Each year, residents of East Melbourne and surrounds come together to celebrate our wonderful community with the Robert Russell Hustle Community Laneway Gathering. There was live music, Tipplers pop up bar, Tippler Kitchen, a sausage sizzle, and a Christmas mini market! (Including my stall with cards). Called Robert Russell Hustle as it is held in Robert Russell Lane. see later in the blog for info about who he was.
A BIG day. It was so good and strange to be normal, after almost a year of lockdown.. When I was asked to be involved in this event back in mid November , we were all wearing masks and there was limited social gatherings. I said yes, but was very anxious But now after over a month of no community spreading, life is returning to a semi normal. (number restrictions and QR codes to sign in to places)
The sun was shining, people were chatting and happy and cards sold. There were 10 stalls and we were provided with gazebos and tables and a chair ! A big day from set up at 11am to close at 7pm, but SO GOOD. I had to remember how to put my display stands together and sort out what went where, I have only done a few markets in the past, but had worked out a system of what goes where.
I chatted to some lovely people, friends came by to say hello. I had a sheet for people to add their details to if they were interested in Watercolour Pencil Sketching Classes when I start them again in the new year.
Who was he ? Robert Russell (1808-1900) came to Sydney in 1832, having trained as an architect and surveyor in London and Edinburgh. He obtained a position in the survey office and in 1836 was sent to the Port Phillip District to survey Port Phillip Bay and its surroundings. At this time, he made the first topographical survey of Melbourne. Hoddle then drew up a detailed plan for Melbourne, still relying on the information contained in Russell’s initial survey. Most of his professional life was spent as a surveyor in private practice. He was a prolific artist across many media and his early sketches of Melbourne are a valuable part of the State Library Collection. His professional and private addresses changed many times but in 1880 he lived at 49 George Street and Robert Russell Lane leads off Simpson Street into the back of that property !