Almanac Poetry: The Valley of the Shadow of
The Valley of the Shadow of
(Racecourse Road, Flemington, Melbourne)
Racecourse Road,
the valley of the shadow of
the high-rise housing commission flats.
Racecourse Road,
where Melbourne’s cheapest beer can be bought
in any of three supermarkets
(for stupefaction purposes,
the proletariat in the high rise
need affordable alcohol).
Racecourse Road,
pawnbrokers delight,
but not one of them would buy
my collection of old watches
when I tried to offload them
once, when short of cash.
Hard luck stories abound
on the weary footpaths
of Racecourse Road
as do Chinese restaurants,
halal butchers,
kebab shops
fish-and-chip-and-burger joints
with handwritten meal deals stickytaped
in their front widows.
Racecourse Road
where homeless alcoholics
drink in the square
or under shady trees
in the nearby park;
that is, when the weather is warm.
Racecourse Road,
the valley of the shadow of
the high rise housing commission flats.
(Acknowledgement: first published in my third book-length collection, Orpheus in the Undershirt, Ginninderra Press, 2018.)
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About
Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His sixth book-length poetry collection, Isle Full of Noises, was published in early 2026 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
Hey Kevin,
Many many years ago (1977-78) I lived in one of the sidestreets off Racecourse Rd. My main memories are of a pizza shop that made absolutely the best ever pizza until it mysteriously burned down, and of a gal who worked in the estate agency where I went every month to pay the rent for my very rudimentary flat. I only remember one supermarket, but the pub (name now long forgotten) did superb counter lunches.
Interesting, Trevor.
Thanks for your memories. My memories are from almost twenty years later than yours (c.2005). I recall three supermarkets in the area of Racecourse Road that I frequented – one in Newmarket Plaza, and two others, one being a fine place that specialised in Asian foods.
I remember a pub on the corner of – from memory – Bellair Street and Racecourse Road – at one time known as the Sydney Liars Club Hotel (Is it now the Doutta Galla Hotel?). There was also another pub/bar adjoining Newmarket Plaza, as well as a pub called The Quiet Man Hotel.
Oops, I should have said in my second line *My memories are from almost thirty years later than yours …*
Thanks for jogging my memory about the pub, Kevin. Yes it was the one on Bellair St. corner, and it was called the Doutta Galla way back then. Used to take the real estate gal for lunch there – I was working nights at the time, so was able to conveniently arrive to pay my rent right on lunchtime. I renewed acquaintance with the pub about a decade later when I had a work client who was also located on Racecourse Rd., right at what is now the freeway exit. Is the Doutta Galla still a going concern, do you know?
Hi Trevor. Yes, I just checked, and the Doutta Galla Hotel is still going – it was only renamed the Sydney Liars Club for a short period in its history. I remember going there a number of times myself. It’s one of those impressively large old pubs, as you’ll recall.