Last Day in Melbourne, October 29, 2025

Depiction of a hanging of aboriginal people in Melbourne

 Today was our last full day in Melbourne, another sunny day in the high 60s. We will be sorry to leave this wonderful city where we've had great experiences.

 We set off for the University of Melbourne to the Ian Potter Gallery which commemorates 60,000 years of aboriginal life. 

   As we were early, we had a coffee and shared a traditional scone with jam and clotted cream. Mmmmm.

   The museum was powerful. One section was off-limits to those under 18 because it documented the desecration of aboriginal graves for body parts to underscore the racist idea of eugenics. The bodies were used to "prove" that aboriginals were inferior to other races with the white Europeans at the top. We watched a film about how the U of Melbourne in the late 1800s into the 1900s collected body parts and published "research" that is now totally discredited. It was not until recently that the collection has been interred properly. They could not return them to the original places of rest because it was not well documented. 

     Throughout the museum, it was clear that the more civilized people were the aboriginals who suffered horribly at the hands of the so-called superior white Europeans.

   

This was originally a large sign post to a place where aboriginal people sold trinkets. It is now an art center and this was painted to represent 7 powerful women, including Tina Turner, Cher and Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. It is based on the mythology of the 7 Sisters who escaped from a lecherous man to become the Pleides constellation.

  The art work was highly symbolic with creation myths and representations of aboriginal beliefs and practices.

       After that we walked to another restaurant recommended by Jecca and Otis - Tokui Sushi where we had sushi rolls - 5 for about $9.00! We had egg sushi (new to us), avocado sushi roll, fried chicken sushi roll and 2 spicy tuna rolls. All were delicious and there was a line to put in an order. We were among the few who sat at the restaurant.

At Tokui Sushi

Tokui Sushi

     Then we walked back to Victoria Market, only to find that it was closed for the day. 

A reminder

     After that, we took the tram home and went up to the sauna and swimming pool in our building.