What are those three guys staring at? They look so out of place. Right here on the corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets in Melbourne, you’ll find the “Three Businessmen Who Brought Their Own Lunch.” This quirky bronze sculpture, created by Alison Weaver and Paul Quinn, always draws a crowd. It was unveiled back in 1994, a gift from the people of Nauru to celebrate Melbourne’s 150th anniversary. But these aren’t just any businessmen. They are meant to be John Batman, Charles Swanston, and Robert Hoddle, three key figures in Melbourne’s early history. Imagine them suddenly transported from the 1830s to this bustling modern city! The artists wanted to capture that sense of bewilderment, but also a touch of humor. Notice the details – their dated suits, the lunchboxes they clutch. These guys represent a bygone era. They are “pedestrians of vast time,” as Weaver put it, forever frozen amidst the flow of modern life. The sculpture is a reminder that even in a fast-paced city like Melbourne, history is always present, just beneath the surface.
Kororoit Creek
Is this where the river meets the sea? This is Kororoit Creek. It flows right here through Melbourne’s western suburbs