Things to do

Looking for something to do between the ceremony and the reception? We’ve collected a list of things we’d probably think about doing in the city with time to kill.

ACMI

Nearby at Federation Square is the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, where there are fun free exhibitions for the movie and game nerds among us. If you want to cough up some cash, their Winter Masterpiece exhibition this year is Light: Works from Tate’s Collection.

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

Also at Fed Square is the Ian Potter Centre, which houses NGV’s Australian art collection. With free entry you can cast your peepers upon some beautiful Australian classics, such as John Brack’s Collins St, 5pm; Frederick McCubbin’s triptych The Pioneer; Arthur Loureiro’s The spirit of the Southern Cross; or Black Gum 1, 2 & 3 by Christian Thompson (although the NGV website is saying Black Gum is not currently on display 😭)

Get some churros, risk being late for the reception

Located conveniently opposite the State Library, San Churro QV serves up thoroughly average churros at an astoundingly pedestrian speed. You could easily kill 60 or 90 minutes or more waiting for your favourite fried Iberian snack and a similarly long amount of time marvelling at the growing queue.

National Gallery of Victoria

Following Swanston Street south over Princes Bridge will take you to the arts precinct, where you’ll find the National Gallery of Victoria, with a huge international collection that you are able to wander for free. Their Winter Masterpiece exhibition this year is The Picasso Century (but ya gotta pay for that one).

Y&J’s

If you’d like to while away the hours drinking a brew, you can find Young and Jackson’s on the corner of Flinders and Swanston, right across from the station. It’s a well-known historic pub that has been serving beers since 1861, and for a brief period of that time some of those beers were served by Jenni herself (when she worked there, not because she let herself behind the bar). On the first floor (that is the second floor for any Americans reading) you can find the famous Chloé painting by Jules Joseph Lefebvre. Don’t ask how many old codgers said to Jenni, “Is that you?” while she stood next to it.

SYN

If you’re feeling sentimental, why not wander around RMIT, right across from the State Library. It’s somewhere around here that Jenni and Michael first met while doing the very normal hobby of volunteer community breakfast radio. We’re pretty sure both the SYN studios and the office are gone now, so perhaps pour one out in tribute. RIP.
While you’re at it, you could pop into The Curtin at the bottom of Lygon Street, right across from Trades Hall. Many a SYN hangout was had within this dimly lit pub, plus you should pay your respects to the place that Bobby Hawke and his yard glass would frequent before the developers knock it down.

MCG

Just a short walk, train or tram ride from the city, why not visit the MCG to peruse a game of AFL? It’s the penultimate round of the season. Might you be treated to the sight of a team tanking for draft picks and bringing the sport into disrepute? Tis the season.

Ponyfish and/or Arbory Afloat

Get some drinks on the water if it ain’t too cold.

Read this bogan lorem ipsum

As cross as a mongrel my she’ll be right his blood’s worth bottling. As dry as a waggin’ school where come a dob. She’ll be right sickie when she’ll be right good onya. Built like a whinge mate as busy as a tucker. Lets get some battler no worries as cross as a trackies. As cunning as a mozzie to shazza got us some tucker-bag. As busy as a doovalacky where gutful of brizzie.

He hasn’t got a feral mate she’ll be right tinny. Come a digger no dramas trent from punchy bathers. We’re going grundies where she’ll be right fossicker. As dry as a bradman heaps as busy as a brick sh*t house. He’s got a massive smoko where as cunning as a veg out. He hasn’t got a pokies also flat out like a barbie.

She’ll be right sickie bloody shazza got us some slabs. Watch out for the trackies piece of piss shazza got us some true blue. Built like a cactus mate when he hasn’t got a cab sav. Get a dog up ya postie flamin it’ll be waggin’ school. You little ripper grouse with grab us a hoon. As busy as a rack off also as dry as a reckon. She’ll be right chokkie with come a beauty. Mad as a cubby house with get a dog up ya sook.

He’s got a massive ciggies flamin as cross as a kelpie. Get a dog up ya brisvegas no worries come a galah. As cunning as a bodgy and as stands out like bounce. Flat out like a grundies how flat out like a roadie. As cunning as a barbie where as busy as a roo bar. As busy as a ocker with as dry as a swagger. She’ll be right wuss also gutful of ford. We’re going booze bus heaps as dry as a franger.