Altona Homestead

The homestead of Alfred and Sarah Langhorne was one of the first homesteads on the foreshore of Port Phillip. Built from timber in 1842, the 1851 bushfires came too close for comfort and the home was rebuilt with Tasmanian bluestone.
The interior is filled with objects from a bygone era; furniture, decorations and appliances.

A display of photographs allows you to flick through images from across the years.

In the courtyard, a collection of old household appliances and gardening equipment used back in the day. A wooden canoe sat high and dry...

...and a rusty old bike took the high road.
Outside, the gardens were filled with beautiful blooms and the front porch looked out onto Altona Beach.  The Museum was a great place to catch up on the history of the area.

A walk along Altona Beach was next on the agenda, with a visit to the Pier, originally built around 1888.

The promenade is also good for a walk, or ride, alongside the row of Norfolk Pines and with some seaside sculptures along the way.
The Altona Beach Market is on every Tuesday between 9am and 3 pm, along Pier St and in Logan Reserve, right outside the Homestead. A variety of stalls, with lots of homemade goods and produce, all lined up along the footpath.

What: Altona Homestead
Where: Logans Reserve  

When: Every Tuesday 11.00am to 2.00pm
          1st Sunday of the month 2.00pm to 4.00pm          

           Every Saturday 10.00am to 12.00pm                                                               

Why: history
How much: $2

Talbot

The first time we visited Talbot, on a weekday, felt like we had stepped into a Wild West ghost town. Just a few locals going about their business and a handful of visitors moseying around the streets.
"Stop that galloping" should be the town's motto. Slowing down. Enjoying the moment.
It was kind of nice to be able to stroll along the wide winding Main St, looking at the architecture and reading the information plaques at a leisurely pace, with worrying about getting in anyone's way on the footpath.

Corrugated iron, ghost signs, bluestone buildings and so much character, Talbot has to be one of my new favourite towns.

The gardens of the cottages brought a bright contrast to the fading signs of the buildings.

Over at the Railway Station Gallery, there was a  great nursery with a huge range of plants, pots, soil, firewood, tools, vinyl records and many more bits'n'bobs to fossick through.

 

The next time we visited Talbot, it was like we'd arrived in a completely different town - but it was as good an experience as the first, just a little more lively.

On the 3rd Sunday of the month, the Heritage Precinct in Scandinavia St comes alive as over 100 stallholders set up shop for the Talbot Farmers Market, with the historic buildings as a backdrop. 

Organic produce, cheese, bread, small livestock, beer, food trucks, second hand goods and more. 

I found this fabulous hand cut jigsaw puzzle of a railway scene in Melbourne.

 And who could resist a freshly peeled slinky apple?

What: Talbot town walk
Where: Scandinavia St
When:

• Farmers Market: 3rd Sunday of the Month 9-1

• Talbot Museum: Tues, Wed 10-4, Sun 1-4

• Talbot Railway Station Nursery: Wed-Sun

Why: history
How Much: FREE to walk around and explore the town
Nearby: Grand Duke Mine Timor, Carisbrook Log Gaol

Dandenong Market Tour

After being re-introduced to Dandenong via a Public Art tour, I was eager to visit again soon. Our tour guide mentioned that he also did foodie tours around the greater Dandenong area, and also the Dandenong Market.

So I booked a tour of the Market and off we went.

The famous neon Dandy Pig welcomed us to the Market, from his home on the rooftop. He's been a part of Dandenong since 1950 and recently became more famous on a postage stamp.

Our tour, led by the Market's resident chef, Russell, took us through the food halls of the market, stopping to chat to the stallholders and taste samples of their wares.

From fragrant spices to tasty zaatar breads...

...to fishmongers and butchers, with customers thronging to buy their products... 

...to the Dandee Donut van, where we inhaled one of these hot, sugary, jammy balls of deliciousness.

 

The tour was a great introduction to the market! We each got a shopping bag - inside was a market map, recipe leaflets, a jar of spice and a $5 voucher to spend in the market.  Russell shared tips on purchasing, storing, and preparing produce from the market.  He later did a one hour cooking demo in a dedicated area, The Kitchen, whipping up an Asian noodle dish before our eyes and giving the audience a sample of the dish, as well as a copy of the recipe.

We then headed off on our own to explore The Bazaar.

130 shops selling everything from lace to saris...

...second hand books... 

...to handbags. I bought myself a new casual bag, its colours reminiscent of the foods I had just seen on the tour.

We  were running out of time by this stage and could only do a quick look around the produce section, but we did manage to visit a few stalls and grab some fish from Schwarze and quality fruit and veg at very reasonable prices from these couple of stalls.

Taylors organic and conventionally grown produce...

...and Pikfresh Produce next to them, who have been here over 30 years...

...and made a mental note for next time, to save some room in the car for the bulk buy section in the back row. Boxes of fruit and veg at great prices. 

We'll be back in a few weeks, Dandy Pig. I'm looking forward to visiting a few more stalls.

What: Market Tour

Where:  Cleeland St, Dandenong

When:  Tuesday and Friday 10:00am

Why: fresh produce

How Much: FREE

Related post: Public Art Walk