functional building for businesses in our time.

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Exterior of Queen Victoria Building has been familiar to me. I just remembered the following structures that I saw from the past, like Provincial Legislature Building in Alberta and British Columbia in Canada and Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, all of these has a dome structure in the middle as significant architectural design of the building.

Before I crossed Druitt Street and walked towards Queen Victoria Building, I noticed the Statue of Queen Victoria which stands in one side before the entrance/exit of the building. On my way to the door, I felt excited because I was curious what to see and discover in the building. The moment I got inside, I was impressed because of how huge the building is and at the back of my mind, I am trying to imagine its size by thinking how many arcades will fit into the building. My adoration in the following arcades that I visited in Melbourne (don’t get me wrong as I still love all of them) seems to be just a fragment of admiration compared to impression that the building made on me. In terms of size, QVB is already a winner. In all the arcades that I saw in Australia (like Adelaide Arcade, Brisbane Arcade and Melbourne’s Arcades), QVB is the biggest arcades that I discovered so far. I do understand its a building unlike the arcades that I saw in other cities, but I am referring to the vintage styles of shopping stores in one place where the ambiance of the building made me felt that I was back in time between 18th to 19th century. Most of the arcades that I visited are just 2 floors but QVB has 5 floors (lower ground, ground and level 1 to 3). If people were amazed on the global brand stores that can be found inside the building, I was in awe of its beautifully crafted interiors, from its dome, ceilings, walls, pillars, windows, handrail down to its flooring.

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IMG_4449Escalators and Balustrades on large openings

IMG_4471Arches, Balustrades and Ceilings

From the entrance that I walked-in, the first thing that I noticed on its interior are the arches and colonnades. The combination of these two are visible in most of the stores and has been functionally used as division of each establishments.  The balustrades are visible to each floor (except the lower ground) in each large openings so everyone has a chance to see other floors from any level. Though the building is being preserve to be a heritage site, escalators has been added so people can used it conveniently as it become a commercial space building too.

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IMG_4453Dome

My stride continues as I explore QVB, I stopped when I saw the dome ceiling from Level 1, the dome looks so elegant as the scenery are combined with arches in other floor level and balustrades that encapsulated the circle openings aligned to the dome itself. Aside from dome, I also discovered the stained-glass window with its colorful design and a fine handrails that all significantly shows Victorian Style.

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IMG_4457Balustrades

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IMG_4491Stained-Glass Windows

I went up to the next floor using stairs as I followed the dome ceilings and stained-glass windows. I reached the third level or the highest floor of the building where I can see dome ceiling up-close. The dome is at the center of the building, looking at the other side of the dome, the Great Australian Clock can be found hang from the glass-ceiling and it is one of the mechanical clock to be found in QVB and  while on the other side of the dome, the second mechanical clock is visible which is the Royal Clock.

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IMG_4466Great Australian Clock

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The building has different style when it comes to its flooring, from lower ground to first level it emphasized its mosaic-tiled design while in second and last level are more into carpeted floors. If the other establishments enjoys huge arches in their stores the other appreciated the stained windows in their own space, a truly crafted and elegant interiors.

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IMG_0482Tiled-Mosaic and Carpeted Flooring

IMG_4470Carpeted Flooring

After the building tour within QVB, I went outside, I took sometime to see the building from a distance. And there I learned that the building has lots of cupolas which complimented the main dome at the center of the building. And from a distance, I saw how magnificent the building is.

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Melbourne Town Hall – A Majestic Building with Politics and Culture Fusion

After visiting Council House 2 or CH2, the next building that I visited was Melbourne Town Hall. It was one of the biggest building that I had visited during the Open House Melbourne event last July 2013 and it was one of the building that I enjoyed because I had a chance to see what’s inside of it. I used to pass the town hall every time I traveled back and forth along Swanston Street before but only during the event that I had a chance to see it up close.

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Melbourne Town Hall

Hallways

When I entered the building from Swanston Street, the hallway immediately impressed me. I felt that I stepped back in time because all the things that I saw were scenery from modern 18th century time. From the carpet that I walked-in, to the artifacts displayed between walls, to its lightnings and ceilings and to its doors that I passed to see a specific room. I just a hallway but I really enjoyed it.

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Interesting things that I saw here  was the caption of one of the keys being displayed along the hallway, the capital city of my country which is Manila. Below was snapshot, a key of City of Manila.

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Council Chambers

The first room that I entered to see was Council Chambers Room. I immediately got curious when I saw the room even I was still standing in the door. There were many visitors like myself explored the room. Anyone can sense that it was a meeting room, because of the way a semi-circular tiered seating arranged and where the Lord Mayor’s chair and table stands. I spent sometime here because I wanted to get my chance to sit in the Lord Mayor’s chair to have my souvenir in the room.

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Photos inside Council Chambers

Yarra Room

Next room that I visited was Yarra Room which was a former Council Chamber for the city. Another room that showcases how grandeur Melbourne Town Hall is.

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Photos inside Yarra Room

Main Hall and Balcony

The jewel of Melbourne Town Hall goes to this grandiose main hall where it also host one of the most beautiful, romantic and the largest pipe organ in southern hemisphere. This is largest and most glamorous room within the town hall where majority of events happening which includes orchestras, choirs, multimedia launches, symposium, meetings, weddings, party’s and a lot more.

When I visited the main hall, there was scheduled organ playing but I haven’t got a chance to listened most of it as I still wanted to explore other parts of the town hall.

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Largest Pipe Organ in Southern Hemisphere

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Interiors and balcony of Main Hall

Melbourne Room

Another historic room exist in the town hall is Melbourne Room. This  is the room where Queen Elizabeth II has been served with tea in 1954. I had few photos in this room due to a lot of people around, it was difficult to get panoramic shot inside the room.

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Some photos of Melbourne Room

Portico Room

Another historical part of the town hall and maybe famous to some people is its Portico and Balcony. It was the impressive portico where Beattles and ABBA waved to their fans during their visit in the city.

When I was standing here, I had a chance to see some part of CBD, in front of Melbourne Town Hall at the other side of Swanston Street is Manchester Unity Building and Melbourne City Square can be found at the left side of the building along Collins Street. I  had read some stuff about the  first proposed location of the town hall and it was far from where it stands, and because of the debate  for its location it was built in the heart of Melbourne CBD.

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Snapshots while at the Portico

Notes:

1. Plan to visit Melbourne Town Hall ?
Address : 90-120 Swanston Street, Melbourne

Free Tours : Available during weekdays, for more details and its schedule, please check here

2. Public Transportation Ticket – Use Myki (Melbourne Ticketing System), please check here for more details.

3. Directions

Using tram

Use tramTracker Apps or even just Google Maps (use directions) and there are tram routes available
Route: 1, 3/3a, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67, 72 –> get off at Stop 11 – Town Hall / Collins Street or Stop 10 Bourke Street Mall/Bourke Street
Route: 112, 109, 48 –> get off at Stop 6 –  Town Hall / Collins Street

Using train

Visit the official Public Transport Victoria website to be able to use the Journey Planner for the next train schedule.

Ride from any station and get off at Flinders Street Station or Melbourne Central Station

From Flinders Street Station, get off at St Kilda Road Exit and continue walking along Swanston Street and the building is within the corner of Swanton Street and Collins Street.

From Melbourne Central Station, get off at Swantons Street Exit and continue walking along Swanston Street and the building is at the left side of Swanston Street corner Collins Street.

Structure : Melbourne Town Hall

Structure (Post#9) : Melbourne Town Hall

One of the noticeable building at the heart of Melbourne CBD is Melbourne Town Hall which built in 1867. The building has its grandeur architectural design not only because of its impressive exterior style but also because it composed of many rooms that displays how majestic the town hall itself. The photo is part of Melbourne Town Hall Photo Collection 2013.

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