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Fire at Victoria Ranges Gym

Duncan

14-Nov-2004
9:18:26 PM

Are they not planning to rebuild?


Jay Woo

15-Nov-2004
9:48:38 AM

Where am I going to Boulder NOW!!! : ( I did have the honour of being the last paying customer to leave the place (though that did happen most Tuesday & Thursday nights for me). I personally think both Altona & Nunawading are a waste of money & effort on the gym's behaves for bouldering, two to three moves and its all over:( Though I am going to have to pick one of them.... Hope to catch up with all the regulars that I hung out with in a different life. See you out there.

Thanks for all the great fun,

Justin.


The Elk

15-Nov-2004
9:53:18 AM

Unfortunately, I highly doubt it.
I can't even begin to understand the full impact of this.... Tears won't bring it back, but over the last few days the loss of the gym has started to take it's toll. I can only speak for those I have climbed with for the last 7 or 8 years at the gym but it's like we've lost our own home.

After all the times people have whined about no new routes etc, it's all completely insignificant now. Now we have no routes at all. It's really going to hurt Melbourne based climbers and boulderers and gym bunnies. Just wait until Tuesday, the major climbing night when everyone ends up at Altona or Nuna.


Rich

15-Nov-2004
9:58:49 AM

On 14/11/2004 Duncan wrote:
>Are they not planning to rebuild?

I heard a rumor they wre going to build housing there.. however thats all it was, a rumor.


Jackie

15-Nov-2004
10:38:24 AM

Hey thanks for the piccies emily, that would have been full on being there then

15-Nov-2004
10:51:08 AM

This is from Saturdays age

It is believed that Mr Lombard sold the building recently but was to remain at the site until next year.
The site was rezoned "mixed use" - business and residential area. It is believed at least part of the site was earmarked for residential development.

This would suggest that housing is fairly likely.


The Elk

15-Nov-2004
12:31:55 PM

Personally, being the cynic that I am, I reckon it all sounds a teensy bit suss.

It was a horrible job to be called out to do. Close to home, close to my heart. Very hard to photograph when you're watching all those years and memories go up in smoke, and still needing to remain professional on the job.

There's going to be a huge impact on the climbing community, just thinking of things like competitions, and the recent junior climbing squad that had started up there. Are 2 major climbing gyms going to be enough for Vic?
I guess a lot of us are eager to see what this new gym in the city is going to be like.... including prices and staffing, leading, bouldering.....

I'm going to feel like I'm betraying an alegience going somewhere else.

15-Nov-2004
12:47:55 PM

On 15/11/2004 The Elk wrote:
>Personally, being the cynic that I am, I reckon it all sounds a teensy
>bit suss.
>

You wouldnt be the first to think it sounds a bit suss but anyone who suggests criminal activity could possibly be held libel?, so its probably a good idea to be careful about what we write on a public forum


IdratherbeclimbingM9

15-Nov-2004
12:50:14 PM

Jay Woo said
>I personally think both Altona & Nunawading are a waste of money & effort on the >gym's behaves for bouldering, two to three moves and its all over:(

For those affected who are going to attend other (remaining) venues under these circumstances. Would it not be possible to give feedback to the proprieters about what worked at Flemington, and perhaps planting the seed of upgrading their establishments to incorporate identical things as that (which used to exist) at Flemington ?

Who knows. With the increased clientel they may consider it, and it would become a win/win situation ?


Richard

15-Nov-2004
1:01:33 PM

>Would it not be possible to give feedback to the proprieters
>about what worked at Flemington, and perhaps planting the seed of upgrading
>their establishments to incorporate identical things as that (which used
>to exist) at Flemington ?

Whilst I preffered to climb at Altona, I think one of the things which worked for the bouldering area at vic ranges was space, space, space. The space to watch other people work moves, the space to stand and chat between attempts, the space to do your route while someone else was on anther route and not getting in the way.

What do other people who went more regularly reckon?

Cheers

Cheers


rhinckle

15-Nov-2004
1:02:51 PM

looks like time to get serious about glue ons, buildering and other "trad" urban bouldering experiences.


GG

15-Nov-2004
1:05:41 PM

There are going to be 3 Floors of Bouldering at Verve (City Gym).....


Bourge

15-Nov-2004
1:19:04 PM

Do you know if the Ranges are going to have a firesale of climbing holds, mats etc?


Rich

15-Nov-2004
1:35:21 PM

On 15/11/2004 bourge de menteur wrote:
>Do you know if the Ranges are going to have a firesale of climbing holds,
>mats etc?
is that meant to be a joke? if not, then i'd say not as they would all be melted and burned.

15-Nov-2004
4:28:56 PM

Now that Jacqui is back in town maybe the Burnley Wall can be pushed for a bit more progress?

skids

15-Nov-2004
4:38:21 PM

this is all very sad news, sure its going to be hard 4 all to change gyms.
just wondering whether anyone knows the public transport situation to nunawading gym?
i live in carlton so altonas going to be hard to get to.
i heard there might be a train stop near nuna gym???

sorry to jackie and all other vic ranges staff.


Rich

15-Nov-2004
5:20:46 PM

On 15/11/2004 skids wrote:
>just wondering whether anyone knows the public transport situation to
>nunawading gym?
>i heard there might be a train stop near nuna gym???
>

yep you're right, nunawading station, which is on the right of the map. the verticle running rd is springvale rd and the star is varman ct where the gym is (at the end). If you are walking from the station you can also cut through near the tennis courts(access from oval way), there's a gate in the fence behind a clubroom and you end up opposite the gym, only takes 5mins to walk.
cheers
rich


Jay Woo

16-Nov-2004
7:48:44 AM

>For those affected who are going to attend other (remaining) venues under
>these circumstances. Would it not be possible to give feedback to the proprieters
>about what worked at Flemington, and perhaps planting the seed of upgrading
>their establishments to incorporate identical things as that (which used
>to exist) at Flemington ?
>
>Who knows. With the increased clientel they may consider it, and it would
>become a win/win situation ?

Both Altona & Nunawading have recently upgraded, so I don't think they will do it again soon. Personally I think both Bouldering caves are too low, as I said 2, 3 moves and you are at the roof. Vic Ranges Bouldering walls were what I'm into, more like outside. The only thing missing was topping out if you ask me. Has anyone seen ‘The Spot’ in Boulder Colorado, now that’s a Bouldering Gym! Though I'm sure there are people that like the roof aspect of Altona & Nunawading. The Space was also (as mentioned) and draw card for me, something that the other 2 don't have. Though I think Nunawading could scrap a lot of the original area and expand their bouldering.

‘The Spot’ http://www.thespotgym.com/index.html


Rat Man

16-Nov-2004
10:54:10 AM

The spot is the worlds finest bouldering gym without a doubt (IMO). But good luck getting anything like that here, the capital involved in getting that up and running would be huge. Colorado has got an absurd number of climbers though. Couldn't find a Price list, but for a member to bring a guest it's US$14 a pop. Ouch.
It has some absurdly high stuff, it would be interesting to see their policy on injuries, you could take a dodgy fall trying to mantle onto the top of the boulders - if it's not feet first from that high up you're in a world of hurt. The mats don't look that soft under foot.

And I fully agree that HR and CCG won't re-do their bouldering. Were stuck with what we got for now.

16-Nov-2004
12:46:41 PM

I went and had another look at VR last night. Walking around the back of the complex in the park behind you get an idea of how large the place really was. The gym was only a small part of the whole complex. The warehouse is completely destroyed wiith the huge metal girders all bent and twisted. That part of the fire must have been really hot. The walls of the gym itself seem mostly intact and the windows near reception and the rear stairs are mostly unbroken. The stairs seem intact as well. From the back of the building through a missing part of wall the lead wall is clearly visible and the lower half seems intact the paint and the words vic ranges are still clear so the fire in that part of the building cant have been that hot. This makes me think that there probably are some holds and other stuff which may be recoverable. I also wonder if that part of the building can be recovered or rebuilt.
I climbed there for about 9 years and even seeing it its hard to believe that its gone. Its obviously not as bad as if someone died but its still hard to comprehend a part of your life just not there anymore.

in terms of using the other gyms, i dont really have any serious problems with either of them but Vic ranges was 5 -10 minutes on my bike and no matter how good they are they are still about 1/2 and hour in the car. i have two small children so i often went to the gym for just an hour when i had some rare free time. now i need the hour and a car just for the trip.

There are 83 messages in this topic.