Inside

Swimming first thing again and I fancy the water was a tad warmer after so much sun yesterday.  I still haven't seen anyone else in the pool since we arrived, though.

We took breakfast at Rosco's - partly because the Beluga isn't open early over a weekend and partly because we wanted a change.  Dave had Eggs Benedict for the first time this holiday - his 'usual' when we were in Melbourne, six years ago.  

Took the tram to the city, with the intention of finding the rest of the 'Laneways', which Dave remembered from ten years ago, taking in some culture at the Melbourne Museum and finishing off with Captain Cook's house, with a good slice of Yorkshire nostalgia for Dave.  

We completed the first item fairly quickly but, on the way to the second, came across the Old Gaol, which had been on our longer term list.  So we stopped off.  Four and a half hours later, we agreed it was a tenner (each) well spent.  

The three parts of the visit were:
- gaol
- watch house
- court house.

The gaol held a mass of sad tales, some of which highlighted the harsh conditions meted out by the authorities, in an overcrowded and grim setting.  We had plenty of opportunity to see inside the small cells and read the information boards and, at the end, there was a re-enactment of the story about Ned Kelly and family, prior to his arrest.  

The watch house was, in effect, a police station and holding cells for people, men and women (though mostly the former) after arrest, including a padded cell and 'wet' cells for the drunks, who were likely to make a mess.  Funnily enough, the first person held there actually was a woman, arrested for using bad language at the opening ceremony! 

We had the opportunity to take mug shots.  

The 'policeman' who brought us in told us that we had all been arrested and treated us in an appropriate manner - i.e. no leaning against the wall, no talking, no weapons, no contraband etc.  We were divided into groups and locked in cells, whereupon the lights were turned out! 

Next stop was the court house, a magnificent building - Dave will recount the happenings there. 

All of this was great and we learnt a lot, but it left us hungry (it was nearer tea than lunch!) and with little time for the Melbourne Museum.  Fortunately, we qualify for a concession (free) ticket, so we saw some of the galleries for an hour, but will go back next week.

No Cup of joy for Ned

Notorious outlaw Ned Kelly was tried in the main courthouse in Melbourne and hanged in the prison next door. 

Both buildings remain today and tourists are treated to a re-enactment of his trial leading to his demise a couple of weeks later on November 11, 1880. 

Argument remains over whether he received a fair trial and there are even claims officials wanted to hurry things along to avoid a clash with the Melbourne Cup horse race. 

The event, which nowadays traditionally stops a nation on the first Tuesday in November, had a big following even then.

1880 in fact marked the first time the attendance topped 100,000. 

For the record, the race was won by Grand Flaneur at odds of 4-1.

My last winner, I believe.