St. Paul's cathedral - Lanes and alleyways: Melbourne art culture - Tram rides - Queen Victoria Market - Eureka sky deck / The Edge - Captain Cook's Cottage - MELBOURNE MEMORY # 7: FLINDERS STREET STATION - Yarra River - MCG - Federation Square - Cuisine - Extras.
-------------------- *** --------------------

You just can’t miss out on some places. Not even if you want to. Not because they are famous, or that you have heard so much about them, or had people recommend them to you. But, simply because you discover them right out of your hotel!

Flinders street station from Citigate, Melbourne Australia
My first sight of the Flinders Street Station: Through the window of my hotel, Citigate.

I couldn't have been luckier.
Flinders Street Station, one of the star attractions of Melbourne
and one in my list of places to see, stood exactly opposite to my hotel, Citigate!

Standing bang in the middle of the city, at the corner of Flinders street and Swanston Street, Melbourne’s first railway station and the oldest of Australia, the Flinders Street railway station resonated with a certain vibe, a certain charisma, leaving me overwhelmed in the first impression itself.

Flinders street station clock tower, Melbourne Australia
The clock tower of the Flinders Street Station

The busiest railway station in the southern hemisphere, Flinders street station gave me that feeling:

Hey you, you are standing in the shadows of a special place right now!

View of Flinders street station, Melbourne Australia
Flinders Street Station: An important city landmark.

.. Leaving me wondering, where was this aura coming from? Perhaps it was a lingering effect: the buzz left behind by billions of people who were running across its streets every minute of the day, a billion echoes resonating as conversations that had ensued during their 'meeting under the clocks' or the mysticism hidden in the chapters of history?

People watch at the Flinders street station, Melbourne Australia
A swarm of people crosses the Flinders streets

I don’t really know what exactly made this busiest railway station appear star-like to me. All I could gather was that it left me awe struck for all the time I was there. This brilliant piece of concrete, this historic yellow colored building with a distinctive green dome was attractive to me and never for once failed in commanding my attention – no matter how the weather, which part of the day, what direction of the road.

Flinders street station in night lights, Melbourne Australia
The same place, from where has originated the popular catchphrase of the Melburnians,
'Meet me under the clocks'

Flinders street station at night, Melbourne Australia
Flinders Station: All bright in the dark of the night.

Even when I had no trains to catch or no one to 'meet me under the clocks', I made sure to pause, almost every time I passed by it, if only to discover the varied sights, smells and activity of a railway station... not an ordinary one but one that had metamorphosed over a century of years to become a prominent city landmark, establishing an identity as someone who believed in not just standing there but also adding a lot of richness and character to its beloved home city.

Oh and yes. Besides my star station gazing, there was one more reason why I stood there, in front of the Flinders street station in admiration; I had one major request to fulfill.
"Get me a picture of Flinders with a tram passing in front of it, will you?"

Flinders street station postcard, Melbourne Australia
A picture postcard of the Flinders Station from Melbourne...  With love.

... Here it is, my dear brother, this one’s for you ...


-------------------- *** --------------------

Tips for travelers:

1. Do step inside the station and take a train ride if possible; with the Myki card in your pocket already, this should be free. (More on that in a later post!)

2. Look out for free Wi-Fi available on the station courtyard and from every platform (select Metro Wi-Fi).

 Getting there:

At the corner of Flinders street and Swanston Street, overlooking the Federation square, St. Paul’s cathedral and Yarra river with the Eureka Sky Deck in the background.

Location:

207-361 Flinders Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Phone: 9610 7476

-------------------- *** --------------------

Previous stories from Melbourne: