Seniors in Melbourne

An exploration of the reasons behind Melbourne’s status as a city that has been shaped by writers, readers, publishers and ideas. Thursdays 10am-1pm · Meet: on the steps of State Library Victoria · Route: Swanston Street, Collins Street, Little Collins Street, Dame Edna Place, Howey Place · Highlights: State Library, Athenaeum Library, Doing the Block, the Palace of Intellect · Tea or coffee break (30 minutes): Dymock’s Café Melbourne · End: Swanston Street (in front of Melbourne Town Hall) · Tickets: $60 per person (maximum 10; minimum 4) · Disabled access: yes (please advise beforehand). Meet your guide – Paul Daffey Paul is a lifelong Melburnian, journalist and storyteller whose deep connection to the city’s cultural life adds richness and context to every walk. With an eye for detail and a love of language, he reveals the stories that have helped define Melbourne. About Seniors in Melbourne Seniors in Melbourne is a website and weekly newsletter helping Victorians aged 60+ discover the best events, attractions, dining and days out across Melbourne and regional Victoria. We're proud to connect our community with experiences — like this one — that help them stay active, connected and confident exploring their city. Visit: seniorsinmelbourne.com.au

A sweep through the roaring days of the Rag Trade to the lane’s development as a restaurant hub and avenue of style. Thursdays, 2pm-3.30pm · Meet: on the corner of Spring Street and Flinders Lane · Route: Flinders Lane, Duckboard Place, AC/DC Lane, Oliver Lane · Highlights: Rag Trade buildings, highway to heaven, Nicholas Building · End: Flinders Lane (on the corner of Swanston Street) · Tickets: $40 per person (maximum 10; minimum 4) · Disabled access: yes (please advise beforehand). Meet your guide – Paul Daffey Paul is a lifelong Melburnian, journalist and storyteller whose deep knowledge of the city’s working past and creative present adds colour and context to every walk. His tours focus on the small details and human stories that give Melbourne its character. About Seniors in Melbourne Seniors in Melbourne is a website and weekly newsletter helping Victorians aged 60+ discover the best events, attractions, dining and days out across Melbourne and regional Victoria. We're proud to connect our community with experiences — like this one — that help them stay active, connected and confident exploring their city. Visit: seniorsinmelbourne.com.au

A journey through the arcades that have always captivated Melbourne and the laneways that have come to captivate us in recent years. Fridays, 10am-1pm · Meet: on the steps of Flinders Street Station (under the clocks) · Route: Degraves Street, Centre Place, Collins Street, Bourke Street, Little Bourke Street · Highlights: Signature laneways, street sculptures, Block Arcade, Royal Arcade · Tea or coffee (30 minutes): Manchester Press Cafe, Rankins Lane · End: Swanston Street (on the corner of Bourke Street) · Tickets: $60 per person (maximum 10; minimum 4) · Disabled access: yes (please advise beforehand). Meet your Guide - Paul Daffey Paul is a lifelong Melburnian, journalist, and storyteller. His love of local history and character comes through in every step of his tours around Melbourne. Whether he’s recounting tales of a century-old pub or pointing out a detail most people miss, Paul has a knack for making the city’s past feel alive and wonderfully human. About Seniors in Melbourne Seniors in Melbourne is a website and weekly newsletter helping Victorians aged 60+ discover the best events, attractions, dining and days out across Melbourne and regional Victoria. We're proud to connect our community with experiences — like this one — that help them stay active, connected and confident exploring their city. Visit: seniorsinmelbourne.com.au

A review of the money and muscle of the city’s earliest industrial days through to the origins of the laneways makeover. Fridays, 2-3.30pm · Meet: on the steps of the GPO Building (under the H&M sign) in Bourke Street · Route: Postal Lane, Little Bourke Street, Rankins Lane, Hardware Lane, Niagara Lane, Guildford Lane · Highlights: Boom era warehouses, the Super Seven laneways off Little Bourke Street, the pot-plants of Guildford Lane · End: Guildford Lane · Tickets: $40 per person (maximum 10; minimum 4) · Disabled access: yes (please advise beforehand). Meet your guide – Paul Daffey Paul is a lifelong Melburnian, journalist and storyteller who delights in uncovering the layers of history hiding in plain sight. His tours focus on the human stories and small details that give Melbourne its distinctive character. Find more information at www.seniorsinmelbourne.com.au/tours About Seniors in Melbourne Seniors in Melbourne is a website and weekly newsletter helping Victorians aged 60+ discover the best events, attractions, dining and days out across Melbourne and regional Victoria. We're proud to connect our community with experiences — like this one — that help them stay active, connected and confident exploring their city. Visit: seniorsinmelbourne.com.au

First Saturday of the month, 9am-5.30pm: The trip over the Macedon Ranges is Victoria’s most scenic by rail. Then enjoy a relaxed exploration of a Goldfields jewel, featuring glorious 19th century buildings, the green canopy of Rosalind Park and a sense of space on the sunny streets. · Meet: 8.45 am Platforms 3-8, Southern Cross Station, Melbourne · Destination: Bendigo Train Station, Railway Place (off Mitchell Street) · Journey: 2 hours · Free weekend travel using a Seniors myki · Train departure: 9.01 am · Arrival: 10.58 am · Walking tour: 3.5 hours · Start: 11.15 pm (Bendigo Train Station) · Lunch: 12.45 pm, Shamrock Hotel, Williamson Street (corner Pall Mall) · Highlights: Beehive Building, Myer Bendigo, Shamrock Hotel, Bendigo Town Hall, Rosalind Park · Finish: 2.45 pm, View Street (Rosalind Park exit, near Charing Cross) · Disabled access: yes (please advise beforehand) · Steps: none · Return departure options: 3.28 pm (arrive 5.29 pm), 4.03 pm (6.10 pm), 4.28 pm (6.29 pm), 5.28 pm (7.29 pm), 6.28 pm (8.29 pm) · Cost: $115 per person (minimum 6, maximum 16). Bendigo walking tour amenities: Bendigo Train Station (Railway Place) Toilets: at the station and at nearby Bendigo Marketplace Shopping Centre Shamrock Hotel Williamson Street (corner Pall Mall) Lunch: Bistro at ground level Toilets: Ground level Elevator: To first floor Rosalind Park Toilets: Next to Bendigo Post Office View Street Toilets: Queen Elizabeth Oval Entertainment: Cafes, bars, galleries, boutiques. Meet your Guide - Paul Daffey Paul is a lifelong Melburnian, journalist, and storyteller. His love of local history and character comes through in every step of his tours around Melbourne. Whether he’s recounting tales of a century-old pub or pointing out a detail most people miss, Paul has a knack for making the city’s past feel alive and wonderfully human. About Seniors in Melbourne Seniors in Melbourne is a website and weekly newsletter helping Victorians aged 60+ discover the best events, attractions, dining and days out across Melbourne and regional Victoria. We're proud to connect our community with experiences — like this one — that help them stay active, connected and confident exploring their city. Visit: seniorsinmelbourne.com.au