Melbourne is located in the south-eastern part of Australia and is situated on the Yarra River. It was established by free settlers from Tasmania in 1835, and declared a city in 1847 by Queen Victoria. It was named Melbourne in 1837 after the 2nd Viscount Melbourne, William Lamb who was the Prime Minister of Britain. In 1851 it was named the capital of Victoria.
Melbourne was the seat of government from 1901 to 1927 after the Commonwealth of Australia was formed until the present Australian capital of Canberra was built. There are still plenty of Victorian era buildings interspersed with newer architecture and the city has plenty of style and sophistication. It has played host to several major international and national events.
Facts About Melbourne
Almost three-quarters of all Victorians live in Melbourne. It has a population of about 3.9 million people, making it the second largest city in Australia. It was the first city in the southern hemisphere to host an Olympic Games with the 1956 Summer Olympics, and also hosted the 2006 Commonwealth Games. It is home to the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. Horse-racings Melbourne Cup, and the Australian Open tennis.
Locals often say Melbourne has four seasons a day, as it is well-known for its changeable weather conditions. The climate is classified as a moderate oceanic climate. In winter it is colder than all other mainland capitals apart from Canberra, but snow is extremely rare. In summer there are occasional days of extreme heat.
Melbourne Accommodation and Dining
Melbourne offers a wide array of accommodation with hotels, motels and apartments to suit every taste and budget. There are a number of up-market boutique hotels with every possible luxury. For those wanting low price accommodation there are plenty of backpacker facilities and a variety of youth hostels that are located central to most facilities.
Melbourne is a culinary delight with thousands of restaurants serving food from every possible cuisine. For Greek food head to Lonsdale Street, Chinatown is based round Little Bourke Street, Carlton has great Italian dining, while the Southgate complex contains a smorgasbord of restaurants. There is plenty of al fresco and sidewalk dining plus Melbourne’s café culture.
Things to Do in Melbourne
If you visit in the spring then visit the horse races for the Spring Racing Carnival. The Butterfly House at Melbourne Zoo is a wonderful place to visit. For those who enjoy shopping the city has a multitude of arcades and laneways, and for bargain hunters the Queen Victoria markets have clothing, shoes, food, CDs, jewellery and a wide range of merchandise.
There are plenty of museums, galleries and parklands to visit. Popular places include Parliament House, the State Library, Government House, Victoria Barracks, the Old Melbourne Gaol and Government House. The city has an excellent public transport system with the largest tram network in the world so take a tram ride.
Australia's other capital cities are Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin. Canberra is also the National capital.
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