First published in View Camera Australia 2024.
Last updated August 2026.

Bike paths of Melbourne
Zo Damage
2020–Present

After moving to the city in 2019, I sold my car and purchased a second-hand bicycle, which proved to be an excellent decision. While managing the bar at The Tote Hotel in Collingwood, I often finished work between 3 and 4am on weekends. Despite the late hours, I valued the quiet ride home as a way to unwind after my shift. Gradually, cycling became my primary (and preferred) mode of transportation.

I began my project, Bike Paths of Melbourne, during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Living in the CBD, I dedicated my daily exercise to walking the dog and cycling within my five-kilometre “bubble” along Melbourne’s bike paths, parklands, and waterways, always bringing my camera. During this period, I also converted much of my two-bedroom flat into a darkroom, immersing myself in historic analogue photographic processes. The idea of creating a photographic survey series emerged two years later while I was pursuing a Master of Fine Art at RMIT University. During this period, I was extensively experimenting with Lomography and constructing pinhole cameras. Frustration with these experimental approaches prompted me to temporarily set aside my university work and concentrate on traditional photographic methods. Previously, I photographed my surroundings to stay creative and support my well-being during lockdowns. Over time, I became aware of the historical and narrative aspects I was capturing during my commutes. This realisation led me to intentionally document the richness and diversity of Melbourne’s waterways and parklands as an ongoing series.

My selection of camera is determined by my destination, the equipment I need to carry, and the type of film available. As I prefer to travel light and frequently cover distances of up to 50 kilometres per ride, I typically bring my Graflex Speed Graphic. One of my preferred routes is the 40-kilometre round trip from the city to Thomastown, which follows the Upfield Shared Path and Merri Creek Trail through Melbourne’s northern suburbs. This route features pristine wetlands in contrast with areas of industrial development. My most memorable ride to date was going to Tottenham along the Maribyrnong River Trail when I saw a penguin playing in the river. While I did not have a camera on the day, the memory will bring me joy for eternity.

Growing up in North Fitzroy, the Merri Creek and Yarra River were where the local kids would hang out. In the 1970s, there was little access to these areas, and they were commonly littered with rubbish, from general crap to old, unwanted and broken household items such as white goods, tables, chairs and bikes. Over 45 years later, it was not until I began working on my Bike paths of Melbourne series in earnest that I was prompted to reflect on the time spent on the Merri and Yarra in my youth and how much it has changed.

Today, the bike paths of Melbourne have become a central gathering place with new tracks, rejuvenated wetlands and parks, playgrounds and the subsequent return of native fauna. Although I do not consider myself an environmentalist or political activist, the series has caused me to contemplate urban development and conservation in a new light. While the city and suburbs continue to sprawl outward, it has been a wonderful experience to revisit my childhood and discover the incredible diversity and restored beauty of Melbourne’s inner-city waterways and parklands, and I look forward to continuing this adventure for many years to come.

Zo Damage 2020, Royal Park (Parkville), scan of 4x5 LF neg

© Zo Damage — Zo Damage 2021, Park with no name (off Royal Parade, Parkville), scan of 4x5 LF neg (in-camera multi-exposure)

Bike paths of Melbourne

Bowness Photography Prize 2024 Finalist

Whose truth