City stroll

I started off from the Mechanics Institute, after returning a bag of  books to the library there, at the bottom of Sturt Street

from the bandstand in the middle of the street I could see Minerva on the top of the Mechanics Institute on one side.

And this lovely piece on the opposite side at the entrance to Camp Street (all goldrush towns have a Camp Street where the soldiers and police set up)

Down from the bandstand and along the little path in the centre gardens

Past Queen Vicky and her fairy (yes I know it's really the goddess Victoria)

Past the nicely wrapped town hall

Around into Mair Street. Here's a remnant of the old School of Mines (one in every Victorian Goldrush Town once) which has taken over the Ballarat Brewery and the Ballarat prison and morphed into a university.

Not many milk bars left now - once they were on every second corner.

Then I walked around the newly flowering gardens in Mills and Frank Streets, just near the city centre.

These wide streets always feel good. Not too well-curbed and paved, with lots of room for people who like to walk.

And even around these neatly made-up houses you can come across a bit of informal loveliness.