Today marked the 7 month anniversary for Sam and I. Proof positive that we are not like other couples in love is the fact that on this special day - rather than spend it with wine & roses - we found ourselves trawling through underground stormwater drains.
After a couple of unsuccessful attempts at finding the whereabouts of the Hawthorn drains, I shot an email off to one of Melbourne’s premiere street-artists and he kindly gave us directions.
I loaded the directions onto our iPod and off we went in search of the elusive drains.
Last week, we struggled to find them but this week with directions in tow - we got to them easily enough.
Here we were, a couple of 30-somethings (ahem!) trawling through hidden holes in fences and climbing down precarious metal rungs to an underground drain network that seemed to run for quite a distance in both directions.
Gawd it was fun! We explored some of the art and graffiti on the walls and took photos of some of the better ones.
Highlight of the day would definitely have been when we climbed out of them onto a suburban quiet Hawthorn street. Sam squeezed through a hole in the fence, yours truly feeling less adventurous - climbed over the fence and barely missed a protruding rusty nailed which nearly impaled my ass!
We then trekked back to the car after walking into a local Milk Bar where I bought a lemonade and Sam some candy! That scene alone made me laugh out loud and I said to Sam "Look at us! We really should know better than this…"
I felt like a kid again. She has this effect on me time and time again.
Bottom line, we had a great time. And the past seven months have been nothing short of some of the best times of my life… here’s to you babe! Thanks for coming into my life!
p.s. cheers to Happy for the directions!
Now we need you to post the directions…!
Yes, please.. post the directions. I would like to visit the drains. Is it safe to go there alone? I’m not really afraid for my safety, but rather bringing my DSLR camera in there.
Just saw the ‘Fly on the Wall’ shot and absolutely loved it. I’m intrigued and would love to see and take some pics in the drains too. The directions is all I need (please!).
Perfectly safe, but be careful. Gawd, some of the digs I’ve found myself with expensive camera gear and a high weirdo quotient is the stuff of legend. But I digress.
How to get there?
Here ya goes:
I’ll try to explain.. If you go to the corner of Power St and Burwood Road walk up power street until you cross a bridge over the railroad tracks. After the bridge you will see a bike trackon your RHS. It should follow the train line. Walk down it until you reach a small bridge which will go over a drain, once at the bridge head towards the rail road tracks away from the path. There will be a large hole in the fence and some hand rail rungs which you can use to climb down into the drains. Follow the drain both ways.. it’s pretty big with lots of artwork.
Much much appreciated! Once I get a chance to go drain explorin’, I’ll make sure to post the link here for the photos. That’s if I survive! I want to go there at night
Oh, and I forgot to say.. Happy Anniversary!