“I’ll just take it easy” self-talk is soon replaced by “they’re feeling the pressure and my legs are feeling good. Turn the screw!”. Before you know it, you’re embroiled in another beach road smash fest.
But wait, it doesn’t have to be that way. It is possible to go for (suck breath in), a ride.
A slow, meandering, inquisitive, fun and enjoyable ‘potter’ on your treadlie. If you’re really lucky, you will have some sunshine and great friends to share it with. If you’re even luckier, down a cobblestone alley in Melbourne, a special cafe will make you a brilliant cup of coffee that will titillate your olfactory senses whilst the surrounds will keep you eyeballs brilliantly entertained.
Today was one of those days. Her Royal Highness had given me the morning off (not the Queen, Mrs Crankster) and so rather than haul my weary arse out of a warm bed and into the the fresh Melbourne winter morning, I opted to join my fellow wanders at the concourse for a more leisurely start to the day. We discussed, deliberated, debated and disturbingly decided to head north. The sun shone and the wind wasn’t. The bay looked stunning for everything except sailing. We chatted, rode, laughed and luxuriated in the knowledge that we in no particular hurry to get to any particular destination of any significance. We just rode and enjoyed it.
Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, St Ali Cafe, See Yup Chinese Joss House, Albert Park, St Kilda, Beach Rd and Velocino.
What a day, what a ride.
Gotta luv Melburn
See Yup Chinese Joss House in Emerald Hill (now South Melbourne). Lindt. Melbourne, 1880s, by Lindt, J.W. (John William), 1845-1926, courtesy of National Library of Australia - Picture collection.
The See Yup Joss house as it is today. It is totally amazing what you can discover down the alleys of Melbourne. In this case, an alley just off Clarendon St in South Melbourne.
The Chinese temple in South Melbourne (then called Emerald Hill) was built in 1856 by the See Yup Society. In 1866 it was rebuilt and enlarged. The temple cost over four thousand pounds to construct and was funded by compulsory donations from Society members. The names of more than a thousand donors are inscribed on two stone tablets at the Temple. As the Society is legally a non-entity the six titles covering the temple land are held in the names of six individual trustees. The remainder of the donated money was invested in two properties in Little Bourke Street.
Still standing today, it was built as a meeting place for members but also includes two altars for worship and three memorial halls. The memorial halls hold over 13,000 tablets in commemoration of members who died and are buried somewhere in Victoria between 1850 to the present day. The Society held at least eight major religious services with offerings each year and the temple was open for all to visit or worship at all times. Although a temple it was not granted any rate exemptions for being a place of worship despite attempts in 1860 and 1912 until the early 1960s.
The financial organisation of the See Yup temples in Ballarat, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Beechworth and a number of other country towns were modelled on the South Melbourne temple. Each local See Yup society bought land whose title was held under the name of one or more trustees and built the temple.
Sources used to compile this entry: Leong, Maurice Kwok Cheong, 'The role of the See Yup Society in Melbourne and Victoria [unpublished paper]', in Chinese Heritage of Australian Federation Conference, Museum of Chinese Australian History, Melbourne, 1-2 July; Thanks to Maurice Leong for providing additional information for this entry.
Prepared by: Sophie Couchman, La Trobe University
What’s around the next corner Leon?
We hope they only tow cars
A bit of local St Ali colour and character
The wizards of St Ali
What can I say ?
Be free, ride free
Addendum:
Julie, I just had to borrow this one from you ☺
Maybe this is a little too free????
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grouse post
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