When I think of Australia, I usually picture beautiful beaches, lush vegetation, sunshine… and kangaroos. I’ve always wanted to meet a kangaroo.
But that’s just one side of Australia, and a cliche one at that. Yes, Australia has all of those things and then some (I left out beautiful women), but it also has a darker side. Not seedy exactly, but actually dark… as in darkness, as in underground. I’m talking about the sewers and drainage spillways of the country.
The Underground
I love exploring new cities, especially after a few drinks, but what really gets me going are the forgotten places – the places that time (and people) simply forgot. Sewers are a perfect example, and whether you’re visiting Melbourne for the first time, or returning for your yearly winter escape, I’ll tell you something you probably didn’t know: the city has an extensive sewer system, and it’s pretty awesome.
Don’t believe me? Stick around a minute.
When I originally saw this collection of photos, and was planning this article, I figured I would start off with something along the lines of… see that light at the end of the tunnel? Enjoy it, because that’s the last light you’re going to see in a while! However, my plans were dashed when I realized that saying such a thing would be a gigantic lie. Almost all of these photos have a stunning play between light and darkness.
Here’s a creepy thought. I mentioned the city of Cairns a moment ago, right? Though the city was actually named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland, the word “cairn” actually means a mound of stones erected as a memorial or marker. So with that in mind, imagine exploring these sewers and finding a cairn in the sewers under Cairn.
It’s photos like these two (above and below) that make me appreciate the beauty of sewers, something generally considered pretty nasty and full of foulness.
Having said that, I’m not so sure I would be walking through the water like that. Not without some seriously heavy duty boots at least. Think about where that water has been…
This shot reminds me of an ancient ruin. It’s like something one would find in say, Mexico, or even Peru. But no… it’s just a sewer under Melbourne.
And here are our brave explorers. If you’re interested in seeing their entire collection of photos from sewers and spillways all across Australia, then you can do so by visiting this set on Forbidden Places and having a look around.
And away we go…
