Publisher's Synopsis
From ghosts to gangsters and landmark neon signs, to world-famous television locations, this guide reveals some of the most intriguing secrets about the city of Melbourne. It brings to life many of the colourful characters and pivotal events responsible for making Melbourne's main city streets and suburbs what they are today. It looks at the studio where Kylie Minogue got her first big break; Houdini's muddy underwater feat after jumping off Queen's Bridge into the Yarra River, wrapped in padlocks and chains; a former Chief Justice of Victoria who, as a member of a secret fascist organization, patrolled the docks by night armed with a machine gun; the film locations for "Neighbours", "Blue Healers" and "The Secret Life of Us"; the seat always left vacant at the Princess Theatre on opening night for the ghost Federici; and the address of Melbourne's very own Hotel California. Whether you're fascinated by urban myths and legends, want a guidebook for some quirky tours of Melbourne's suburbs or fancy a good read to curl up with, this book reveals the hidden character of this unique southern city.