ozzieeagle

One building seems to have changed Melbourne beyond belief, the Casino. I dont know if anyone else can remember things clearly before it was built but hell has it changed the place. I cant think of any other reason as to why the place is now getting beyond vibrant.

Reason I'm posting, it took us over an hour to travel 8k's after 11pm on Saturday evening, from St Kilda Rd, near the gallery, upto Coburg.

I realise it was Gran Prix weekend and all, but the whole place was chockers with people, from Southbank right up to the edge of the City and then into Carlton.

You honestly could have fired a rocked down Elizabeth st and Bourke st this time 20 years ago.

Could it really be the Casino and the spin off effect of extra people in the City, that has changed the culture of Melbourne so dramatically ?

It'll be interesting to see what it's like in July/August on a cold wet night. Which I'm going to make a personal point of comparing.

mohogony

The last time l was in melborne was 1989 and l plan to go back for a visit in a couple of months l will see how much it has changed.

Deancm

There was a lot of people out on Sat night but that was due to the Grand Prix (same every year).

The Casino is terrible. If anythng it is ruining Melbourne. Before it was built there was a club and bar scene that was quite good. Once it opened they all ended up closing as it took all business and Melbourne became a nightlife pariah. Then people got sick of the Casino and new nightlife started. 10 years ago it was much better in Melbourne as since then Labour and the Brumby govt are doing everything they can to ruin a good time in Melb. Under the new licensing laws places are closing as they can't afford to stay open.

Petals

Melbourne has changed from what it used to be, not a good thing, way too much violence.

Years ago it was busy in the night but there were cops on every corner, Swanston Street had cops on the intersection next to the station directing the traffic through the lights. The taxi rank was orderly and never felt unsafe in the middle of the night,not sure it would be the same now.

Pie cart remember the pie cart.

Deancm

The violence in town is the same as it always has been, it's just the media makes more of a sensation of it. Only difference is that it is more of a knife culture now.

bcworld

I'm not sure the casino has got much to do with anything.

Places like Brunswick St & Chapel St are also heaving with people & traffic late at night on weekends - and I reckon most of them couldn't care less about Crown. People who specifically come into the city for Crown probably never leave the complex.

ozzieeagle

Something definitely changed in a big way in Melbourne around 15-20 years ago. You could go to the City on the Weekends and it would definitely be empty. Carlton was busy, but nowhere near as busy as it is now. Brunswick st certainly wasnt anything like it is now in the 80's (I used to frequent the punters club actually.... this place here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punters_Club) That actually explains how Northcote has taken off..... I can clearly remember being frustrated with the City in the 80's as being dead on a weekend.

On talking to people around the traps, there used to be far more going on in the burbs years ago. Places like Cramers in Preston and Bombay Rock in Brunswick, even the Bundoora Hotel used to have special weekend events which would attract 100's of people.... I remember large venues being advertised on the other side of town as well. These large suburban venues seem to have dissipated somewhat to be replaced by smaller bar like venues or pokie taverns. The Suburban nightclubs have gone and seem to be mostly centered in the City now.

Dont get me wrong, I've only been to the Casino about 4 times since it opened, and usually come away bored. It does attract 1,000's of people.

Petals

I agree that violence was around years go, but it was more biffo between people known to one another,not the violence against innocent people who are just walking down the road, going to the ATM and not attacking people kicking them or knifing them ruining lives. This seems to happen every weekend now.

As I said before I never felt threatened in the city but I would be much more careful where I went now at night.

I also agree that there was more entertainment in the city but the reason it is disappearing is because people complain about the noise, they buy a house near a live venue scene then decide they don't like the venue, so who goes the venue, so more young ones have to go further for fun. Its us who are at fault people just have to remember what it was like to be young.

stuckinblighty

I was asking the same to Jim the welder at work the other day,he's been here since the early 80's.His answer surprised me as he loves the way Melbourne has grown and would even love an apartment in the CBD

Deancm

I have to disagree with you there. As a Police officer in Melbourne around that time, and having spent a lot of time working the city and King St., the only thing that's changed is the weapons and glassings nowadays. There were always big fights and people being mugged at ATMs etc.

That would be because the media has made so much of a fuss about it nowadays compared to then when it never made the news, so you are much more aware of it.

There's actually more entertainment in town nowadays than there was then. Big "super clubs" and a lot more bars. It seems to be the smaller operators that are being closed down due to the current licensing laws.

The night life in Melbourne was actually better 10 years ago. Now it's over regulated by the fun Police (Brumby and Liquor Licensing).

ozzieeagle

A lot of empty nesters are doing exactly that. One big bonus is the proximity of Vline and cheap fares to the bush towns.

rajj

If this refers to the sat night before the GP, there was definitely something unusual in the city that night/weekend. T'was the day I went to see the palace game v cardiff at the dickens and took 25 mins to get to the city from mentone & a whole hour to find parking...others on the nite said exactly the same ...every blooming street was packed with cars/people/revellers plus tons of diversions. Was a fantastic night and melbourne was just plain rocking that evening. ...pity about the game - we lost & so it ended in tears for me

ozzieeagle

Back out of the Zone Rajj