This summer Melbourne experienced unusual heat, in that there were several heat waves from February and mid-March (lasting up to 9 days in March). The weather stayed by and large quite stable, in contrast to the normal cycle from cool to hot days and without the usual hot winds from inland on most days. It so happened that I had to organise a picnic for my Chinese colleagues, and it occurred to me that a seaside place like Williamstown would be a good idea.
這個夏季熱得不尋常，二月至三月中好幾次持續炎熱數天（最多是三月上旬的9天），天氣總體上穩定，有別於過往由清涼漸轉炎熱的循環，而熱的日子往往也沒有颳起從內陸來的強烈熱風，剛好我要負責為中國人同事安排野餐，所以便想起去位於海邊的Williamstown區。
Two weeks before the picnic (10th March) I asked one of my friends to join me for a walk along the shore in Williamstown to find a good picnic spot. I’ve obviously chosen a good day to spend time by the sea, as the sea breezes kept the temperature at a very comfortable level, as opposed to the rest of Melbourne which must be enduring another rather uncomfortable day without any wind. I wished that I didn’t have to go home and could stay in Williamstown forever! Williamstown was where the British settlers first landed and settled in Melbourne, and to date it is still possible to see some historical heritage from the mid-19th century. The best testament to that era was the use of bluestone (called basalt elsewhere in the world) in the construction of the Time Ball Tower at Point Gellibrand and a few other residences. Those buildings reminded me of Ballarat during the gold rush of the 1850s and are not so common these days in Melbourne outside the CBD or inner suburbs. It showed the long common colonial history shared by Williamstown and Melbourne.
我提早兩星期（3月10日）約了一個朋友沿著Williamstown的海濱走一趟，視察環境及尋找一個合適的野餐地點。一到達海邊，習習海風把所有暑氣一掃而空，相比起墨爾本市內其他地方一絲風也沒有，我也恨不得在那裡溜躂整天不走呢！Williamstown是英國移民在墨爾本首個登陸的地點和最早開發的地區，至今仍保留當年（19世紀中葉）的一點遺跡和影子，包括屹立於Point Gellibrand的報時球燈塔（Time Ball Tower）和其他用玄武岩（basalt，在澳洲亦稱bluestone）興建的民房，與淘金年代（1850年代）巴拉瑞特（Ballarat）的建築風格相近，在墨爾本，這些房屋在市中心以外難得一見，也間接引證了Williamstown和墨爾本有同樣悠長的英國人開發史。
Geographically speaking, Williamstown sits on a peninsula. The southeast-facing shoreline containing Point Gellibrand is the quietest side of the peninsula and was, to my surprise, rather devoid of people on that day (probably because most people considered it too hot to go outdoors). The shore along Nelson Place, facing northeast, was the most popular part of the peninsula with the many cafes, gift shops selling pretty decorations and a small art gallery attracting the crowd. There is a pier for the ferry to the city, a decommissioned navy vessel now open to public visits, as well as s couple of yacht clubs. The opposite, southwest-facing shore is lined with a beach and several parks, and I finally decided on the Williamstown Botanic Gardens as the picnic spot.
Williamstown的地理形勢是一個半島， Point Gellibrand的一段海岸面向東南，是半島最寧靜的一岸，人跡罕至（也可能是因為天氣熱的原故吧），朝東北的Nelson Place一帶是人氣最旺的一岸，可遠眺墨爾本市中心，海旁是帆船港，停泊了一艘退役軍艦供人參觀，也有碼頭讓人乘船到市區，沿海濱的馬路盡是食肆、飾物店，還有一家小型藝術展覽館，人潮如鯽。朝西南的海岸有海灘和公園，我最終選了那裡的植物公園（Williamstown Botanic Gardens）作為野餐地點。
The picnic on 24th March was attended by 15 or more people, and we also had a good feast despite a smaller crowd than the picnic at Mount Dandenong. The Botanic Gardens and the views of sea were ours and another group’s to enjoy as we were the only people there. After the meal we went for a stroll along a seaside trail. It was the right temperature, neither too hot nor too cold, except the wind was a bit too strong, but it didn’t spoil our enthusiasm. The kids were particularly excited about playing by the water. Further along the trail, we came across a tranquil little bay where many pelicans, swans and other water fowls sought sanctuary. While the others turned back, I continued walking towards a lake for a closer look of the birds.
野餐（3月24日）有十多人出席，規模比上一次在丹頂農山小，但也吃得挺豐富，大家邊吃邊談天說地，全公園祇有我們和另一群人，盡享公園內和大海的風景。飯後大家沿著海濱散散步，那天天氣不冷不熱，祇是風大一點，但無損我們的興緻，尤其是小朋友在海灘一玩水就特別興奮。再遠一點，我們來到一個寧靜的小灣，遠觀在那裡棲息的塘鵝、天鵝和其他鳥類，我獨自再走一小段路到一個小沼澤，以近一點的距離鸛鳥。
Williamstown is a truly unique part of Melbourne with its blend of history and nature. It offers a peek into the early British colonial history in Melbourne within a laid-back setting of the seaside. It’s worth a visit by residents and tourists alike.
Williamstown集歷史和自然氣息於一身，既可讓人一窺英國人初到墨爾本的殖民史，又可令人感受海濱的悠閑，是墨爾本一個獨特的區。
這個夏季熱得不尋常，二月至三月中好幾次持續炎熱數天（最多是三月上旬的9天），天氣總體上穩定，有別於過往由清涼漸轉炎熱的循環，而熱的日子往往也沒有颳起從內陸來的強烈熱風，剛好我要負責為中國人同事安排野餐，所以便想起去位於海邊的Williamstown區。
Taking a more winding route to Williamstown: through Fishermen's Bend to the Westgate Bridge, then cross the river by a punt.
那天有空，所以特意經Fishermen's Bend來到Westgate Bridge橋底坐「橫水渡」過河到Williamstown。
Two weeks before the picnic (10th March) I asked one of my friends to join me for a walk along the shore in Williamstown to find a good picnic spot. I’ve obviously chosen a good day to spend time by the sea, as the sea breezes kept the temperature at a very comfortable level, as opposed to the rest of Melbourne which must be enduring another rather uncomfortable day without any wind. I wished that I didn’t have to go home and could stay in Williamstown forever! Williamstown was where the British settlers first landed and settled in Melbourne, and to date it is still possible to see some historical heritage from the mid-19th century. The best testament to that era was the use of bluestone (called basalt elsewhere in the world) in the construction of the Time Ball Tower at Point Gellibrand and a few other residences. Those buildings reminded me of Ballarat during the gold rush of the 1850s and are not so common these days in Melbourne outside the CBD or inner suburbs. It showed the long common colonial history shared by Williamstown and Melbourne.
我提早兩星期（3月10日）約了一個朋友沿著Williamstown的海濱走一趟，視察環境及尋找一個合適的野餐地點。一到達海邊，習習海風把所有暑氣一掃而空，相比起墨爾本市內其他地方一絲風也沒有，我也恨不得在那裡溜躂整天不走呢！Williamstown是英國移民在墨爾本首個登陸的地點和最早開發的地區，至今仍保留當年（19世紀中葉）的一點遺跡和影子，包括屹立於Point Gellibrand的報時球燈塔（Time Ball Tower）和其他用玄武岩（basalt，在澳洲亦稱bluestone）興建的民房，與淘金年代（1850年代）巴拉瑞特（Ballarat）的建築風格相近，在墨爾本，這些房屋在市中心以外難得一見，也間接引證了Williamstown和墨爾本有同樣悠長的英國人開發史。
The Time Ball Tower (top) and one of the several bluestone residential houses in Williamstown (right)
報時球燈塔（上）和用玄武岩建成的民居（右）
Geographically speaking, Williamstown sits on a peninsula. The southeast-facing shoreline containing Point Gellibrand is the quietest side of the peninsula and was, to my surprise, rather devoid of people on that day (probably because most people considered it too hot to go outdoors). The shore along Nelson Place, facing northeast, was the most popular part of the peninsula with the many cafes, gift shops selling pretty decorations and a small art gallery attracting the crowd. There is a pier for the ferry to the city, a decommissioned navy vessel now open to public visits, as well as s couple of yacht clubs. The opposite, southwest-facing shore is lined with a beach and several parks, and I finally decided on the Williamstown Botanic Gardens as the picnic spot.
Williamstown的地理形勢是一個半島， Point Gellibrand的一段海岸面向東南，是半島最寧靜的一岸，人跡罕至（也可能是因為天氣熱的原故吧），朝東北的Nelson Place一帶是人氣最旺的一岸，可遠眺墨爾本市中心，海旁是帆船港，停泊了一艘退役軍艦供人參觀，也有碼頭讓人乘船到市區，沿海濱的馬路盡是食肆、飾物店，還有一家小型藝術展覽館，人潮如鯽。朝西南的海岸有海灘和公園，我最終選了那裡的植物公園（Williamstown Botanic Gardens）作為野餐地點。
Williamstown Beach - not too busy even on a hot day
Williamstown海灘，就算天氣熱也不太擠
The gift shop in the Custom Wharf Galleria, with a seafaring and pirate theme
海關船塢藝術館的精品店，以航海和海盜為主題
The Gem Pier with the HMAS Castlemaine warship open to the public
Gem Pier碼頭和退役後對外開放的Castlemaine號戰艦
The different heights of the masts form an interesting match to Melbourne city skyline!
高度不一的帆船船桅，與遠處墨爾本市區的大廈相映成趣！
Left high and dry - for showing off!
高高掛起The picnic on 24th March was attended by 15 or more people, and we also had a good feast despite a smaller crowd than the picnic at Mount Dandenong. The Botanic Gardens and the views of sea were ours and another group’s to enjoy as we were the only people there. After the meal we went for a stroll along a seaside trail. It was the right temperature, neither too hot nor too cold, except the wind was a bit too strong, but it didn’t spoil our enthusiasm. The kids were particularly excited about playing by the water. Further along the trail, we came across a tranquil little bay where many pelicans, swans and other water fowls sought sanctuary. While the others turned back, I continued walking towards a lake for a closer look of the birds.
野餐（3月24日）有十多人出席，規模比上一次在丹頂農山小，但也吃得挺豐富，大家邊吃邊談天說地，全公園祇有我們和另一群人，盡享公園內和大海的風景。飯後大家沿著海濱散散步，那天天氣不冷不熱，祇是風大一點，但無損我們的興緻，尤其是小朋友在海灘一玩水就特別興奮。再遠一點，我們來到一個寧靜的小灣，遠觀在那裡棲息的塘鵝、天鵝和其他鳥類，我獨自再走一小段路到一個小沼澤，以近一點的距離鸛鳥。
The scenery and food enjoyed by all at the picnic
野餐的美食和美景
The beach and a nearby jetty
海灘和附近的小渡頭
Don't step on them!
千萬別踏中！
Drill for surf life saving rescue
救生訓練
Having fun
嬉水
A haven for pelicans at Jawbone Bay and Jawbone Lake
Jawbone Bay和Jawbone Lake是塘鵝棲息地
Williamstown is a truly unique part of Melbourne with its blend of history and nature. It offers a peek into the early British colonial history in Melbourne within a laid-back setting of the seaside. It’s worth a visit by residents and tourists alike.
Williamstown集歷史和自然氣息於一身，既可讓人一窺英國人初到墨爾本的殖民史，又可令人感受海濱的悠閑，是墨爾本一個獨特的區。
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