City Guide: Art historian Mary McGillivray’s favourite places in Melbourne
IMAGE VIA @_theiconoclass/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY MAGGIE ZHOU
Art galleries and greenhouses.
Here at Fashion Journal, we want to unearth the hidden spots in Australian cities that only the locals know about. There’s no gatekeeping here – this is a breakdown of the best bits of our cities. We want the underrated date spots, favourite restaurants, treasure trove op shops and the bars people will always want to go back to.
This week, we have Mary McGillivray taking over and showing us her favourite places in Naarm, Melbourne. As an art historian and content creator (you might recognise her work under the name The Icono Class), Mary has a knack for pulling the past into the present – while being equal parts educational and entertaining. It’s why we were clamouring to hear her best picks for exploring Melbourne.
Have a trip or move coming up? Head to our city guide to find the best spots.
The Melbourne born and raised local grew up in Richmond. With an upbringing spent in the heart of Melbourne, right near the Yarra River, Mary chooses to play Switzerland in Melbourne’s longstanding north versus south debate. “Although there’s a strong cultural divide either side of the river, I don’t discriminate. I’ve lived north side, I’ve lived south side, [I’m] happy to swing both ways,” she says.
When asked to recall why she loves this city, she (somewhat controversially) points to the public transport system. “I know we Melbournians love to have a whinge about slow trams and train-replacement buses, but [we] can often take for granted just how good our public transport system is – especially for getting around the inner city,” she says. “I’m a big train and tram fan, and I try to really enjoy my commute (and the many opportunities for people-watching it brings).” Public transport also helps her get to her favourite places, which speaking of, are listed right here.
Ideal day
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Nerd alert: my ideal day is spent working on campus at the University of Melbourne, where I am currently doing my PhD. [This would be] followed by a quick pint at the Charles Dickens on Collins Street (a faux-English pub built underground, featuring questionably sticky carpet and at least four different sports broadcasts at any given time). [Then I’d be] heading to some sort of arty-farty event like a theatre show or gallery opening where I get to stroke my chin and feel cultured and important.
Eat
Da Guido 365, 365 Little Collins St, Melbourne
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I have a soft spot for Da Guido 365 in Little Collins Street – good, authentic Italian, and family owned and run to boot.
Drink
Cherry Tree Hotel, 53 Balmain St, Cremorne
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Cherry Tree Hotel in Cremorne [is] around the corner from where I grew up. These days Cremorne is the start-up capital of Australia with [over 10,000] people working in this tiny suburb (often mistaken for Richmond), but only 2,000 actual residents. But the Cherry Tree still holds a whisper of a past when my parents would drink at the bar with the local petty crims and colourful characters of yesteryear.
Shop
Op shops along Glenferrie Rd, Malvern
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[Some of] the oppys along Glenferrie Rd, Malvern may be overpriced, but the finds in this strip are impeccable. And with like five op shops in [a] one-kilometre stretch, you can maximise bargs with minimal time.
Date
Robin Boyd House, 290 Walsh St, South Yarra
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[Enjoy] Sunset Cocktails at the Robin Boyd house in South Yarra. This house is the former home of one of the most influential Australian architects, and is now a beautiful museum that hosts cocktail evenings on many a Friday. Modernist interiors, [a] guided history tour and a bespoke cocktail: if that doesn’t get your motor running I don’t know what will.
Indulge
Darn Cheap Fabrics, 1188 Glen Huntly Rd, Glen Huntly and 161 Smith St, Fitzroy
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As a sewing and dress-making enthusiast, the most indulgent place for me is Darn Cheap Fabrics ([in] Glen Huntly and Fitzroy). It does what it says on the tin. [It’s the] best value for money in Melbourne for sewists, and they have literally every type of trim, button and various accoutrements you could possibly want.
R&R
NGV International, 80 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
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It’s basic art bitch time. My happy place is the international art collection at the NGV. Specifically, the 14th to 16th century gallery (a lovely dark, quiet cave I highly recommend for any fellow medievalists, or people who find museums overstimulating).
Royal Melbourne Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
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A lovely spot on a cold and dreary Melbourne day is the greenhouse at the Royal Melbourne Botanic Gardens. For the optically-challenged, you may need to bring something to unfog your glasses with.
You can follow Mary here.
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