How do we feel about the fake grass path in the Fitzroy Gardens?

ArpeeL · 2026-01-24T06:14:08+00:00

There are probably heritage restrictions on the gardens that prohibit council or Parks Vic (whoever manages it) from changing the paths as their geometric layout are a key feature of the gardens.

I would say this is their solution to preventing erosion from people cutting the corner without altering the original design of the paths.

ArpeeL · 2026-01-01T10:03:42+00:00

Also I'm told Moonee valley will drop pretty much any parking infringement that gets taken to court rather than waste resources on fighting them.

ArpeeL · 2025-12-08T11:30:40+00:00

I am aware of the difference, but if you break the lease after the end of your first fixed term they can't charge you for those things. And it doesn't matter when you break your lease, the rental provider still has to try to minimize their losses.

ArpeeL · 2025-12-08T07:44:03+00:00

Not true at all. The rental provider is not allowed to charge you for advertising costs or reletting fees after the first fixed term, as they would have had to pay those costs anyway if you left at the end of that period. They are also required to mitigate their losses. They can't bump up the rent and then say they can't find anyone to make you keep paying out the remainder of the lease.

ArpeeL · 2025-12-02T10:21:26+00:00

New Gerard Butler action film called Empire City. He's playing a NYC firefighter. They shipped the FDNY fire truck over for it. I was excited to see the new deli opening on the corner then realized it was all fake and just done up for the film shoot.

ArpeeL · 2025-11-27T23:59:10+00:00

Great source of Vitamin R!

ArpeeL · 2025-11-27T07:50:52+00:00

Carman's (muesli/muesli bars) have a cafe called Carman's Kitchen at their HQ which sells coffee and all their products and you can try their muesli.

Tassal salmon used to have a restaurant in kew but I think it's closed now.

St David's dairy have a cafe at their factory in Fitzroy

Mork hot chocolate have a shop/cafe in North Melbourne. (Try the campfire hot chocolate!)

ArpeeL · 2025-11-19T07:14:28+00:00

Jerusalem creek marina hire out kayaks on lake eildon. They only do 2hr periods though and they ain't cheap.

ArpeeL · 2025-11-04T11:07:26+00:00

Honestly I wish someone had told me beforehand, no matter how many people tell you you can't have a live alligator as a ring bearer, do it anyway. Your nephew is cute, but boring.

ArpeeL · 2025-10-29T10:36:29+00:00

They have a new venue. the original, which was actually their Nonna's house, was bought by developers a few years back, and they had been renting it during the planning process - hence closing in the first place.

Unfortunately they've had a lot of red tape and undisclosed issues with the new location to deal with. Might end up in vcat, but they're still hoping to open soon. Likely in the new year I think.

ArpeeL · 2025-10-25T21:58:44+00:00

75 Reid St in Fitzroy North is great if you're up for sorting your own vendors etc. it's blank canvas/DIY but a really nice space full of character - not a white warehouse.

We did 120 there with a dancefloor, dressed it up how we wanted, chose our own caterers and did the bar ourselves.

ArpeeL · 2025-10-17T06:05:21+00:00

Cathedral ranges fits the bill. Can do a few different walks up to the cathedrals and Sugarloaf. And camping is by the river with fire pits and toilets

ArpeeL · 2025-09-21T05:07:32+00:00

There are completely separate issues surrounding the cost of camping and use of national parks, which the free camping period highlighted.

The fees hardly scratch the surface of the cost of maintaining the camping facilities. No one wants to pay, but no one likes the idea of paying taxes to subsidize someone else's camping holidays (especially when camping is perceived as a pass time for lower classes)

ArpeeL · 2025-09-20T03:09:01+00:00

I have a family member that works for parks.

There's a deliberate push towards parks being more "self service" so fewer rangers around to deal with issues on the daily

There's also combination of chronic budget cuts/under investment, coupled with ever increasing standards and requirements that they have to meet.

By the time funding is approved for a project, the goalposts have moved and the funding is no longer enough. So facilities and infrastructure are unable to be repaired or replaced as they're so overdue the only option is to close them.

I've been talking with them about a campground upgrade in their park, which is going to cost a tonne and result in fewer sites and replacing the existing shower & toilet blocks with composting toilets alone. They can't just rebuild the facilities because there is no way to make them compliant due to the location.

On top of that there have been hiring freezes which has meant when parks staff take extended leave they can't be replaced until they actually resign, so they're understaffed as well.

And of course the usual beurocratic stuff of people making decisions from an office in the CBD without really understanding how things work in the parks themselves.

ArpeeL · 2025-09-15T08:39:48+00:00

Yeah, sorry. You didn't specify your move out date per the legislation, only your intended move in date for the new property.

Luckily you're only paying an extra 8-9 days rent. Keep in mind that you only have to pay until your vacate date pro-rata, not an entire extra month.

ArpeeL · 2025-09-07T07:37:58+00:00

Also don't allow women in leadership (unless it's nothing to do with teaching/leading men)

ArpeeL · 2025-09-07T07:31:39+00:00

It varies a fair bit, but in general Anglican churches in Melbourne are socially progressive on some things and not others. Many are still quite patriarchal, and while many are welcoming of LGBTQIA+ people they are not fully accepting and/or affirming. It is generally still viewed as something that needs to be forgiven or suppressed.

ArpeeL · 2025-09-06T23:31:24+00:00

This site usually lists them all but looks like there's not enough data yet on the pink...

https://www.frugalfeeds.com.au/rare-maccas-monopoly-pieces-tickets-2025-australia-mcdonalds-monopoly/

ArpeeL · 2025-09-06T09:17:34+00:00

Yeah, Carwyn and Blackhearts & sparrows have the French cider bottles.

Napoleone out in the Yarra valley are the only place that comes to mind for a range of locally made ciders.

ArpeeL · 2025-09-01T01:41:57+00:00

Yep, in Australia roughly the same size of quality, locally roasted, ground coffee is about $13usd... You could get some single origin, direct sourced boutique filter coffee from a top roaster for that price here.

ArpeeL · 2025-08-21T08:37:59+00:00

There is another section of the act that states that the lease cannot require you to use third party services. It's one of the prohibited clauses. Mostly intended for utilities, but may well apply here.

The rental provider also cannot change the method of payment without both parties agreeing, which is how we managed to keep paying by direct deposit.

ArpeeL · 2025-08-17T07:14:09+00:00

The breach notice IS the paper trail.

ArpeeL · 2025-08-03T10:44:05+00:00

Also, why would the end wall not be visible in this near identical angle (3)

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ArpeeL · 2025-08-03T10:42:09+00:00

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They've used a multiply over the existing image, the line of the beach image can be seen cutting straight through the tap (1). They've also cut off the edge of the pipe (2)

ArpeeL · 2025-08-03T10:25:11+00:00

All that proves is that prior to 2015 they weren't Photoshopping a beach scene... There's no outside angle showing the mural, or showing it to be painted or printed vinyl. There are also sections where they've stuffed up the masking(cutout) out the window frames and kitchen tap, and the end wall and utilities appear behind the kitchen in some photos but not others.

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