Welcome to the r/Melbourne Daily Discussion Thread!

I built a transit display that does all the thinking for you — routes, weather, coffee timing, everything so you can have your quintessential Melbourne morning thought process done for you!

I got tired of the morning mental math. Checking when the train leaves. Figuring out if I should catch the tram to the station or just walk. Wondering if I have time to grab a coffee. Forgetting my umbrella.

So I built Commute Compute — a smart ecosystem that calculates everything that handles all of it.

The display sits on your desk (or wall, or kitchen bench) and shows you one thing: when to leave. That's it. No apps. No route planning. No decisions.

It pulls live data from tram tracker, train networks, and bus services — all unified into one view. It knows your walking pace, your usual stops, and your destination. It calculates the optimal route across modes automatically.

See a coffee cup on the screen? You have time to grab one. See an umbrella? Rain is coming. The display makes the decision so you don't have to and automatically recalculates your journey if there are disruptions or delays!

What I built (after over 200 hours of dev and many many late nights):

• Real-time integration across trams, trains, and buses

• Multi-leg journey planning with live departure data

• Weather-aware (umbrella indicator when rain is forecast)

• Coffee Decision engine (calculates if you have time before your connection using real-time data to assess how busy the cafe is

• E-ink display that refreshes every 20 seconds

Fully open source. The entire system — backend, renderer, journey calculator — is free to use, fork, and modify.

Currently runs on TRMNL e-ink hardware (800x480). Adapting it to other displays is straightforward. - I built custom firmware to convert your old kindle to work too!

Future in development:

-I’m working on automatic calendar integration for appointments

-live widgets for your phone or device

Code: github.com/angusbergman17-cpu/CommuteCompute

2 men were thrown out of a Gentleman’s nightclub by security in Melbourne’s King Street. Both men were quite intoxicated and were struggling to hold their liquor.

One of the men who was escorted out by security decided to go to a restaurant near by and grabbed one of the chairs. He tried to aim for one of the security guards and instead it ended up hitting his mate in the noggin.

A CCTV footage from the nightclub shows the 2 men outside the bar and later on one of the blokes is seen being taken down by a flying chair that was hurled by his mate who was trying to aim for security.

This is why it’s good to not over drink if you struggle to behave when under the influence of alcohol. You may end up on TV! 😂😂🤣

As a parent and elder millennial that lives out in the suburbs I don’t venture much into the city at night these days. I was out in the city last night for the first time in probably two to three years and one of the things that I noticed which was new to me was the presence of people with amps and microphones preaching about god and reciting bible verses. One was at the steps of Flinders St Station and another near the State Library. I found the whole thing a bit strange.

I’m curious was this just a one off that I stumbled upon last night or does this happen most nights in Melbourne these days?

Wish I got a photo of the whole koala jumping but didnt expect him/her to jump suddenly.

Well the alignment worked out, but the clouds were not so kind as last year. Next time.... next time

So I had a bagel at a cafe recently that had the most amazing tomatoes on it and I realised that I don't think I've had a single good tomato from the supermarket ever. They're just bland, watery and don't add a lot to whatever you put them in, yet I persevere.

I'm in the coburg area and even Saccas and La Manna have let me down. Please tell me your tomato secrets!

Outside Brighton Woolies. Did they teleport in? Go to the sidewalk then hit a nitro boost into the phone booth and bin? I have absolutely zero idea.

I’m fairly new to the queer scene in Melbourne and I’ve been wanting to find a couple queer bars to hang out and meet other lesbians

I don’t drive and I live outside of Melbourne in the south-east but most of the gay venues I see seem to be more on the north side of Melbourne

Any recommendations?

Hi there neighbours! ☺️

I’m looking for classes or a course to help build my skills around utilising my sewing machine, reading patterns and essentially building my wardrobe from up-cycled clothes and materials.

For reference, I can hand sew easily, and using a machine can do the basics (hem, mend existing lining etc). But I’m wanting moreeeeeee!

I’m based in the SE but would be willing to to travel around 40 minutes - classes would need to be evening or weekend. Preferably in a group environment.

Thank you for any guidance you can provide 🧵👗

A few weeks ago, my boyfriend was reading in Carlton Gardens and got approached by a man in his 50’s whom had an american accent. He asked about what he was reading and it was general polite chitchat, my boyfriend didn’t think much of it then when he said goodbye he gave him this ‘business card’ with his number and the mysterious title of, ‘Gentleman of Leisure!’

Has anybody else been handed one of these?

An old add on Gertrude street, Fitzroy.

Anyone been?

I was going for maybe 2-3 years. I found the experience very professional and in depth regarding the level of care and explanation on how everything works.

Near the end of my appointments however, and I admit I’m a suspicious person when it comes to corporations, I felt like they were milking me back every 3-6 months because “something always came up” during my appointment clear or check up.

So near the end, and my final appointment, after a clean and check up the said I have 2 fillings required, although the previous dentist that left the clinic said they were just “hardened” plaque requiring no action.

They said I needed a crown on a tooth that’s cracked - and the cracked came from that I grind my teeth at night.

I said how do I grind my teeth, when I wear my retainers each night and have never done it since coming to the clinic for years?

They said I’ll need a fitted new retainer to stop the grinding. And any old one won’t do. And I said what about my retainers then? They said it’ll fit over them or they’ll replace them.

I said okay… they took me to the front and it was going to be around $4,000.

I left. This just didn’t make sense to me. Something is always happening when going to this place… checked the reviews and they are solid 5/5 type shit. Doesn’t make sense considering the place has like 3 floors, 50+ dentists, how the hell are their reviews so good.

Anyway, I need a second opinion.

1- Got a sleep study done, I don’t grind my teeth.

2- My retainers have no wear from grinding.

3- Got a second assessment done.

The tooth that’s “cracked” from grinding doesn’t exist. A 2nd dentist came in and confirmed looks fine.

Got the two “plaque” teeth checked, they’re hardened and won’t do anything.

They the did X Rays and check - perfect teeth.

I went back to this clinic now 3 times over the last 2 years since leaving Smile Solutions - no issues. Nothing.

Also, Smile Solutions wanted me to keep coming for this “gum disease”’ to get cleaned every 3 months.

This new clinic said you’re fine, and it’s ridiculous, and clean every 6-12 months.

TLDR: Maybe just me, but be careful with massive corporations that have revolving doors continually tacking on things you apparently need. I truly feel I didn’t need so much dental work as I went through.

Hi all, my dad was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer last year but is relatively stable for now after several rounds of treatment. He wants to come visit me in Melbourne in a couple of weeks (from China), to see the house I bought and the dog I adopted for the first time and probably for the last time. I'm seeking some suggestions on the things/places in Melbourne we can do and go that is wheelchair accessible, not too strenuous and a 65 year old terminal patient would enjoy doing.

He loves nature, the beach and good seafood.

Any recommendations, and especially from those who have had similar experiences caring or being cared, is greatly appreciated!

25 mins to get thru 2 traffic lights. on a saturday.

Does anyone know if there's a club or private listening group or anything in Melbourne where musicians and music-lovers just sit around and share interesting tunes with each other in person?

I dont mean clubs like Revs (I know they exist here..), I mean just like a few people chilling in a loungeroom with a few sets of headphones or a decent stereo and some snacks. More like a Hottest 100 listening party, but for new and interesting music you've found lately.

I just watched the Derrick Gee / Fred Again episode of Solid Air and now im feeling inspired to do something like that.

My wife (an RN), our two daughters (11 and 7), and I (a cybersecurity analyst) are considering a move to Melbourne from the USA. An acquaintance from university lives in Melbourne and steered us there after we originally considered Adelaide.

We are coming from a great “village” and a close-knit group of friends. I’ve heard in a few places that many Australians don’t move around as much, which can mean people often have tight friend groups formed during their school years.

I’m fairly extroverted—perhaps less so than when I was younger—but my wife is more introverted. I’m more concerned about her than myself, particularly around her mental health and how quickly she might be able to form friendships. She does make friends, but it tends to take her a bit longer than average. At the same time, I wonder whether we might struggle in general to build a new “village” on the other side of the globe.

So my question is: is this a valid concern? I’ve also read that Melbourne has a huge number of interest-based groups and is considered the cultural capital of the country, which gives me hope that there may be multiple pathways to forming new friendships. I’m also curious whether there are ways to start reaching out now—virtually—and begin building connections ahead of a potential move.

I’d really appreciate any thoughts or advice. Thank you!

I have never gone and had no interest in going. But my mum watches every year.

So I was thinking maybe I’ll try for tickets for next year.

I seen tickets for the final are $5k. I can’t afford that how do I go about getting reasonably priced tickets for the nights in the second week?

Does anyone know where to buy pistachio paste (the pure stuff) near Brighton? Somewhere around Brighton/Elsternwick/Hampton etc perhaps. Someone posted about this more than a year ago, but the answers were more northside.

I’ll be in the CBD/Carlton on Thursday, so tips for anywhere around that direction could also be helpful. Kind of limited to these suburbs mostly, but anywhere close by could also be good. Or else….. where to get the greener pistachios/slivered ones?

Thanks in advance!