Showing posts with label Bourke St. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bourke St. Show all posts

Saturday, November 30, 2024

Melblourne Candid Series #901 Bourke St Mall

 


She is so focusing on her phone


Sony A7RV

FE 35mm f1.4 GM

Check out Candid 652





Friday, November 22, 2024

Monday, November 11, 2024

Friday, November 1, 2024

Melbourne Candid Series #872 Bourke St Mall

 


Holding a cup each 


Sony A7RV

FE 135mm f1.8 GM

Check out Candid 623





Thursday, October 31, 2024

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Melbourne Candid Series #849 Bourke St

 


The couple having lovely conversation 

Sony A7RV

FE 35mm f1.4 GM


Check out Candid 599






Sunday, June 9, 2024

Sunday, August 6, 2023

Melbourne Candid Series #409 Bourke St Mall Melbourne

 


Good to walk in the morning, not many people around


Sony A7RIV

FE 14mm f1.8 GM


Check out Candid 251





Friday, July 21, 2023

Melbourne Candid Series #393 Hopetoun Tea Rooms est. 1892 421 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000

 


Hopetoun Tea Rooms est. 1892 



Outside this family eatery

When the Hopetoun Tea Rooms opens in its new home on the corner of Bourke and McKillop Streets later this year, it will continue a 128-year legacy.

 

After more than a century in the Block Arcade – where generations of Melburnians have queued for a pot of tea, a slice of cake and a piece of history – the institution announced in 2020 that it would be moving to a new CBD site after a change of ownership.

 

The local treasure will reopen this summer in the grand 163-year-old Bourke Street building that was formerly home to Kozminsky jewellery, under the stewardship of new owner Vikram Singh. But before then, Hopetoun’s sought-after cakes, pastries and house-blended teas are available at its new shop.

 

Hopetoun Bakeshop – located at the new site – is a “modern take on a traditional English bakery”, says Singh, with heritage-green walls, marble counters and gold trimmings, as well as shelves lined with loose-leaf teas, house-made jams and relishes, and a collection of teaware.

 

A display case is crammed with spongy gateaux, delicate biscuits, seasonal fruit tarts and savoury sandwiches, pies and pasties geared towards the grab-and-go crowd. But those dining in can watch the pastry chefs at work in their new kitchen, which will also function as the “engine room” for the tea rooms.

 

“We were in a very small space in the Block Arcade,” says Singh, who was a Hopetoun customer before saving the stalwart from closure when it went into administration in 2020.

“People knew the brand because it had been running in the same space for such a long time. But it was constrained, especially the kitchen,” says Singh. “It was set up to prepare scones and sandwiches, but people’s eating habits have changed – they want more variety, and, at the same time, really good quality … the art of pastry has evolved so much. We couldn’t have taken the brand to the next level in that place.”

 

When the tea rooms reopen in December, the building will house a ground-floor dining room, afternoon tea service on level one, and on the top floor, a function space for bridal parties, baby showers and so on.

“It was important we remain in a heritage building that has a bit of history,” says Singh. “Melbourne is well-known for its food expertise, so how do we differentiate ourselves? We’re offering people a piece of history.

 

When Singh and the team landed on the former Kozminsky building, they also found a surprise connection to Hopetoun. “Lady Hopetoun [the wife of the Governor of Victoria from 1889 to 1895, and the shop’s namesake] was a customer of Kozminsky jewellers, and we’ve got some photos where she actually modelled in a newspaper wearing Kozminsky jewellery.”

History and heritage are inextricably tied to the Hopetoun brand, and Singh has no intention of changing that. “Our customer base – some of whom have been going to Hopetoun for 60 years – have been telling us beautiful stories of how they went with their grandmother and now they’d like to take their granddaughter. We don’t want to change.”

“I come from a tea-loving nation, India,” says Singh. “So the tea part really excited me. I want to promote good-quality tea drinking, which is what’s lacking in Australia. People still see tea as the humble teabag.”

A signature of the tea rooms is its traditional afternoon tea service featuring dainty sandwiches, pastries and scones. While that’s on hold until the new space opens, the bake shop is offering a Devonshire tea, including those scones topped with house-made berry jam and Gippsland Jersey clotted cream.

The tea rooms will open in late 2023 at 421 Bourke Street, Melbourne.





Sony A7RIV + FE 14mm f1.8 GM

Check out Candid 234

and FACE OFF


Monday, February 6, 2023

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Melbourne Candid Series #195

 


Harp for background music and a singer with a such a high-pitched voice

Off Little Bourke St in the stage theatre


Fujifilm XPRO2

Fujinon 16-55mm f2.8


Check out Candid 57


Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Monday, January 2, 2023

Melbourne Candid Series #193

 


Shaolin Martial Arts on demonstration

I recalled the official show was in Princes Theatre, but they did a few roadsides shows off Little Bourke St


Fujifilm XPro2

Fujinon 90mm f2


Check out Candid 55



Monday, December 26, 2022

Melbourne Candid Series #186

 


It was free to watch this acrobatic play off the square in Little Bourke St


Fujifilm Pro2

Fujinon 16-55mm f2.8


Check out Candid #51




Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Melbourne Candid Series #181

 


When it is close to Christmas, he would pop up on Bourke Street Mall


Panasonic G9

Leica 42.5mm f1.2


Check out post Candid 45 and Face Off

Sunday, December 18, 2022

Melbourne Candid Series #178

 


I think she is exhausted somehow. 


Bourke St Mall, CBD


Pentax K20D

FA 77mm f1.8 limited


Wordless Wednesday




Friday, December 9, 2022

Melbourne Candid Series #169

 


Corner of Elizabeth St and Bourke St, Melbourne

This corridor at night is a popular photography site 


Pentax K20D 

FA 77mm f1.8 limited


This is linking Weekend reflection and streets





Monday, November 7, 2022

Melbourne Candid Series #137

 



Bourke St Mall Melbourne

Another performer


Pentax K20D

Fa 77mm f1.8 limited 


Bourke St