The Age photos of the week, January 31, 2026

1/52

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in action in the Men’s Singles Semifinal match against Alexander Zverev of Germany during day 13 of the 2026 Australian Open.Credit:Ruby Alexander

2/52

Linton Hahnel tends to his sheeps water on the family farm near Ouyen, Victoria, where the temperature hit just shy of 49 degrees on Tuesday.Credit:Jason South

3/52

Jules Neale at the Piper-Heidsieck marquee at the Australian Open in Melbourne.Credit:PENNY STEPHENS

4/52

Andrew Lanigan and Maggie the dog cool down at the lake in Ouyen, a Victorian town hitting 49 degrees this week.Credit:Jason South

5/52

Efforts to cool bats near Bellbird picnic area Yarra bend Park in Kew. Sprinkler systems have been installed to spray the Flying Foxes with water in extreme heat conditions. Credit:Alex Coppel

6/52

Locals Bailey, Nala, Wayne and Hayden of the Clissold family prepared to fight and stay for the fires on Tuesday afternoon at Carlisle River in the Otway National Park.Credit:Justin McManus

7/52

The clean-up starts along the Great Ocean Road, with many towns and people affected but the flooding rain event last week. Wye River CFA Captain Andy Hack in the debris after the floods.Credit:Alex Coppel

8/52

Beth Carbone cools off her dog Aruora at the community relief centre in Colac on Tuesday during the fires in Otways.Credit:Justin McManus

9/52

David Glenny with his children (L-R) Celeste, Addicus and Uraia. The Glenny family were hit hard by the financial burden of sending their kids back to school, the Twentyman Foundation are helping families with Back to School supplies.Credit:Paul Jeffers

10/52

Toby Balazs, CEO of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria.Credit:Arsineh Houspian

11/52

Safety a concern with Jet Skiers sharing the water for recreation at Half Moon Bay.Credit:Wayne Taylor

12/52

The Safety Beach Sailing Club training coordinator, Fiona Lowe at Safety Beach as young sailing club members Lewis, 8 and Iona Lowe, 12 are instructed by junior sailing instructors Nick Meijer andJess Lowe. Fiona has seen an increase in the amount of Jetski’s that come dangerously close to swimmers and sailors at the beach.Credit:Chris Hopkins

13/52

Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a forehand in the Men’s Singles Third Round against Eliot Spizzirri of the United States during day seven of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park.Credit:Eddie Jim

14/52

Hot weather in Melbourne on a forecast day of 40 degrees. Harry, 10 and Artie, 8 jumping off the pier at Kerferd Road.Credit:Alex Coppel

15/52

Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) on Rod Laver Arena during day 11 of the tournament, Australian Open 2026.Credit:Alex Coppel

16/52

Belinda Murray has five frozen eggs and has been on a waiting list for donor sperm for two years.Credit:Wayne Taylor

17/52

Sita Sergeant runs ‘She Shapes History’ tours in Melbourne’s CBD highlighting the history of Melbourne’s ‘badass women’. Pictured in Madame Brussels Lane, Melbourne.Credit:PENNY STEPHENS

18/52

Hot weather in Melbourne on a forecast day of 40 degrees. Ben Dunster with Wolfgang having a swim at Middle Park Beach. Credit:Alex Coppel

19/52

Blairgowrie tops the list for the Greater Melbourne suburb with the highest average work-related car expenses. Local café owner Daryl Ferguson says a lack of public transport options is the primary driver of this.Credit:Wayne Taylor

20/52

Commissioner for Children Tracy Beaton is stepping into the role months after the Joshua Brown child sex abuse scandal last year.Credit:Alex Coppel