Melbourne is the more common name for the geographic region and statistical division of the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area. It is the second most populous city in Australia, with a population of approximately 3.8 million (2007 estimate) and serves as the state capital of Victoria. Melbourne is located on the lower reaches of the Yarra River and on the northern and eastern shorelines of Port Phillip and their hinterland. Before the arrival of European settlers, the area was occupied for an estimated 31,000 to 40,000 years by under 20,000 hunter-gatherers from three indigenous regional tribes. A tiny pastoral settlement established around the estuary of the Yarra (47 years after the first European settlement of Australia) was rapidly transformed into a wealthy metropolis by the Victorian gold rush and immigration. Between 1865 and 1902, Melbourne was Australia's largest and most important city. Marvellous Melbourne was also reputedly the richest in the world in the 1880s and according to The Statesman's Yearbook it was the second largest in the British Empire after London for most of the decade, a period in which the city hosted five international exhibitions including the 1880 International Exhibition recognised by the Bureau International des Expositions. Melbourne served as the seat of the federal government from the time of the new nation's federation in 1901, until Federal Parliament moved to the purpose-built capital, Canberra, in 1927.
In the 20th and 21st century Melbourne has hosted many international conferences and events, including the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. It was the location of the 1981 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and the 2006 G20 summit.
Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne is the capital of Victoria state and arguably the most European in style of all Australian cities. Victorian buildings line shady streets plied by the nation’s largest fleet of trams, and green grassy parks and outdoor cafés pop up at every turn.
This pervasive continental character also resounds through the incredibly diverse ethnicity of the city’s population. More than a third of Melbourne’s residents migrated to the city, and their mark can be seen in the incredible cuisine and cultural events which fill the city’s calendar.
Whatever their ethnicity, Melbourne’s three million residents make no qualms about their passion for leading the way in Australia’s cultural scene. This buzzing city admittedly loves itself, and for good reason. It has an amazing array of top class dining, nightlife, shopping, and art. Melbourne regularly attracts major international sporting events such as the Formula One Grand Prix, huge concerts and world-renowned museum exhibitions. Visitors will have the mind-numbing task of deciding where to begin their explorations of this fantastic metropolis.
The centre of Melbourne is easy to navigate, thanks to its grid layout. The wide boulevards slope gently towards to the Yarra River, which has a whole scene of its own. The free City Circle tram will ferry you around the core of Melbourne in convenience and style. This is a city of neighbourhoods, each with its own unique flavour and attributes. Make sure you get out and explore as many of these enclaves as you can, as this is where you’ll get the best perspective of what makes Melbourne so special.
As Melbourne has evolved into Australia’s main events city, its hotel scene has also developed. There are excellent accommodations in all budgets in nearly every quarter of the city. The best strategy is to decide your priorities and base yourself in the right neighbourhood. Business travellers will want to focus on the central district, while families may want to settle in the fun beach area of St Kilda. Head to Toorak or South Yarra if its glamour and nightlife you’re after. Melbourne’s incredible public transport network will ensure that regardless where you stay, you can get anywhere you want in a snap.
Melbourne is the more common name for the geographic region and statistical division of the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area. It is the second most populous city in Australia, with a population of approximately 3.8 million (2007 estimate) and serves as the state capital of Victoria. Melbourne is located on the lower reaches of the Yarra River and on the northern and eastern shorelines of Port Phillip and their hinterland. Before the arrival of European settlers, the area was occupied for an estimated 31,000 to 40,000 years by under 20,000 hunter-gatherers from three indigenous regional tribes. A tiny pastoral settlement established around the estuary of the Yarra (47 years after the first European settlement of Australia) was rapidly transformed into a wealthy metropolis by the Victorian gold rush and immigration. Between 1865 and 1902, Melbourne was Australia's largest and most important city. Marvellous Melbourne was also reputedly the richest in the world in the 1880s and according to The Statesman's Yearbook it was the second largest in the British Empire after London for most of the decade, a period in which the city hosted five international exhibitions including the 1880 International Exhibition recognised by the Bureau International des Expositions. Melbourne served as the seat of the federal government from the time of the new nation's federation in 1901, until Federal Parliament moved to the purpose-built capital, Canberra, in 1927.