Living In Melbourne And Victoria
VictoriaVictoria covers an area of approximately 227,600 sq km, which represents 2.9% of the total land area of Australia and is about the size of England, Wales and Scotland combined. Victoria’s population of around 4.8 million people makes up about 27% of the total Australian population, second only to NSW.
www.visitvictoria.com
Melbourne
Melbourne is Australia’s second-largest city and the capital state of Victoria. It is a vibrant and exciting city offering a fantastic standard of living to its 3.6 million residents. It is a haven for lovers of art, music, sport and culture and has an action packed annual events calendar that
puts other countries to shame. The city has always enjoyed a friendly rivalry with Sydney and although it lacks the iconic landmarks of its neighbour, Melbourne’s pleasures stem from the enormous diversity of its people.
The city also offers great shopping and fabulous bars and restaurants. Melbourne is also the sports capital of Australia and its residents are nothing less than fanatical about it. Fortunately for them the sporting calendar is jam packed with international events throughout the year, including the Grand Prix and the Australian Tennis Open. www.melbourneaustralia.com.au
The History
Melbourne has been home to indigenous populations for 50,000 years. The first Europeans settled in 1834 and the founder is said to be John Bateman, who was so taken with the place he is said to have written the following in his diary: ‘This will be the place for a village’. It was then purchased from the Doutgalla tribe for an annual tribute of trade goods worth about £200. The Federal government was established in Melbourne in 1901, where it remained until 1927 when Canberra took over as the seat of the national government. Named after Lord Melbourne, then British Prime Minister, the fledgling city prospered and grew as it has continued to do in the decades since.
The Climate
Melbourne is said to have ‘four seasons in one day’. This is due to the fact that although there are distinctions between the four seasons, the weather on a day-to-day basis can be somewhat unpredictable. In general, summer days are sunny and warm and winter is cool. The other seasons are somewhere in between. It’s always useful to carry extra layers so you can adjust your clothing accordingly.
The People And Culture
Victoria’s population is the most culturally diverse in Australia and this trend is set to continue as people continue to migrate there, attracted by all its wonders. A quarter of Melbourne’s residents were born overseas and although English is still the primary language, there are some other 140 languages spoken. Over the years, the constant flow of settlers from Europe, the Middle East and Asia have helped to create the cosmopolitan metropolis that exists today. This wonderful mix of international cultures influences everything you see, do and eat in Melbourne. The city is very liberal and permissive and Melbournians are proud of the fact that different cultures, classes and sexualities coexist in relative harmony.
The Attractions
Sydney may have the world famous Opera House but Melbourne has more than a few treasures of its own. With renowned architecture, extensive parklands, café lined streets and international festivals, Melbourne’s attractions are visible all year round.
Melbourne Cricket Ground (Mcg)
The MCG is the Wembley Stadium of Australian sport and entertainment, and is the venue for huge sporting and music events. Although the MCG is arguably one of the most important cricket grounds in the world, it is much more than a cricket ground to the sports crazy people of Melbourne. It is one of the great icons of the city, worshipped by the locals, and is a reflection the enormous fascination Victorians have with sport.
Royal Botanic Gardens
Established in 1846 by the first Governor of Victoria, Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens are considered among the world’s finest. They contain extensive landscaped gardens covering 86 acres and are home to more than 51,000 individual plants, representing over 12,000 different species. The gardens have become a natural sanctuary for native wild life including black swans, bell birds, cockatoos and kookaburras, filling the air with their distinctive song. In the summer months you can enjoy Shakespeare plays in these beautiful surroundings.