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Series 1 (30-Minute Versions): 8. Canberra to Melbourne – Part 2

Michael Portillo continues his exploration of southeast Australia in Melbourne, Victoria, guided by his 1913 Bradshaw.\n\nIn the suburb of Lilydale, he discovers Coombe Cottage, the beautiful former home of Melbourne’s superstar soprano, Dame Nellie Melba, built in 1912. Michael hears about her life and her worldwide fame and enjoys a private recital of one of her best-known songs. He also tastes the Prima Donna of desserts.\n\nThe Puffing Billy narrow gauge steam railway, built in 1900, takes Michael through the rainforest of the Dandenong mountains across a spectacular trestle bridge. Michael meets some of the 1,000 volunteers who keep the line in service.\n\nIn St Kilda, he’s hard on the heels of the most notorious outlaw of Australia, Ned Kelly. Michael enjoys a special screening of the world’s first feature film, made in 1906, which tells of his exploits.\n\nMichael finishes 80 miles west of Melbourne at Birregurra, on a 500-acre sheep farm which was founded by British settlers from Devon during the 1840s. Here, he discovers the story of Australia told in a single family - and learns how to shear a sheep.

Source: BBC 2