AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX

As usual, the Formula 1 season gets underway “Down Under,” or in Australia to be precise, the other side of the world for we Europeans.

There have been 34 Australian Grand Prix from 1985 to 2018, 11 of them held in Adelaide and 23 in the current venue, Melbourne.

Albert Park circuit is, as the name implies, set in a park. In a previous life it was used as a rubbish dump and also a military camp. In 1864, it was named in honour of Queen Victoria’s consort.

The Australian Grand Prix has taken place here every year since 1996, after moving from Adelaide, where it was traditionally the final round of the F1 championship, so that Melbourne and Australia are now synonymous with F1 and the trip to one of the world’s sporting capitals is always appreciated by F1 folk, who enjoy the warm weather after the cold European winter.

The 2018 Australian GP was won by Sebastian Vettel, while pole position went to his rival Lewis Hamilton.

Not just F1 in Melbourne

Apart from the race track, Albert Park is famous for its beautiful wetlands which form a perfect habitat for some fantastic and exotic birds.

As a result, bird watching is taken quite seriously with some ‘twitchers’ travelling far and wide to view amongst others, the sulphur-crested cockatoo, the Willie Wagtail and the Laughing Kookaburra.

Melbourne does not mean only F1, it can at times seem like one giant sports venue, with international tennis tournaments, world cycling championships and other sports.

One of the coolest parts of the city, very near to the track, is St. Kilda and its beach, the nearest nightspot to the race track, famous for its noisy bars, live music and cake shops!