Zig zagging through local streets is a favourite journey of mine. There is always something unexpected to find. Starting from home today with David in tow we walked the local streets to the Fairfield Boathouse. This amazing front yard is totally photo worthy.

We walked through Johnson Park

which was in full colour and on a perfect sunny day full of activity.

The lawns were lush and green with scatter rugs of dandelions. I was tempted to stop and make a daisy chain like the ones made during the idle summer days of my childhood.

After reluctantly leaving Johnson Park it wasn’t long till we crossed over Heidelberg Rd and turning left we came to Fairfield Park and playground.

Down through the park with paths and steps of bluestone

we were led down towards the Yarra River.

We passed the Amphitheatre which to my astonishment was built in 1985. It looks so much older. It was designed to hold 500 and modelled on the Epidavros Theatre in Southern Greece. Bluestone rescued from Northcote gutters and laneways was used to build the theatre, hence giving the theatre its centuries old look.

Continuing on down we arrived at the Fairfield Boathouse and Tea Rooms. The Fairfield Boathouse has an interesting history. It was built in 1908. When John St Clair originally decided to build the boathouse he had to obtain approval from the Yarra Bend Hospital for the Insane as the site of the boatshed was to be built on their grounds. In 1915 after several troubled years with Crown Bailiffs over building permits the Heidelberg Council bought him out. Canoe carnivals and open air carnivals were common in Fairfield until the 1950’s when boating popularity declined. The building became derelict and during the 1980’s it became a home for squatters and possums. In 1985 Paul Van Der Sluy won the tender to restore the boathouse. It took 30,000 hours of meticulous work to rebuilt and restore it to what it is today. A step back in History.

Continuing on after a leisurely coffee at the tea house

we crossed across the pipe bridge where I had a week or so ago had my major oops moment.

Looking back at the Fairfield Boathouse from the Pipe Bridge

we walked towards the Chandler Rd Bridge for our return journey. This time we took the middle path with the Yarra visible for most of the walk. After a bit of rain the track which is very popular with mountain bike riders was slushy and slippery often with large puddles of muddy water.

After crossing back over the Chandler Bridge we took a diversion once again through the local streets. The local streets in Fairfield were alive with colour.

and old world charm

Our leisurely walk, 11 kilometres for the day.