Melburnians let their hair down for the first Friday night drinks in months flocking to afrescos and watering holes across the city.
In Yarraville’s Ballarat Street,which remained a ghost town for most of lockdown,dozens of pubgoers spilled onto parklets with beer and cocktails in hand,the smiles glued to their faces.
The rain held off as groups cheered and drank along the strip,some having picnics on the grass.
Jody Brodribb and Joanne Taylor had planned to meet up in their active wear and get takeaway at their local joint two weeks ago,but the pair decided to ditch their leggings for a couple of gin and tonics after news of Melbourne’s exit from lockdown were made public.
“The reopening of the world it feels like,” Ms Brodribb said.
“I’ve put on makeup for the first time in three months.”
The pair said they planned to pub crawl in Yarraville until the rain came. Then,it was drinks,cheese and biscuits at Ms Brodribb’s.
Lucio and Julie Ughetti decided to dodge the crowds at the local pub and planned a picnic with friends on the street instead.
The couple set up their picnic table with plastic plates and candles in anticipation of a meal of chicken,salad,dips,and chocolate-dipped oranges.
Ms Ughetti,who has lived in Yarraville for almost 50 years,said it was “better than New Year’s Eve”.
In a nearby alfresco area,accountant Joanne Elly went for round two with friends after celebrating the end of lockdown with a couple of drinks at home at midnight on Thursday.
The excitement was palpable as the group shared their first jug of beer for the first time in months.
“The plan is to have a couple of drinks,maybe something to eat,and go to bed not too late at night hopefully,” Ms Elly said.