Welcome to Bay Street - 99 Bikes

Cadel Evans won the Tour de France and 99 Bikes opened in Bay St. Might we have more bike than nail shops soon?

1861, 1888, and 2010 at Chequers

I feel ambivalent about the changes taking place at Chequers. I never really liked the yellow [just a sliver remains] and this grey looks smart - but is it one of the last of Port's working class pubs to go?

The Chequers Inn was built in 1861 by Edwards James Crockford whose son later became Town Clerk of Port Melbourne.

It was renovated in 1888 under the direction of local architect John Grut. It included classical Italianate embellishments of frescoes, columns and trusses and offered comfortable accommodation. [taken from Chartered Scoundrels: A brief history of Port Melbourne hotels by Pat Grainger]

I have always found the embellishments, seen here above the Bay/Bridge corner, a bit over the top.

Welcome to Bay St

After much labour behind mysterious windows, and the discovery of the copper window surround, Balderdash is now open on the corner of Bay and Bridge St.
I am no cafe reviewer but it seems the proprietors are dedicated to coffee and creating a comfortable space for patrons.
Coffee and pastries now and breakfast and lunch from next week.

Peeling back the layers

Went past the shop preparing for opening on the corner of Bridge and Bay St to see that they have uncovered copper surrounds of the window frames facing Bridge St.

I remember when this was - briefly - a health food shop.

Do you know what shop it was in earlier days?

Welcome to Bay St

I have been watching with interest the coming of the bike shop at 362 Bay St, opposite the Town Hall. It is now open.

These are no ordinary bicycles - and I think they warrant that more respectful designation. Each one is made by hand in England.

The children's tricycles are especially appealing.

www.bakerlite.com.au

Bay and Liardet St intersection

The Bay and Liardet St intersection is a focal point in Port Melbourne, and we are discussing ways to make it safer, especially for pedestrians.
Click on this photograph to see this intersection around 1937.
The Port Picture Theatre [now the Telstra shop and A Simple Affair] is in the far left of the picture, with the market buildings [now the Coles complex] recognisable on the right.

City end of Bay Street

Walking home along Bay St this evening and came across this new business. Kath 'creates baked goods with a conscience from sustainable and local sources'. Walk past during the day and there may be cakes on all those stands.
Kath takes orders for cakes and can be found at Farmers Markets.

Visit Kath at the Locable* Kitchen in Bay St.

* Locable decribes food, produce, raw materials, that are grown, harvested, and distriubted in a sustainable manner, from the local area

Keeping the pedestrian zone clear

Revised Footpath Trading Guidelines have now been adopted by Council. The most important part of the guidelines from my point of view is the emphasis on accessibility. We are fortunate in Bay St to have wide footpaths which generally allow space for pedestrians and cafe tables.

Here are the formal words:

'The pedestrian zone must include an unobstructed pedestrian corridor along the footpath immediately adjacent to the front of the building line to ensue a continuous accessible path of travel. No items of furniture, including planter boxes, plants, advertising signs, chairs and tables, etc., are permitted within this zone.The pedestrian zone will depend on the width of the overall footpath in accordance with the Footpath Trading Guidelines.

Footpath width: 4.1m - 5.0m Pedestrian zone 2.3m

Footpath width: 5.1m - 6.9 m Pedestrian zone 2.5m'

There is further detail in the guidelines about umbrellas, blinds, heaters and other mattters.

One job ticked off for Bay St, more to be done

Palm trees removed to create a right hand turn into the new Bianca development have finally been moved to their new home at the north end of Bay St.
Together with the flag poles - which hopefully will soon have flags - they emphasise the sense of entrance to Bay St.
This curve is actually Crockford, rather than Bay St, which confuses many people.
Our main aim is to achieve a 40 kph speed limit for Bay St, as in other major shopping strips in Port Phillip.
VicRoads, and not Council, is the road manager for Bay St as it is an arterial road and their consent is required for any works or changes to Bay St.

Bay Street and surrounds

Over the past week, we have had fascinating conversations with people about Bay St: what they like and what they would change. There has been a remarkable consistency in the feedback. Nearly all respondents said they like the 'mix' of Bay St. They like the mix of old and new, the mix of people, the mix of building types, the mix of shopping.
They wanted the old buildings and features which give Bay Street its character, not only retained, but well looked after.
The most commonly cited service that is missing is public toilets. People use the 109 and 1 tram service, but very few people used the bus or knew where it went. The speed and volume of traffic was a concern for many, particularly the noise of trucks between Beach and Rouse on Graham.
Most people had walked to Bay St when we met them from surrounding streets.
There will be one more session in Bay St on Thursday 3 December 4.30 to 7.30pm near the entrance to Coles
Please come and add your views.

What would you like Bay St to be like in future?

The Council is planning for the future of Bay St and surrounds.
Bay Street has changed hugely over the past 10 years. How would you like it to be in the future? What are your thoughts and opinions about Bay St? How could it be improved? What ideas do you have to make Bay St a better place? What do you like, and what don't you like?
Leave a comment here.

I will be with staff at conversation tents on

Tuesday 24 November 11am to 2pm near the entrance to Coles

Friday 27th November 11am to 2pm north end Bay St near 385 Bay St

Saturday 28 November 10 to 1pm corner Rouse and Bay St

Thursday 3 December 4.30 to 7.30pm near Coles

if none of these times suit you, send your ideas to baystreetplan@portphillip.vic.gov.au

Palm transplant

Three palm trees will be moved from the median strip on Bay Street between Graham and Rouse Street and replanted in the centre median between Spring Street North and Raglan Street on 4th May.

This is to allow a turning lane into the Bianca development.­
All transplant costs are at the developers costs for lifting, transporting, replanting and maintenance.

Traders at the northern end of Bay St have wanted palm trees for a long time to make a strong statement about the entrance to Bay St and Port Melbourne.