Covid 19 has taken its toll on the cities most famous streets. As a journalist and small business owner that travels most days on the road for a living our once vibrant metropolis is no longer.
In the past months, I’ve travelled to our most famous streets around Melbourne including Chapel, Lygon, Sydney Road, Bay, Degraves, and Acland street to name a few. I’ve also visited 3 of Victoria’s largest regional cities of Ballarat, Bendigo, and Geelong.
As I walk along visiting these places the streets, squares and plazas are empty compared to pre covid times. Today many restaurants, bars, boutiques, and hair salons have closed permanently. Every couple of shops you pass, you are faced with signs of premises up for lease and vacant stores. Part of the problem is office workers haven’t returned to the cities and remain working from home, with many businesses heavily reliant on their customs.
Although I try to remain as positive as possible that we will come back from this global calamity it’s hard to not feel the darkness and emptiness that plagues our cities’ streets.
A city without human interaction is no city at all. The present emptiness of lockdowns and social distancing is a public health necessity but when and how will it come back to life is the question.
Bendigo Photo by @storiesonthesidewalk & The Block Arcade Photo by @fionasextonphotography
Will the people that once visited these iconic and vibrant Melbourne streets return or will some stay closer to home for the foreseeable future? Nothing feels normal that’s for sure, nevertheless, we can’t give up nor can we let this virus destroy our desire to have things back to the way they were.
Don’t let the negative space around you stop you from wanting more. When we come out of lockdowns, please continue to visit these wonderful destinations.
Perhaps visit a business you haven’t before, take a trip to a regional town such as Ballarat or Bendigo. And to our people of influence that we love to follow, yes, it’s great to visit the new hip cool place in town that a wealthy entrepreneur has opened but don’t forget to also visit the ones that are no longer on the celebrity radar or the ones that could potentially go bankrupt without your support.
It’s TIME to SET A NEW TREND in Victoria that supports ALL, not something because it’s cool or I must be seen there!
Take a moment to reflect on what you can do to help a business around you, and how this act of giving back can also lift your own spirits.
Take care of each and every one of you.
Melinda Sullivan Editor in Chief Melbourne My Style
