Melbourne: An Overview

Melbourne (say mel-burn) is the cultivated sister of brassy Sydney. To the extent that culture is synonymous with sophistication -- except when it comes to watching Australian Rules Football or the Melbourne Cup -- some call this city the cultural capital of the continent. Melbourne is also known for its rich migrant influences, particularly those expressed through food: the espresso cafés on Lygon Street, Melbourne's "little Italy," Brunswick's Middle Eastern/Indian/Turkish enclave, Richmond's "little Vietnam," or the Chinatown district of the city center.

Named after then-British Prime Minister Lord Melbourne, the city of 3.5 million was founded in 1835 when Englishman John Batman and a group of businessmen bought 600,000 acres of land from the local Aborigines for a few trinkets. After gold was discovered in Victoria in the 1850s, Melbourne soon became the fastest-growing city in the British empire, and a number of its finer buildings were constructed during this period.

Today Melbourne is the second-largest city in Australia and the capital of the state of Victoria. Melbourne is built on a coastal plain at the top of the giant horseshoe shaped Port Phillip Bay, which also serves as the mouth of the mighty Yarra River. Located on the southern coast of Australia’s eastern seaboard, Melbourne is perhaps Australia’s most cultured and politically conservative city. Melbourne features include Victorian-era architecture, bounteous cultural institutions museums, art galleries, theatres and spaciously landscaped parks and gardens. Its 3.5 million population is multicultural and entirely sports-mad.

Melbourne prides itself on being a great city. It's hardly surprising, with its spectacular combination of old and new architecture, elegant streetscapes, harmonious ethnic communities and lavish parks & gardens. Include Australia's best dining; an efficient transit system and a packed events calendar and you have all the ingredients for one of the most enlightened and liveable cities in the world.

Melbourne has a lively passion for social eating and drinking, which is reflected in the thousands of restaurants serving up gastronomic experiences from around the world. Everywhere you look you will uncover a vast array of fashionable cafes, where you can enjoy Melbourne's existential coffee culture to the fullest.

Melbourne is a style-setter with some of the best shopping and nightlife in Australia. Whether you are searching for haute couture or vintage clothing, sparkling chardonnay, über-chic bars, clubs or jazz venues, Melbourne has it all.

Melbourne's standing as the cultural capital of Australia is authenticated in a non-stop program of festivals, major art exhibitions and musical extravaganzas. The city boasts many sporting spectaculars and a range of crowd-pleasing events, from the high-octane excitement of the Australian Grand Prix to the beautiful floral displays of the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

When you venture outside Melbourne, diverse regional areas and attractions proffer dramatic coastal vistas, ski slopes, outback wilderness, vineyards, rugged mountain peaks and enthralling wildlife. Attracting visitors from all four corners of the globe. All attractions are easily accessible, ensuring your Melbourne experience is even more rich and rewarding.