Paynes Place is a nondescript, bin strewn laneway in Melbourne’s China-Town off Little Bourke St. There is however a large mural at the end of the lane. Turning the corner, a small walkway called Croft Alley leads you down past restaurant back doors and overflowing, smelly rubbish bins to wonderful walls of ever-changing street art with amazing colours. Turning another corner, and walking to the very end, you find the entrance to strange bar with a science lab theme called the Croft Institute. There is quite a bit of intact art in Croft Alley without the crowds that often fill up the more famous Hosiers Lane. ( I still haven’t had a good look at Hosiers due to a fashion shoot, a TV presenter filming, tour groups and an impromptu macarena dance outbreak with about 50 people.)
Paynes Place, Chinatown, Melbourne CBD
Croft Alley Chinatown
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The Gap Year and Beyond 
I stepped outside the office this evening and to my surprise heard… then saw… a small flock of currawong flitting up through the plane trees on Collins Street. It made my day. Usually all I see is the odd crow or myna outside the window picking dead insects off the external lighting… apart from the rather rough treatment I had last summer courtesy an aggressive magpie lark on Exhibition Street. Lunchtime bird shots in the City… may I suggest a short walk over to Fitzroy Gardens if you have time?
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I have recently heard Rainbow Lorikeets in Bourke St and today I actually heard a White Plumed Honeyeater in the gums at the State Library. I have been over to the gardens a few times but the birds can be difficult to photograph in the high trees, are generally the usual inner city suburban candidates and I do lose track of time when I am stalking a bird or bird call. I only have 30-60 mins for lunch so for now, during the week, I will practice on buildings and colourful images to hone the general skills a bit for the weekend bush work…plus I am actually enjoying the different style of photography and observation.
It seems inevitable that we are going to meet up Andrew…both work in the city, both live in St Kilda and both enjoy places like Greens Bush.
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Yes, there is freakily too much overlap… we’re going to bump into one another at some point! I don’t often get over to the Fitzroy Gardens much myself, sometimes in summer, it’s a little too far in the time I usually have available during the day. And in summer it’s usually full of flocks of screeching sulphur crested cockatoos.
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