When I go 
to the ward office after having an errand at the 
end of the New Year's holiday, there is a prize-winning work of the "Chuo-ku Sightseeing Photo 
Contest" on the right side of the lobby on the first floor. As already introduced by the correspondent fireworks of Sumida (/archive/2016/01/post-3012.html), there were many very wonderful works, but behind the exhibition, the sister city of Chuo-ku There is a permanent exhibition about Suzaland. 
[Documents related to sister city agreement with Southernland indicated in permanent exhibition on the 1st floor lobby of Chuo-ku government office]
Even if you say Sutherland Shire, it may not come. This is the local government of Australia. The first thing that comes to mind when it comes to Australia is a big city such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, or a resort area such as Cairns and Gold Coast, Sutherland is one of the 38 wards (special wards with autonomy) that make up the city of Sydney, and is located in New South Wales (N). Exchanges have been promoted with Chuo-ku since 1991.
＊Note: Shire is almost the same concept as Borough in the UK, meaning the autonomous region (local government area) that constitutes a large city. In Chuo-ku, the city is used as a translation of Sutherland Shire, but our Chuo-ku is also a special ward (autonomous district = Chuo City in English), so here we will call it "Sazaland District (of Sydney City)". ).
The Sazaland District is located 35 kilometers south of central Sydney (CBD) across Sydney Kings Ford Smith International Airport 
and Botany Bay. It is known as the birthplace of Australia, where the British naval officer James Cook landed in 1770 when he reached the East Coast of Australia on a voyage around the world. The ward is named by Forbes Sutherland, a Scottish seafarer of the Cook Expedition, who died of tuberculosis during his stay in the area.
I sometimes go to Australia for work or personal trips, but unfortunately I haven't reached the Sazaland area yet, so I can't imagine what kind of place it is, but as far as I can see, it's like a place with a lot of nature, not far from the city center (Sydney CBD), and it's enviable to live.
In the past, Australia was not a very easy-to-access country because there were many air flights from Japan compared to Europe and the United States, but LCC jetstar Narita flights (Gold Coast, Cairns) have been fully established, and since December 11, ANA has also flew Haneda and Sydney direct flights.
[Jetstar Airways parked at Melbourne Airport]
While thinking about such things, I missed Australian wine. 
There are many Australian wine
shops in Chuo-ku, but today I will go to "Wineya Ginza 1-chome" near the Chuo-ku Tourism Association. There is a flag of Australia at the entrance of the store, so you can see it right away.
When you enter the store, the inside of the store, which has a large space and a high ceiling, is full 
of New Year's party customers. On the wall, there are objects decorated with wine bottles and explanations of wineries in Australia and New Zealand, so the mood is excited.
Also, on a large-screen TV, a video of the Rugby World Cup in Japan VS Samoa last October was played, and I feel like I'm in a bar in Melbourne. 
Mr. Hironaka, a floor staff member, decided to receive red wines from South Australia "Reschke Vitulus Cabernet Sauvignon" and "Mushroom Ahijo". 
In this shop, not only Australia wine, but also the snacks are not only classic wine snacks such as cheese and olives, but also the mushroom Ahijo (pictured below) and seafood you received this time, and it has a taste that goes well with wine. In addition, Mr. Hironaka and other clerks are friendly and very pleasant in the Southern Hemisphere.
Soon, Australia Day (January 26), Australia's National Foundation Day. After eating in Ginza, if you don't have enough drinking, why don't you stop by once!
[Permanent exhibition of "Sister City Sazaland" in Chuo-ku government office]
Location 1-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, 104-8404, Japan (Lobby on the 1st floor of the main building of Chuo-ku government office)
Viewing time: 8:30-17:00 (within office hours)
Access Edo Bus, Subway Yurakucho Line / Shintomicho Station, Hibiya Line Tsukiji Station, CCC 
(Community Cycle) C01 Chuo-ku Government Office Port
[Wine shop Ginza 1-chome store]
Location 1F, The Associate Building, 1-27-10 Ginza, Chuo-ku, 104-0061, Japan
Phone: 03‐3535‐6567
Business hours From 18:00 to 25:00 (17:00 to 24:00 on weekends and holidays)
on the map below.
