Chelsea By The Sea

Chelsea By The Sea

                 

          It was sunny and bright that day as I stood at Platform #7 at Flinders Street Station. The clock indicated that I had 10 minutes of waiting for the next train bound for the city of Frankston. Like my previous trips on the Frankston line, I had no specific destination. As I boarded the blue train, I looked at my map, browsed over the villages that the train would pass through, and, in a few seconds, decided that Chelsea would be it. Passing through Cheltenham, Mentone, Mordialloc, Edithvale and other villages, the train was travelling at moderate speed. Finally, I heard the voice over:  "The next station is Chelsea....the next station is Chelsea." 

         Chelsea is a suburb of Greater Melbourne.  It is about 35 kilometers away from Melbourne's Central Business District (CBD).  Chelsea is famous for its beach that has fine golden sands.  On an ordinary day, that coastal stretch of Port Phillip Bay is quiet as only a few beach goers, walking barefoot along the shores and wading in its cyrstal clear waters, can be seen. The place is truly serene, and breaking the stillness from time to time, are the waves pounding the seemingly impregnable posts of the long pier of Chelsea that extends farther to the sea.

        A few meters away are bathing boxes that have become tourist attractions since the 19th century. Colorful and attractive as they are, these bathing boxes are owned by a selected few and cost about $250,000 each. They are used for changing clothes and storing personal items. And it is not surprising to see wedding pictorials at Chelsea Beach with the bathing boxes as backdrop.

        It was about 2pm when I had my lunch at the nearby reserve.  Then I was back again at the foreshore. As it has always been the case, I took out a small bottle from my back pack, knelt on one knee and scooped with my right hand some golden sand grains. I was feeling the grains with my fingers as I pressed them against the palm. Slowly I filled the bottle and placed it at the small pocket of my back pack.  As a buggy passed me by, I started walking towards  Nepean Highway, towards the station where the Metro train would take me back to the city proper.

- Konted

Chelsea Beach

The long pier of Chelsea

My backpack

Chelsea's foreshore as one looks northward

Looking towards the Mornington Peninsula

Seagulls are common on the shores of Port Phillip Bay

On standby for any eventuality

Rescue buggy

Chelsea Lifesaving Club

Swimmers are advised to stay within the two flagpoles. It is a patrolled area.

Bathing boxes are used for changing clothes and storing personal items.

One bathing box costs about $250,000.

Bathing boxes are used as wedding pictorial's backdrop.

Watching the pictorial

To the reserve

Magnificent view of the sea from the reserve

For picnic goers

Free use of grills

Clean comfort rooms

For the kids

Vacation houses near the beach

Chelsea's museum

Nepean Highway

Stores are within walking distance from the beach and the train station.

Try their delicious, freshly baked bread.

For your other needs

Whippets waiting for the owner who is shopping

Chelsea Train Station near  Nepean Highway

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Myer: Since 1900

Myer: Since 1900

        When Bataan and Corregidor fell, General Douglas MacArthur made good his escape to Australia on board a B-17 Flying Fortress that flew from the Del Monte Company' s airfield in Mindanao and landed 5 hours later at Darwin, Australia. MacArthur was with his wife Jean, son Arthur and his nanny and two senior officers. Two other B-17 carried his other staff members. As each passenger was allowed only one baggage, Mrs. MacArthur left her wardrobe behind. From Darwin, they traveled by train to Adelaide and finally reached Melbourne on March 25,1942. What Jean MacArthur first did was to shop at Myer Emporium for her clothing needs. But the general's wife had a hard time looking for dresses that would fit her as she was classified by the sales staff of Myer as SSW, meaning," short size woman".

        Today, Myer is the largest chain of department stores throughout Australia. Myer sells shoes, clothing and apparel, perfumes, cosmetics, toys, and other general items at retail prices. Established by a Russian migrant at the close of the 19th century at rural Bendigo, Myer stores can now be found in all states of Australia. It reported a revenue of A$3.14 billion for 2014. With a manpower of about 19,000, Myer's main office is in Melbourne. Main store is at Bourke Street.

         Every Christmas season, thousands of Australian kids, with their parents as well, troop to Myer for the traditional viewing of Christmas window display with moving figures as top attractions. And to add to that festive mood is an annual Myer Christmas parade participated by hundreds of Melbourne residents and viewed by thousands. Myer, to Australians, has become synonymous with Christmas. And during other significant Melbourne festivals, Myer store along Bourke Street has colorful banners that create that mirthful mood while at the same time attracting shoppers or spenders. Myer undoubtedly will continue to dominate the retailing business in the years to come.

         Back to General MacArthur. It was in Adelaide that the General said that famous line: " I came through and I shall return." From there, his group proceeded to Melbourne where they established their first headquarters on Collins Street. Several weeks ago, I looked for that HQ. I luckily found its exact location. But there was nothing to see except for the old building which has a coffee shop at the ground floor. A marker at the entrance states that the General's HQ is recognized by the National Trust of Australia. It has been declared a heritage building.

- Konted

Bourke Street in Melbourne where Myer and other department stores are located

Myer on Bourke Street is the flagship store of the Myer chain.

There are benches in front of Myer where shoppers and promenaders may take a rest.

One of several entrances to Myer store.

Only trams are allowed within that portion of Bourke Street where department stores are located.

Living statues entertain shoppers in front of Myer store.

A family of five as street entertainers

Joining the queue for viewing of Christmas window display at Myer are children as well as adults.

Luxury cosmetics from Giorgio Armani

Perfumes by Yves Saint Laurent

High-end skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care products from Estee Lauder

Perfumes and cosmetics from Lancome Paris

Black Opium perfume by YSL

More Lancome products

Sales lady in Christmas attire

Clothes and apparel

Cosmetics and fragrance from the American company Elizabeth Arden

Annual Christmas window display at Myer on Bourke Street

Entertaining shoppers and promenaders

The Trustees Building on Collins St. used as headquarters by General MacArthur and other officers of the Allied Forces.

The Trustees Building has been classified by the National Trust of Australia.

General MacArthur with wife Jean and son Arthur IV visiting the Philippines in 1950 (g'gle; caption is mine)

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