Puffin Belly(Drive a Steam Train - The 861 Footplate Experience)

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you may bring along your partner and family or guests, who may ride on the train, or enjoy the attractions of the area.

You have exclusive use of the locomotive for a day, under the expert supervision of an experienced Puffing Billy Railway driver.

You get the opportunity to light the fire, lubricate the locomotive, learn how to raise steam and how the Westinghouse brakes work, before spending several hours firing and driving the locomotive over a very challenging route.

Your day can start as early as 7.00 am when the fire will be lit in the locomotive and steam raised. This will be followed by a briefing session on safety procedures, and on the operation of the locomotive.

After making up a short train at Emerald you will depart at 9.15 am for Lakeside. At Lakeside your locomotive will take water, before you depart for Cockatoo. This section of track features three trestle bridges, and you will have the opportunity to photograph the train at one of these. At Cockatoo you will run the locomotive round the train, do some shunting, before departing for Lakeside . On the way back to Lakeside there will be time for a photo stop at another of the trestle bridges.

At Lakeside you will be able to see, and be involved in, much activity. On your arrival at Lakeside at , the first train from Belgrave will have already arrived at the station. Your train will be shunted into the stabling siding. At 11.40 am the second train from Belgrave will arrive. At 11.45 am one of these trains will depart for Gembrook. The locomotive on the other regular train will run round its train, ready for its return to Belgrave at 12.30 pm. Your train will then leave the stabling siding and come into the station to take water. You will then have lunch. After the 12.30 pm train departs for Belgrave, you will run the locomotive around your train, before departing for your second run to Cockatoo .

On the second run to Cockatoo you will have the opportunity to stop for a photograph at Wright station. On arrival at Cockatoo you will again run the locomotive around the train, do some shunting, then depart Cockatoo for Lakeside . On the way, there will again be time for a photo stop at one of the bridges, if you wish.

At Lakeside you refill the locomotive with water and see the Luncheon Train. Then, after having afternoon tea, you will take your train back to Emerald.

At Emerald you will see the last regular daily train from Belgrave pass on its way to Lakeside. You will then finish the day by shunting the train into a siding, and taking the locomotive back to its shed. Here it will take water, the fire will be dropped, the locomotive will be cleaned, and put to bed in its shed.

Your day will end at about 4.00 pm.

2006 Eureka tower

Some more facts:
- construction began in August of 2001;
- the building weighs 200,000 tonnes;
5,000 tonnes of reinforced steel and 110,000 tonnes of concrete
were used in the construction of Eureka Tower;
- the façade of the tower consists of 40,000 square metres of glass and aluminum panels;
- the glass is specially designed to reflect heat in the Summer, but to retain heat in the Winter

The pictures you find on this page were taken in April 2006;
just a few days before the building was completed (on the outside).
You can still see a crane on top doing the last (gold) decoration work on the summit of Eureka Tower.

Some Intersting Things About the Eureka Tower

Some facts about Eureka Tower:
- designed by Fender Katsalidis Architects;
- the story behind the name of the tower:
the name has a special significance in Australia due to the discovery of gold,
which has played a significant role in Melbourne's history.
Eureka means 'I've Found It' in Greek
and the expression 'Eureka, Eureka' was shouted
by Greek mathematician Archimedes (287-221 BC)
after he had just discovered the theory of displacement of liquids.
Legend has it that Archimedes used his theory to measure the purity
of the gold in the King's crown.
These golden connections have been incorporated in both the name of the building
and the 'golden' pinnacle of the tower which cover the top 11 floors.
This summit is clad in glass that has a surface of real gold.
- building costs were approximately US$ 415 million;
- 2nd tallest residential building in the world;
in 2006, only Q1 was taller, but that was because of its spire on top.
Floor wise, or height from ground level to roof top wise,
Eureka Tower is the tallest residential Tower in the world;
- at the beginning of 2006, the developer of Eureka Tower proposed adding an almost 54m/180f tall
communication mast/observation tower on top of the 297m/975f building;
- in April of 2006, a new proposal was announced:
a skywalk of over 50 m/164f that would lift the height to over 350m/1150f;
- the building will have an observatory on the 88th floor, 288m/945f above the ground.
The observatory is due to open at the end of 2006.
It will be the highest observatory in the Southern Hempishere;
- the tower has 13 elevators; two of which will service the observation deck.
They will be among the fastest in Australia, reaching the observatory,
traveling at 9 metres per second; 540 metres per minute.
- the buildings has 556 apartments.
The top ones will be the second highest in the world,
with the penthouse at level 84 (278,5m/913f) as the highest.
Only the John Hancock Center in Chicago has higher apartments;
- between ground level and floor 11 there are offices, restaurants, retail,
a health and fitness centre, a swimming pool, and a residents' car park (800 cars).
Floors 11 tot 80 will contain the 556 apartments.
The apartment levels are divided in three sections:
floors 11 to 24 will be 'River rise'; floors 25 to 52 will be 'Premier rise';
while Floors 53 to 80 will be 'Sky rise';
The top nine floors of the complex, known as 'Summit complex', will have the observatory,
the 84th floor penthouse, restaurants, a function centre, and a nightclub on level 87.
Two floors are in use as service and plant floors.

Eureka Tower photos

Yarra River

Although it's usually a muddy brown and it's not as clean as the city would like, the Yarra, which rises in the mountains east of town and flows through the suburbs and the city to the bay, is still an indispensible part of Melbourne.

In its upper and suburban reaches its bushy banks form parklands dotted with walking trails. Plying the river towards the city are water taxis and leisure craft; hugging the shores are award-winning restaurants, cafes and bars.

Riverside parks, cycling tracks, rowing sheds & lush green gardens are framed by the Crown Entertainment Centre at one end and Victoria's beloved MCG at the other. Walkers, cyclists, joggers, roller-bladers and skateboarders can all be found along its banks, while plenty of rowers skim the water from dawn to dusk.

Flemington Race course

This is the home of Flemington Racecourse in Epsom Road. Flemington Racecourse is famed for the renowned Melbourne Cup, part of the Spring Racing Carnival, one of Australia’s premier sporting events that draws visitors from around the world.

Whether you are a first-time visitor or a regular racegoer the racing is always exciting at 'Headquarters'. Flemington Racecourse is home to the Victoria Racing Club (VRC), the premier racing club in Australia. The VRC has the largest membership of any club in Australia.

The grounds are glorious with their rose gardens, impressive grandstand which boasts state-of-the-art facilities, and spectacular views of Melbourne.

Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road, also known as the Shipwreck Coast, is rich in culture and history. Together with the volcanic Hinterland, this area includes many attractions and natural wonders. These include Port Campbell National Park, Lake Corangamite (Australia's largest permanent salt lake) and the Twelve Apostles. The coastal towns of Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Port Campbell and the historic Camperdown create the perfect choice for family holidays and unforgettable experiences.

Prahran

Prahran has a multicultural feel to it and is populated by people from various ethnic backgrounds. Prahran is further south than South Yarra, hosting a wider range of styles and classes than South Yarra.

The Prahran Market is on Commercial Road, which is the home to the gay and lesbian community. You'll also see some wonderful bookshops, galleries and fashion boutiques, as well as some great eating places on Greville Street. Prahran also offers backpackers accommodation, in a convenient location.

Swanston street

Swanston Street used to be a pedestrian precinct, but is now due to open to vehicles during the night.

On the corner of Swanston and Victoria Street you'll find the Melbourne City Baths. It was built in 1903 but is still open today as a sports centre.

Further along, on the Cnr Swanston and Collins Street, is Melbourne Town Hall and opposite the Capitol Theatre, which was built in 1927 and hosts a kaleidoscopic creation on the ceiling. The Town Hall offers free tours Tuesday - Thursday at 10.30am and 2.30pm. It is neceesary, however, to book in advance. Call (03) 9658 9464.

You will also find the State Library to the North of Swanston Street. the 17th Century building hosts a fantastic reading room with a domed ceiling. it offers free tours Monday - Friday at 2pm, and the 1st and 3rd saturday of each month. normal opening times are:

Rialto Tower

Rialto Tower is situated in the heart of Melbourne city. It offers fantastic views across the city and surrounding landscape, and is a must do when visiting Melbourne. Rialto Tower is the tallest office building in the Southern Hemisphere, and also boasts numerous other amazing facts (listed below).

• The tallest office building in the Southern Hemisphere, 66 levels and 253 metres (830ft)
• 38 lifts and 706 lift door openings
• 95 kilometres (59 miles) of lift cables
• 70 kilometres (43.5 metres) of fire hydrant and sprinkler piping
• 9 hectares (22.2 acres) of quality carpet
• 1.8 hectares (4.5 acres) of glass windows
• 228,000 tonnes (224,399 tons) of materials used in construction
• The Rialto building boasts an enviable international reputation - it is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers, only the 21st tower in the World to become part of this elite group
• It was built in the mid-1980's and is the third highest reinforced concrete building in the World

Luna Park

Luna Park (Melbourne) is a historical amusement park situated at the picturesque Port Phillip Bay in St Kilda, Melbourne. Opened since 1912, Luna Park continues to draw large crowds and has been enjoyed by families for generations.

In November 1906 a vaudeville performer, Mr Salambo, opened a theme park called "Dreamland" situated approximately where Luna Park stands today. The park failed after 3 seasons, thought to be as a result of high prices. Later, in 1911, the Greater JD Williams Amusement Company obtained a lease on the land to build an amusement park. With JD Williams, the Phillips brothers, dozens of designers, builders and fun fair experts from all over the world Luna Park was constructed!

Luna Park opened in December 1912 and was an instant success drawing huge crowds!! A popular attribute of Luna Park was the live entertainment which included bands, acrobats, performing animals and more. Some of the original attractions still remain today including the Ferris Wheel, Terrace Tea Gardens, Scenic Railway and Pharaohs Daughter.

In 1913, when Williams returned to the USA, the Phillips brothers stayed on and transformed the park - adding to rides, renovating and repainting. The seasons that followed were also a success, with crowds reaching between 8000 and 10000 on Saturday nights. However, in 1916, Luna Park was forced to close for the War - after that it was only opened for patriotic events.

Nowadays Luna Park is jam-packed with rides, food and entertainment - guaranteed fun for the whole family! From knee-knocking thrill rides like the G Force, Shock Drop and Pharaoh's Curse to adventure rides for the little ones like Arabian Merry, Silly Serpent and the Carousel - there is something for everyone.

Luna Park is home to the oldest, continually operating roller coaster in the world - the Scenic Railway! Opened in 1912, the Scenic Railway is one of just 10 remaining. Travelling 50km/hour it offers brilliant views of Port Phillip Bay - if you dare to look!

Collins Street

There are a number of wonderful, historic buildings along Collins Street. the north end (once known as the 'Paris End') hosts Scots Church, built in 1873, and St. Michael's Church, built in 1866.

There are two theatres, the Athenaeum Theatre, built in 1886, and the Regent Theatre. You will also find the 19th century shopping arcade, Block Arcade, which still has an old-fashioned atmosphere to it. Further south you'll come across the Gothic dostrict and the Financial sector. Buildings you should visit include the Bank of Australasia, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the Gothic Bank, the National Mutual Life, and the three Olderfleet Buildings.

A must see is the Rialto Towers Observation deck, situated on the 55th floor of the Rialto Towers, offering 360 degree views of the city.

China Town

Melbourne attracted a large Chinese population back in the 1850's when in 1851 gold was discovered in Victoria. After the gold rush the Chinese settled in Melbourne and the Little Bourke Street community was born. While the Melbourne Chinatown population dropped during the depression it has since been revived and is as bustling as ever.

Little Bourke street is the centre of Chinatown. It is an exciting place to visit with Asian themed streets, some of the cities top restaurants and historic buildings. There are a range of buildings along the street itself and the small side streets leading off of it.

Throughout the year there are a range of different festivals including the Asian Food Festival and the Chinese New Year celebrations. The food is one of the most popular aspects of Chinatown with Chinese, Japanese, Malaysian, Korean,Thai and more on offer.

To find out about the history of the Chinese in Australia, visit the Museum of Chinese Australian History in Chinatown. The museum is located on Cohen Place, just off Little Bourke Street and it is open most days from 10am-5pm excluding Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Bourke Street

Bourke Street is the heart of the cities shopping, focused around Bourke Street Mall, where you'll find large department stores as well as some smaller shops. You'll also be able to see the Royal Arcde Houses where Gog and Magog have benn striking the hour ever since 1892.

The east end of the street offers fashion boutiques and bookshops as well as cafes, restaurants and cinemas.

South Gate in melbourne

Southgate gives access across the Yarra River to the south of the city, Victoria Street marking the north. To the east you'll find Fitzroy Gardens and Federation Square, and to the west Spencer Street and the docklands.

The heart of the city is marked by Bourke Street Mall which is situated between Swanston Street and Elizabeth Street, running north to south. Bourke Street and Collins Street are the main roads running west to east.

Melbourne was originally settled by graziers, John Batman being the first. He claimed land just north of Port Phillip Bay, whilst other graziers also decided to occupy areas near the Yarra River, but without the necessary permission to colonise.

Captain William Lonsdale was sent from Sydney to oversee the land sales. The township being established in 1835 and named after the British Prime Minister at the time, Lord Melbourne. Having been originally considered part of New South Wales, Victoria was established as a separate colony in 1851.