Romp Blog
Fiona makes some great discoveries
Exploration and discovery are two of my favourite words. Having travelled around the world, I fully appreciate the wonders of stumbling across nooks and crannies that I’ve walked past a million times and never taken any notice of. I also love experiencing things about the country/city I’m in first hand – and this week I got to do just that! I have the great pleasure in announcing that the wombat is in definite first place on my ‘ever so cute animals’ list (and no, I’ve not yet seen a platypus so will reserve judgement on their placement). I’ve compiled some of the other little gems I’ve discovered this week into a wee list:
Did you know…..?
• Melbourne is home to the largest Chinese dragon in the world.
• Melbourne led the world in female television presenters - ‘In Melbourne Tonight’ had Toni Lamond as the world’s first female host of a variety show.
• The world’s largest stained glass ceiling is not located in Italy but actually right here in Melbourne – it measures 51 long by 15 metres wide.
• The Victorian Police created a world first in 1923 as they were the first force to use two way radio communication in their patrol vehicles.
• Mr Men currently adorn the walls of a Melbourne laneway.
• One of Melbourne’s most historic buildings was designed by a 19 year old!
• Batmania – nope, not a group of young teenagers wearing head to toe batman outfits, actually one of Melbourne’s previous names (who’d have thought?!).
• And finally, back to my last blog – the humble Dim Sim…..a Chinese delicious treat right? WRONG! Dim Sim’s were actually developed in Melbourne. Now there’s one I’m sure you didn’t know!
If you have any lesser known facts about Melbourne (or anything else for that matter) I’d love to hear them. The more random/obscure and funny the better – well, they’ll brighten up my day with a bit of a giggle if nothing else!
Until next time Rompers,
Cheers
Fiona
5 Comment(s)
You wouldn't happen to be hinting at any check points would you? *wink*Your facts are cool, and I surprised myself hen I realized I knew some of these iconic places. The ones I didn't know I googled, and have turned out to be rather cool as well :)Laughter and Sunshine!
Posted on: 20/08/2008, By SarahI always thought the world's largest dragon is Sun Loong, and he lives here in Bendigo, at the Golden Dragon Museum.Victorian, yes, Melburnian, no!
Posted on: 24/08/2008, By KatHi Kat,
Although I love to be proven wrong, I've done a bit more research and it looks as though, in our own way, we're both right! Sun Loong is the largest Imperial (meaning 5 clawed) dragon in the world measuring a whopping 100metres and can be found at home in sunny Bendigo. Dai Loong however is in fact the largest Chinese dragon. He was built in 2003 and requires 200 people to operate him - that a very many legged dragon!
Keep the comments coming please - am loving the fact that I'm getting to not only learn about Melbourne but the whole of Victoria too - this is great!
Cheers
Fiona
Posted on: 24/08/2008, By FionaHere's some more facts about melbourne that are interesting!The 1956 Olympics in Melbourne were the first in the southern hemisphere.A $7 million painting by Picasso was stolen from the art gallery in St Kilda Road in 1986. The painting was recovered from a luggage locker at Spencer Street railway station a couple of weeks later.The site of the popular Queen Victoria Market, opened in 1878, was once a cemetery. There are still roughly 9,000 people buried under the sheds and car park of the market.The MCG was used as a US Army Airforce base in the second world war.The bird statue sitting in Melbourne's docklands, overlooking Wurundjeri Way is named 'Bunjil'. And he is an eagle, not (as many people seem to think) an owl.
Posted on: 26/08/2008, By NikiHello.:) The images were released to celebrate the arrival on Monday of Emma Tallulah, the couple's third daughter. Bye.
Posted on: 13/10/2008, By outratueT