Melbourne travel guide

Melbourne, Australia Overview

Melbourne, Australia is the second largest city in Australia, and is home to almost 4 million people.  It is located at the beginning of the Yarra River and is bordered by Port Phillip.  It is the capital city of Victoria, and is quite magnificent.

Melbourne is a major center of industry, commerce, and cultural activities.  It is often referred to as the sporting and cultural capital of Australia.  Melbourne is home to many of Australia’s most significant sporting and cultural events. 

There is a great mix of architecture in this great city.  You will also find Victorian gardens and parks in this multicultural society.  There are many international events and conferences held here each year, including the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 1956 Olympics.

Melbourne was initially founded as a pastoral settlement in 1835.  It was quickly transformed by the Victorian gold rush in the 1850’s.  By 1865, Melbourne was the most important and largest city in Australia.  The city’s growth slowed at the beginning of the 20th century and Sydney overtook Melbourne as Australia’s largest city.

 Melbourne is the headquarters of many large corporations, including five of the ten largest in Australia:  BHP Billiton, ANZ, National Australian Bank, Telstra, and Rio Tinto,

Melbourne has always had a large cultural and historical impact on Australia.  There are many museums and theaters, as well as live music concerts throughout the year.  Sporting events include Australian football and cricket.  Many other sports are growing in popularity.

This city is not cheap to live in however; it is in the top forty cities in the world that are the most expensive to live in, and listed second in Australia.  There are so many benefits to this great city and many things to do; it is surely not a waste.