Rippon Lea & Phillip Island

Okay so this week flew by. I was able to go with my boss Mary to sell poppy's for Rembrance Day. We stood outside of the supermarket Coles in Tunstall Shopping Center. It was cute, all of the old veterans would stop and give us money, and say how nice it was to see young people out volunteering and selling the flowers to support the Returned Service League RSL. We sold quite a few. Mary told me to focus on the younger guys and she would focus selling to the older people. It was funny and I was a little embarrassed at first, but I warmed up and started to sell them to the younger guys.

Then for Saturday I decided to go to the Rippon Lea Estate. It is a mansion built in the 1870s. It originally had 32 acres of land but it currently only incorporates only 13 of the original 32. Its a really good example of old money Melbourne. It is located in Elsternwick, which is currently where lots of Orthodox Jews live. I passed the Yeshivah College on my way there and some Jews going to Synagogue. Anyways, the mansion is absolutely beautiful! It has English styled gardens, including a lake and a lookout tower. I took some pictures of it, which I think you will enjoy. There is even wall paper from the 1920s. There is gorgeous stain glass windows and wall paper that was imported from England. I also checked out the kitchen, stables, the ballroom, and swimming pool which was added in the 1930s.

Rippon Lea Mansion

My fascination with old mansions continues....

Just inside the entrance. The hallway leading to the drawing room and dining room. It reminded me of the game clue. Mrs. White in the dining room with the candlestick.

This is one of the tables in the dining room. This room is from the 1930s.

Stain glass windows. They have orange trees because that was a symbol of wealth. They represent the different times of day so in the first one its morning with birds, then middle is the afternoon with the sun out, and the last window has an owl in it, representing night.

You never see craftsmanship like this anymore.

These are the entrance doors. They were stain glass bought from England and shipped to Australia. They have knights on them.


This is me looking out over the lake from the lookout tower

The bridge across the lake

By the lake notice all the lily pads in the background.

The lake, a waterfall runs down the rocks in the background and in the background you can see part of the lookout tower. It would be a kids dream come true.

Me by an enormous tree in the gardens. They even had a rain forest type of garden.

The first owner built these huts to store his archery equipment. He was like a commander over the archers in the British forces or something.

Another picture of the gardens


After that I caught a tram to St. Kilda so I could get a new picture of Luna Park since I lost it, last week. I also got a few more pictures, but unfortunately not anymore of the kite surfers. I started to run out of time, because I was meeting my friend Matt to go to Phillip Island.

This is Luna Park in St. Kilda, which is a small amusement park. This mouth is a famous attraction in Melbourne because its been open so long.

You can see the roller coaster at Luna Park in the background.

This is in St. Kilda not to far from where the kite boarders and surfers are.

Phillip Island at night there are these Fairy Penguins (which is what they are called because they are so small. They are about 12 inches tall). You sit on the beach and wait for them to waddle up to the beach and into their burrows for the night. They are so cute, but the weather and wind was so cold. We were sitting there freezing while these penguins would progressively come towards the beach, slowly get out, then one would turn around and go back in the water and then they would all follow. Then they would get towards the beach again, get out, start waddling, then they would all go back in the water. We watched this about 20 different times. We were laughing pretty hard at the beginning but by the end we were just wanting the penguins to go into their houses, so we could go sit in the car with the heater. The beach is located on the Bass Strait. The penguins you are not able to touch or get near, because they are endangered. Oh and you cant take any pictures either, which wasn't very cool, but I enjoyed the night. It was fun watching them.

Driving on Phillip Island

Waiting for the Penguins

Again, waiting for the "Fairy Penguins" and I was trying to not scream and keep the seagulls away from me. I hate those birds so bad. They are creepy!

On Sunday I was able to talk to James and Kim. It was fun getting caught up with these guys. I went to church. Then afterwards, I was invited to go out to dinner with Melissa and Matt because it was Melissa's birthday. I went with them and met their friends. There were quite a few of us, and it was a lot of fun. It was another good weekend that flew by. I just cant wait until Thursday, because then I will be in Sydney. Yea!

Christabelle and I at Mel's Birthday dinner

Mel's Birthday Dinner