Melbourne may be Covid free but life is far from normal in the Victorian capital. WAYNE FLOWER reports on a city still deeply scarred by months of isolation
Melbourne remains trapped in a state of limbo as its COVID-wary population eases itself out of months of isolation.
Tuesday marked the first time since February 29 — 269 days ago — that Victoria has not had a single active case of the dreaded virus.
If Melburnians plan to celebrate the milestone, which comes after 25 consecutive days of zero infections, they are doing it at home.
Melbourne Town Hall is dressed up for Christmas festivities, but it remains to be seen if anyone will celebrate in town with it
Much of Melbourne remains boarded up - a grim reminder of the city's brutal lockdown
Flinders Street Station is hardly a hive of activity despite the lifting of the most severe restrictions
It is hardly surprising that the CBD has not instantly bounced back to life over the past couple of weeks.
A walk around town remains largely depressing, with once familiar cafes, shops and watering holes now boarded shut.
The court district - once a thriving beacon of life - continues to remind of dust swept court houses from 60s television westerns.
The business district of Collins Street remains equally as quiet, with the skeletons of lost retail outlets pocked across the landscape.
Hardware Lane, off Little Bourke Street, is marked with closed restaurants on both sides.
Lonely workers stand idle outside near empty eateries willing those few about to come inside.
Outdoor dining arrangements continue to gather dust.
On the corner of Queen and Lonsdale streets, the usually filthy public toilet almost sparkles.
Along Degraves Street, just off Flinders Street, the scenery is more grim.
A year ago you would have been pressed to find a table there for a bite to eat at lunchtime.
Cops no longer have to ask Melburnians why they are in town. For months people were only allowed to travel 5kms from home
Melburnians are slowly returning to the CBD, but it has a long way to go
The opening to Degraves Street is littered with empty businesses that have moved on during COVID
Flinders Street Station had very few people waiting to catch up under its clocks.
Across the road, large concrete barriers have been placed on the footpath to stop any would-be road attacks on pedestrians.
On the Bourke Street mall, the first real signs of life were evident.
A crowd of people, including families, had lined up to see the traditional Myer Christmas Windows.
On September 11, the Windows were officially cancelled because of COVID-19 restrictions.
They had been a 65-year tradition in the city and all had seemed lost.
When Daily Mail Australia visited the very same spot during the height of the pandemic, the tolling of the midday bell could be heard echoing down the empty streets.
As Melbourne eased itself out of lockdown, Myer announced the windows were back on.
While it was a joy to see life return to the mall, signs of turmoil could be spotted just across the tram tracks.
The gutted remains of businesses that did not survive the lockdown remain for now a grim reminder of days gone past.
The dark days of lockdown are etched in the minds of Melburnians despite their fresh grasp at freedom.
The Flagstaff Gardens remain mostly empty during the day, with only a few people exercising during their lunch break
Outdoor eating areas ought be packed any time of the day in Melbourne
Hardware Lane remains a shadow of its former self
From Monday, Melburnians were told they could walk freely outside without a mask as long as it was safe to do so.
On Tuesday, practically everyone walking the streets of Melbourne continued to wear one despite being safely distanced.
Up the street, at what was once referred to as the Paris end of Collins Street, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews continued to fan the flame of COVID fear.
'A big run of days — 25 days of zero cases — is not the same as a vaccine,' he warned.
'Know that it is still probably out there bubbling at a very low level. That’s why masks and distancing is very important.'
Like the bogeyman, Mr Andrews, who kept Melburnians locked up for a whopping 112 days straight, warned COVID-19 lurked just beyond the shadows.
'Even with this run of zero days, no active cases, very strong testing performance and people who are just doing the right thing and playing their part, until the vaccine arrives, this is something that’s going to be with us for the foreseeable future,' he said.
Signs of life: Melburnians are returning to town. They continue to wear masks despite distancing themselves
Families line up for a look at the Myer Christmas Windows on Tuesday
Families line up for a look at the Myer Christmas Windows on Tuesday. People make sure they keep their distance
The City of Melbourne would no doubt wish the premier cut back on the fire and brimstone lectures.
So desperate is it to see people return to the CBD, it is proposing free on-street parking over the Christmas season to attract shoppers.
For a council renowned for its Grinch-like love of parking fine revenue, the proposal is expected to cost the city at least $1.6 million.
The city council will on Tuesday vote on a proposal from management to offer a parking voucher system across the municipality between December 1 and January 3.
A council report indicated foot traffic levels on November 18 were 49 per cent of those recorded in February.
With most major offices still near-empty, peak-hour public transport use was at 32 per cent.
Many city pubs remain closed in the hope that office workers might one day return the city to its pre-COVID hey day.
While the CBD is far from deserted, it is far from the Melbourne those familiar with it once knew.
Familiar scenes: Melbourne is wash with the skeletons of businesses that did not survive the lockdown
Closed shops line the Bourke Street mall
The Bourke Street mall is darted with businesses that shut during the pandemic
A Flinders Street shop right next to the station is boarded up