What's going on with the storm drain exploring subculture? I've been offered many times by several people and most recently it was on the news where a tour got caught.
There's a WW2 ammunition site (lots of old huts uniformly separated from each other) in the very far west of Melbourne (possibly somewhere between Laverton North and Deer Park, usually I'm a bit lost when it suddenly appears out of nowhere). If not that, the Maribyrnong munitions factory. Not that I'm trying to get you blown up or anything but they're two sites that are pretty much forgotten now. Or there's the Cerberus at Half Moon Bay, an old Japanese sub breakwater at Hampton (possibly now disintegrated), and the former tramlines in Elwood and Footscray. Or the American WW2 camp in Royal Park (there's a guard house and what looks like an old boom gate near the Netball Centre), and the road past the zoo is actually named after General Macarthur). Mt Alexander Road might be interesting too because it's one of Melbourne's oldest roads, being the one that both gold diggers and visiting (plane-era) celebs (pre-Tulla airport/freeway) would have travelled along.
Scienceworks Pump Station - the one they used as the Mad Max cop-shop? I think the wreckers yard (where he picked up the tanker) is gone, or at least in bits.
When anime convention Manifest was running out of Melbourne University, us organisers would often end up in this car park as it was the closest for set-up/pack-down. It's truly a fascinating place with its own distinct vibe, and I'm not at all surprised to learn it's been used in movies/tv.
Crazy to see you in my campus. Saw this carpark all the time back when uni was open, never gave it too much of a thought. Had a party start down there once though. Can't wait for lockdown to be over so I can impress all my mates with facts about this carpark 🤣
I used to study at Melbourne Uni, I really never take notice of the underground car park, I always walked the South Lawn. Now I should whenever I return to my old uni.
It was the MasterChef episode that introduced me to this place and Matt's reference to Mad Max that had me immediately download all the Mad Max films. They have become one of my favorite film franchises and Fury Road has to be almost cinematic perfection. Another great video from you. Keep them coming, I love them.
Blair Witch Project (1999) displaced Mad Max as the most-profitable film ever. BWP was made using videocams, so it cost almost nothing to make, but became a huge hit
didnt expect to see a video about my university here. and here i thought it was just a cool looking car park, i didnt realise it had any actual significance.
I am impressed and surprised. The car park definitely has a unique style which fits multiple themes. Because of this unique ability, I am surprised more organizations have not tried to rent the underground park for events.
Your videos are making me realise how much I missed on my trip to Melbourne. I had no idea this gem was there. Going to be pinning google maps with all these locations for my next visit.
One example of the stories is that the director sold the engine out of his personal car (small blue van) for $50, then pushed the rest in front of one of the police falcons which destroyed it, during one of the early chase scenes. Also most of the background actors and extras who appeared in the film, eg. Some of the bikers, towtruck drivers, etc were paid with cartons of beer.
Just don't kick a footy on the lawn above or the carpark roof will collapse ... (playing of ball sports was forbidden on the South Lawn when I was at Melb Uni in the 80s)! Did not know however that the trees were aligned with the pillars, even though I used to climb those very trees sometimes. Thanks Julian
@@JulianOShea They had a sign. There is an oval at the other end of the uni though. The other thing that happened in the 80s was that all the Plane Trees along one side of the South Lawn were cut down one day, apparently because of a practical joke someone played on the Dean. Wasn't a bad place when I was in my late teens/early twenties.
They were probably more worried about the windows of historic or notable buildings. I also wouldn’t want to be looking up at a high ball and running to take a mark lest I find myself face first in the reflection pools!
Nice one - my dad worked at Melb Uni for many years and used that car park, often with me tagging along for a lift into town. Thanks for the memories, and info - never thought I see it in this light.
Julian O'Shea, I love your UA-cam videos. I'm from Geelong but love going to Melbourne's restaurants and all the great places to see and experience: any wonder Melbourne was awarded the most liveable city award.
me and my mates used to skate in there every Wednesday night, you can see it in some of my vids, was awesome, we were respectfully and didn't damage anything, then another group of skaters caught on to the spot and took a huge group of ppl in there, now security wont let us in anymore. rip the good old days.
I’ve wondered about these too. There’s one off the Mordialloc Creek labelled on Google Maps as the Heatherton Drain (nowhere near Heatherton) that travels for a while but from the map seems to just stop. Always wondered where it goes or what its function is
Lol, the fashion show in a car park reminds me of Zoolander; nice ‘ol underground “walk-off”. I can’t believe they filmed some of mad max at the university I attended! Yay for uni Melb!
One of our university tutors gave us a guided tour of the Mad Max carpark. In 2006 I worked in Madrid as part of Melbourne's Eastlink project. I was surprised to find Mad Max on DVD at Alcampo, La Vega, Alcobendas.
I'm not surprised this was in an iconic movie. It really is a amazing place. Especially when you find out just how much thought was put into making it.
I wonder if the architect got inspiration for this from Frank Lloyd Wright. There are definite similarities in the design of this car park to Wright's Johnson Wax Building in Racine, Wisconsin. Wright famously had to battle the local authorities re the design of the "Lily pads" as he called them but he knew the structure was inherently strong and robust. Short video here re the design of the columns ua-cam.com/video/lqQCLm7k_mo/v-deo.html
I know the arches are a very different design, but the first thing that sprang to my mind when I saw the car park on the video was the Great Mosque/Cathedral in Córdoba, Spain. They are both a huge area of arches and columns that seem to go on and on.
Julian, you should check Frank Lloyd Wright’s Design for the Johnson Wax company. He designed a similar ceiling defying all norms for structure at the time. The two structures have much in common. I discovered the South Lawn Carpark when I was a student at the nearby Melbourne State Teacher’s College, now integrated into elbourne Uni. I took my kids there when they were pretty small and again later (I think). It is an unknown treasure. Another unknown treasure worth covering, if you havenkt already is the Regent Plaza Ballroom under the Regent Theatre in Collins st.
The South lawn wasn't the first. The Domain car park in Sydney was built between 1956 to 1959 and is fully enclosed and under landscape. That's over 10 years before the South lawn opened. The Domain has 1130 car spaces compared to South lawns 360, it's huge! Cricket matches used to be held on its 'roof'. It even has a 207m long travelator. There are that many spaces to accommodate all the Victorians moving to Sydney. 😋
Great video & channel. Just a minor crrection - I believe that the Colonial Bank building was sadly demolished in the 1950's. Keep up the interesting content!
The entrance shown is in the South West corner of the carpark and is the most striking entrance. There are at least two more, less "impressive" pedestrian entrances, one being a set of stairs leading down. The vehicle entrance is at the opposite end from the one shown, at the Eastern end, adjacent to Wilson Hall.
![Stroads are Ugly, Expensive, and Dangerous (and they're everywhere) [ST05]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ORzNZUeUHAM/mqdefault.jpg)
Got any other places in Melbourne you think I should explore? Let me know!
The Grange Reserve, Clayton South (Westall) :)
What's going on with the storm drain exploring subculture?
I've been offered many times by several people and most recently it was on the news where a tour got caught.
The Espy.
There's a WW2 ammunition site (lots of old huts uniformly separated from each other) in the very far west of Melbourne (possibly somewhere between Laverton North and Deer Park, usually I'm a bit lost when it suddenly appears out of nowhere). If not that, the Maribyrnong munitions factory. Not that I'm trying to get you blown up or anything but they're two sites that are pretty much forgotten now. Or there's the Cerberus at Half Moon Bay, an old Japanese sub breakwater at Hampton (possibly now disintegrated), and the former tramlines in Elwood and Footscray. Or the American WW2 camp in Royal Park (there's a guard house and what looks like an old boom gate near the Netball Centre), and the road past the zoo is actually named after General Macarthur). Mt Alexander Road might be interesting too because it's one of Melbourne's oldest roads, being the one that both gold diggers and visiting (plane-era) celebs (pre-Tulla airport/freeway) would have travelled along.
Scienceworks Pump Station - the one they used as the Mad Max cop-shop?
I think the wreckers yard (where he picked up the tanker) is gone, or at least in bits.
This channel is a hidden gem
Appreciate it.
How Melbourne of it...
The secret is getting out!
I know right
Like an Australian version of Tom Scott
When anime convention Manifest was running out of Melbourne University, us organisers would often end up in this car park as it was the closest for set-up/pack-down. It's truly a fascinating place with its own distinct vibe, and I'm not at all surprised to learn it's been used in movies/tv.
I miss manifest so much. Was my fave con to vollie at. Have so many memories and started friends with a few people from the crew
That's something I'd never thought I'd need, Mad Max meets Initial D.
I was just remembering this! Being on the Manifest committee was when I first saw this car park.
Crazy to see you in my campus. Saw this carpark all the time back when uni was open, never gave it too much of a thought. Had a party start down there once though. Can't wait for lockdown to be over so I can impress all my mates with facts about this carpark 🤣
I worked at Melbourne Uni in the early 90's and we always referred to it as the Mad Max Carpark
The columns in the carpark are houses for the trees 😭😭😭 Beautiful
Being a Melbournian I'm so happy I've stumbled upon this channel !! Please don't ever stop making content 😍😍😍
More to come!
I used to study at Melbourne Uni, I really never take notice of the underground car park, I always walked the South Lawn. Now I should whenever I return to my old uni.
It was the MasterChef episode that introduced me to this place and Matt's reference to Mad Max that had me immediately download all the Mad Max films. They have become one of my favorite film franchises and Fury Road has to be almost cinematic perfection. Another great video from you. Keep them coming, I love them.
That’s a cool story - I’m with you on Fury Road. Glad you liked it!
Blair Witch Project (1999) displaced Mad Max as the most-profitable film ever. BWP was made using videocams, so it cost almost nothing to make, but became a huge hit
didnt expect to see a video about my university here. and here i thought it was just a cool looking car park, i didnt realise it had any actual significance.
UniMelb shout out.
Same, but I knew about some stuff like music videos and mad max
Another great vid. Well done man, you're our very own Tom Scott
Well there you go.Fascinating stuff.Thanks Julian!👍
That is amazing. Going to visit next time I'm in Melbourne after the lockdown. Nice video. Keep up the good work.
Loved that scene in the movie, always wondered where that was. Thanks!
Of course the Mad Max title got me in.
Definitely looking forward to see what other gems you turn up about Melbourne.
Thanks for the video.
Just discovered this channel and I’m loving it, subscribed without hesitation. Loving all of the Melbourne hidden gems.
Cheers, mate!
Okay I clicked within a second of seeing the video on my feed thinking you were Mike from that chapter, but I’m glad I did. Nice channel. Subbed!
Glad you enjoyed it!
To think that I have over double this guys subscribers is scary, you deserve to have MILLIONS with this video quality!
Yeaaa, not anymore.
I am impressed and surprised. The car park definitely has a unique style which fits multiple themes. Because of this unique ability, I am surprised more organizations have not tried to rent the underground park for events.
Your videos are making me realise how much I missed on my trip to Melbourne. I had no idea this gem was there. Going to be pinning google maps with all these locations for my next visit.
thank you so much for sharing this, I had no idea that this was in Melbourne and it's real interesting to know about the design of the car park.
The stories around the making of Mad Max (1) are amazing as the movie.
One example of the stories is that the director sold the engine out of his personal car (small blue van) for $50, then pushed the rest in front of one of the police falcons which destroyed it, during one of the early chase scenes.
Also most of the background actors and extras who appeared in the film, eg. Some of the bikers, towtruck drivers, etc were paid with cartons of beer.
As a Victorian, i subscribe to learn more about this beautiful city.
Thank you Julian! I appreciate your videos
Well done. Very informative and interesting. Thanks for taking the time to make the vid, much appreciated.
Just don't kick a footy on the lawn above or the carpark roof will collapse ... (playing of ball sports was forbidden on the South Lawn when I was at Melb Uni in the 80s)! Did not know however that the trees were aligned with the pillars, even though I used to climb those very trees sometimes. Thanks Julian
Glad you liked it. Didn’t know they banned footy up there. UniMelb does like its rules.
@@JulianOShea They had a sign. There is an oval at the other end of the uni though. The other thing that happened in the 80s was that all the Plane Trees along one side of the South Lawn were cut down one day, apparently because of a practical joke someone played on the Dean. Wasn't a bad place when I was in my late teens/early twenties.
They were probably more worried about the windows of historic or notable buildings. I also wouldn’t want to be looking up at a high ball and running to take a mark lest I find myself face first in the reflection pools!
Nice one - my dad worked at Melb Uni for many years and used that car park, often with me tagging along for a lift into town. Thanks for the memories, and info - never thought I see it in this light.
What a gem of a channel! Subbed!
I love this series. Thank you!
Glad you enjoy it!
I never knew that carpark existed! The dangerous escalators and 448C got me interested in checking out a few more your videos. Keep up the great work.
Awesome video man. Love Mad Max.
That a place I've heard of but never knew. Thanks Julian for presenting this.
Thanks for the awesome videos! I’m loving it
What a stunning architecture, thank you for sharing this with us
Julian O'Shea, I love your UA-cam videos. I'm from Geelong but love going to Melbourne's restaurants and all the great places to see and experience: any wonder Melbourne was awarded the most liveable city award.
Cheers, Dennis! Will have to do some more Victorian videos out and about. (When we’re allowed to ….)
Great channel to watch in these covid times while I can't get out in the city anymore.
Thanks, Adele - Glad you like them!
Beautiful, amazing architecture- hidden in an underground car park.
A lot nicer than the buildings of today!
Watched 3 of your videos back to back just now. Loved every one of them.
You have a really good channel I'll stick around I think 😁
me and my mates used to skate in there every Wednesday night, you can see it in some of my vids, was awesome, we were respectfully and didn't damage anything, then another group of skaters caught on to the spot and took a huge group of ppl in there, now security wont let us in anymore. rip the good old days.
Fantastic! If only we can get through COVID so I can check out all your locations.
Most underrated channel on this site
Shut the gate on this one Maxy, it's the ducks guts
Never made that connection between the pillars and the trees.. Beautiful content as ever.. Thanks for sharing
Love your channel, Keep up the good content.
I gotta go up and experience the atmosphere of too much chocolate mousse. (I didn't realise it was open to the public!)
I love your channel, mate!
Yep - well worth a look. You might find Heston or Jennifer H just hanging out.
Great work Julian! Moved from Brisbane to NYC and really enjoy these insightful and short videos
Thanks, Steve.
Keep up the good work. Can you do one about all the drainage tunnels? I always wondered were the one under Melbourne High leads to.
Brilliant. Thanks - I’ll have a read about them. Don’t know too much tbh.
I’ve wondered about these too. There’s one off the Mordialloc Creek labelled on Google Maps as the Heatherton Drain (nowhere near Heatherton) that travels for a while but from the map seems to just stop. Always wondered where it goes or what its function is
The Great scene in Mad Max when the Black XB GT Coupe was shown for the first time in the Car Park. Should be the (MFP) Main Force Patrol Car Park.
Wandered through the uni a few years ago taking photos and did not stumble upon this carpark or its entrances. Looks like I'll need to visit again
Such a great channel so random I came across it
Finally, you showed me something I didn't know. I know a lot about mad max, but I didn't know that.
Great breakdown. Would love to visit sometime
Lol, the fashion show in a car park reminds me of Zoolander; nice ‘ol underground “walk-off”.
I can’t believe they filmed some of mad max at the university I attended! Yay for uni Melb!
Love the grotto idea for the entrance.
Some of Amy Shark’s “I Said Hi” video looks like it was filmed there too!
One of our university tutors gave us a guided tour of the Mad Max carpark. In 2006 I worked in Madrid as part of Melbourne's Eastlink project. I was surprised to find Mad Max on DVD at Alcampo, La Vega, Alcobendas.
Your content is great man. Keep it going you'll be huge shortly 👍
Thanks, mate!
I'm not surprised this was in an iconic movie. It really is a amazing place. Especially when you find out just how much thought was put into making it.
I've learnt something today thanks.
Nice vid👍 thanks Julian!
Thanks, mate!
Julian, your channel is more interesting than anything on free-to-air TV.
Cheers, Ryan appreciate it.
Reminds me of the barrel storage room at the Deanston whiskey distillery in Scotland, which was once a fabric factory of some sort.
'Kick it in the guts Barry.'
I wonder if the architect got inspiration for this from Frank Lloyd Wright. There are definite similarities in the design of this car park to Wright's Johnson Wax Building in Racine, Wisconsin. Wright famously had to battle the local authorities re the design of the "Lily pads" as he called them but he knew the structure was inherently strong and robust. Short video here re the design of the columns ua-cam.com/video/lqQCLm7k_mo/v-deo.html
Only saw it for the first time a few months ago. Didn't realise it was in Mad Max
Love this channel
Thanks, Kelly!
@@JulianOShea you're welcome! I'm new to Melbourne so I'm learning lots
I'm addicted to this channel haha. I love this kinda shit.
Great to have you!
I’ve been to the south lawn a few times, never knew this car park existed!
Great Video i love Mad Max
I know the arches are a very different design, but the first thing that sprang to my mind when I saw the car park on the video was the Great Mosque/Cathedral in Córdoba, Spain. They are both a huge area of arches and columns that seem to go on and on.
That entrance is great
Julian, you should check Frank Lloyd Wright’s Design for the Johnson Wax company. He designed a similar ceiling defying all norms for structure at the time. The two structures have much in common. I discovered the South Lawn Carpark when I was a student at the nearby Melbourne State Teacher’s College, now integrated into elbourne Uni. I took my kids there when they were pretty small and again later (I think). It is an unknown treasure. Another unknown treasure worth covering, if you havenkt already is the Regent Plaza Ballroom under the Regent Theatre in Collins st.
Thanks, Kerri! Always love a tip for something to explore.
The South lawn wasn't the first.
The Domain car park in Sydney was built between 1956 to 1959 and is fully enclosed and under landscape.
That's over 10 years before the South lawn opened.
The Domain has 1130 car spaces compared to South lawns 360, it's huge!
Cricket matches used to be held on its 'roof'.
It even has a 207m long travelator.
There are that many spaces to accommodate all the Victorians moving to Sydney. 😋
Excellent engineering 👌👏👏👏
Isn't it weird how a humble carpark is so important to australian film history!
Great video & channel. Just a minor crrection - I believe that the Colonial Bank building was sadly demolished in the 1950's. Keep up the interesting content!
Glad you’re enjoying them! :)
Hahaha. I never knew. I was told to be careful when walking through that car park, so I never did 😂
Love it, funnily enough I’m planning to use it for a mad max style short film next time I’m in Melbs
Very cool. Send me a link when it’s done.
The Supercharged FGX XR8 is truly the last of the V8’s
I was your tenth subscriber 🙂
Thanks for taking a punt and being an early adopter! Appreciate it.
Hey loved the video! What's the name of the song you played at the start?
Thankyou so much!
The entrance shown is in the South West corner of the carpark and is the most striking entrance. There are at least two more, less "impressive" pedestrian entrances, one being a set of stairs leading down. The vehicle entrance is at the opposite end from the one shown, at the Eastern end, adjacent to Wilson Hall.
Just moved to melbourne recently. Gonna have to check this out.
It also featured in the movie “Petersen” (1974 - Jack Thompson, Jacki Weaver) and, minor problem, the trees that grow on it only last 20 years or so.🤔
Awesome video I need to check it out
I like places like this. Just because its a car park doesn't mean it can't be beautiful.
Ok I’m coming here when I move and I’m avoiding Parliament escalator and never driving a truck under a bridge. What else have you got for me?
oBike?
I would like to see this car park, said nobody ever, but seeing I’m not allowed to leave my house I would like to go see this car park!!
It used to be a hockey field. My dad always missed it.
It's kinda eerie actually,reminds me about luminal space and back room
Its also where Amy Shark did her music video (I said Hi)
Keep up the good work 🔝🔝
Thanks, will do!
My wife used to park there when she was working at the Parkville Campus.
Do come visit Melbourne. As soon as the travel is opened.
A part of mad max was filmed outside my suburb around Geelong
Came here while seeking out mad max locations with friends around when fury road happened
That’s cool - it’s a sweet spot.
@@JulianOShea the location behind scienceworks was another great one!
"And it's only a small jump from dystopian futures to fashion shows" - ain't that the truth.
I studied there for the entire 6 years of medical schools. I never knew the carpark existed!
Big Audio Dynamite had a similiar structure used in their music video for "E=MC2".
I like the retro styling and how it's unpainted