MELBOURNE

Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria and the second largest city by population, with
many people considering it to be the cultural capital of the country. The standard of living is so
high that since 2011 it is listed as one of the best cities to live in the world.

Geography

The state of Victoria is the southernmost state of continental Australia. On the sea side, the city
develops around the Port Phillip Bay, also known as "The Bay". Inland, however, it extends into
the Yarra Valley along the course of the river. The valley area is characterised by the Yarra and
Dandenong complexes to the west and by the tangle of tributaries of the Yarra that reach the sea
to the east. The city is therefore located between rivers, sea and mountains.

Climate

The locals say that one can experiene the four seasons on a typical day in Melbourne. This is
because during the day it's quite usual to have to deal with weather changes in terms of fairly
sudden temperature changes.
The volatility of the weather is due to its geographical position. Port Phillips Bay, mountains and
abundant wetlands have a strong influence on the climate. Moreover, they often give rise to
sometimes strange weather events.
On average, Melbourne is colder than other Australian cities. The average is 10 degrees Celcius in
July and around 20 degrees in January. Spring is rather temperate.

History

Before the European colonization, the surroundings of Melbourne were an important meeting point
for various Aboriginal clans in the area. Given its geography it was a strategic point for hunting,
fishing and fresh water supplies.
Between May and June 1835 the first European settlement was established in Melbourne. But it
was the gold fever of 1850 that turned the city into an important port and service center. It was from
this moment that it began to define itself as the main Australian industrial center. The growth
Melbourne went through was so great and impressive that the place became the second most
populous city of the British Empire after London.
In 1901 Melbourne was given the role of national capital. However, it was stripped of the title in
1927 by Canberra, a modern city built stragiht off the drawing board and destined to become the
capital of the country.
Despite this, Melbourne continued to prosper and gained worldwide fame in 1956 thanks to the
Olympic Games. Throughout the 1900s the city continued to grow, though only until the 80s. In
fact, it was in that decade that the city began to suffer a moment of decline. The increasing
unemployment and migration flows to New South Wales and Queensland characterised the
slowdown.Today, Melbourne is back on its feet and it's a prosperous city again with a lively
economic activity, a vibrant life and with a growth in job opportunities.

What to do in Melbourne

Are you a bar and café lover? Then, you can't miss the little bars hidden in Degraves Street. If
instead you want to go shopping, Brunswick street in Fitzroy is absolutely a must!
Food is important, so why not take a trip to Milk the Cow in Carlton? Wines and cheeses run the
area. The whole area south of the river is ideal for walking and stopping along the way to eat
something good.
The Yarra Valley is definitely another place that deserves a visit. It's very easy to find agencies
specialised in any kind of tour that will surely make your time there memorable.

If you can't resist the charm of traditional markets anywhere you go, don't miss the Victoria
Market.
If you like to explore the city calmly and appreciate its every corner and architecture, surely the
area around the Arcade neighborhood is for you.

Living in Melbourne

In general, it's undeniable that all Australian cities offer great possibilities for a social and cultural
life. And it's just as undeniable that Melbourne is the one that most has to offer in the matter.
In fact, the Victoria Arts Center is home to the Australian Opera, the National Theater Company
and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Theatrical, symphonic, classical and contemporary
music and visual arts are all combined here.
Most of the visual arts initiatives in Australia are born here, just like the cinema, gastronomy and
sports. And let's not forget that the Melbourne circuit hosts Formula 1 races, Moto GP and much
more!

Useful information on Melbourne

Getting around in public transport is easy -- all you need to do is get a MYKI card. There's even a
Free Tram Zone that operates all around the CBD!
Being a city located on flat land, it's very convenient to cycle around through the network of bike
paths.

Curiosity

Melbourne is the Australian city with the largest number of live music venues. It's absolutely
forbidden to leave without entering one of such bars.
The city is very famous for its street art. In all the tourist guides it appears to be one of the main
attractions of the city.