City of melbourne australia. Melbourne is an amazing city in Australia

The city is considered one of the main commercial, industrial and cultural centers of Australia. Melbourne is also often referred to as the country's "sporting and cultural capital" as it hosts many of the sporting and cultural events in Australian life. The city is famous for its combination of Victorian and modern architecture, numerous parks and gardens, and a diverse and multinational population. Melbourne hosted the Summer Olympics in 1956 and the Commonwealth Games in 2006. Here, in 1981, a meeting of the heads of state of the British Commonwealth of Nations was held, and in 2006, the G20 summit, in which the leaders of the nineteen most developed countries took part.

Melbourne was founded by free settlers in 1835 as an agricultural settlement on the banks of the Yarra River, 47 years after the first European settlement in Australia. Thanks to the gold rush in Victoria, the city quickly turned into a metropolis and by 1865 became the largest and most important city in Australia. But already at the beginning of the 20th century, he lost the palm to Sydney.

Between 1901, when the Federation of Australia was formed, and until 1927, when the city of Canberra became the capital of the state, Australian government offices were located in Melbourne.

Story

The area adjacent to the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay, on which Melbourne is currently located, was inhabited by representatives of the Wurungeri tribe of Australian Aborigines before the arrival of Europeans. It is generally accepted that Aboriginal people have lived in this area for at least 40,000 years. The first attempt to establish a European colony here was made by the British in 1803, when they formed a convict settlement in the Sullivan Bay area, but this settlement was abandoned after only a few months.

In May and June 1835, what is now the center and north of the city was surveyed by John Batman, one of the founders of the Port Phillip Association, who entered into an agreement with eight chiefs of the Wurungeri tribe for the sale of 600,000 acres (2,400 km) of adjacent land . He chose the north coast of the Yarra for settlement and announced that "a village will be built on this site", after which he returned to the city of Launceston in Tasmania, which was then called Van Diemen's Land. However, when the settlers sent by the Association arrived at the site to found the village, they discovered that there was already a settlement there, formed by a group of people led by John Pascow Fawkner, who arrived here aboard the Enterprise on August 30, 1835. In the end, both groups came to an agreement on the joint development of the territory. The contract that Batman concluded with the natives was soon canceled by the administration of New South Wales, which at that time controlled the entire territory of continental Australia. This meant that the land became the property of the Crown, but the rights of the people who lived here were secured, and the newly formed city was given the right to exist.

In 1836 Governor Burke declared the city administrative center of Port Phillip, which was part of the colony of New South Wales, and in 1837 approved the first city plan, known as the Hoddle Plan. At the end of the same year, the city was given the final name - Melbourne, in honor of the British Prime Minister, William Lam, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, whose family estate was located in Melbourne, Derbyshire, England. Melbourne was declared a city after the announcement on 25 June 1847 of the charter of Queen Victoria.

When the state of Victoria became an independent colony in 1851, Melbourne became its capital. Since the discovery of gold in the state in the 1850s and the beginning of the gold rush, the city has developed rapidly, providing the region with everything necessary and serving as the main port of the south-east of Australia. During the rapid development of Melbourne in the 50s and 60s of the 19th century, many of the city's most famous buildings were built, such as: the Victorian Parliament Building, the Treasury Building, the State Library, Supreme Court, university, central post office, government building, as well as the cathedrals of St. Paul and St. Patrick. The central city blocks were well planned, numerous boulevards were laid out in the city and gardens and parks were laid out. During these years, Melbourne became the main financial center countries: it houses the headquarters of several important banks. In 1861, Australia's first stock exchange was established in the city.

By the 80s of the XIX century, the rapid development of Melbourne continued. The city has become one of the largest cities british empire while being considered one of the richest cities in the world. During these prosperous years, Melbourne hosted several international exhibitions in the Exhibition Center specially built for this purpose. One of the journalists who visited the city in 1885 called the city "Amazing Melbourne". This phrase stuck, and the city continues to be called that throughout the 20th century. Rapid urban development led to a boom that culminated in 1888. At this time, real estate prices were fueled by optimistic forecasts of industrial development. As a result, it was built a large number of high-rise buildings, offices, "coffee palaces", tenement houses. Not all of them survived as a result of the subsequent development of the city, the development of modern high-rise buildings, and also after the demolition of many buildings of that era due to the tightening of fire safety rules. However, despite this, Melbourne is still famous for its Victorian architecture. This period is also characterized by a wide development public transport and, in particular, a network of radial tram tracks.

The period of prosperity came to an end when, in 1891, a severe economic crisis began in the city, which led the city's finances to complete chaos: during this period, 16 small banks and investment communities closed in Melbourne, and 133 companies announced their liquidation. The Melbourne Financial Crisis triggered an economic crisis throughout Australia that continued throughout the 1990s, as well as the Australian banking crisis of 1893. The effect the depression had on the city's economy cannot be overestimated. And although the city continued to develop slowly, the consequences of the crisis affected during the first decades of the 20th century.

Since the formation of Australia as an independent state on January 1, 1901, Melbourne has been declared the provisional capital of the country. The first federal parliament began its meetings in the building of the Royal Exhibition Center on May 9, 1901. The Australian government moved to Canberra in 1927, but Melbourne continued to be the seat of the Governor General of Australia until 1930. Many of the most important government institutions remained in Melbourne throughout the 20th century.

The city was the headquarters of the Allied forces led by US General Douglas MacArthur in the Pacific theater during World War II from 1942 to 1944. During the war period, Melbourne's industry received numerous military orders, which turned the city into the main industrial center of Australia. After the war, the city continued to grow at a rapid pace, mainly due to a sharp increase in immigration, as well as the prestige of the city as the organizer of summer Olympic Games 1956. In the following decades, the motorway network was actively developed, and a significant increase in the personal car park allowed the development of areas adjacent to the city. Central Melbourne has become more modern thanks to the implementation of numerous projects to modernize urban infrastructure. The beginning of the economic recovery and development of the mining industry in the late 60s and early 70s of the XX century had a beneficial effect on the city. The headquarters of many of the largest companies, as well as the Australian Reserve Bank, were moved to Melbourne. The city remained the financial and business capital of Australia until the end of the 70s, after which, however, it gradually began to give way to Sydney.

Melbourne's economy was hit hard during the economic downturn in Victoria between 1989 and 1992. During this period, many economic institutions of the city ceased to exist. In 1992, a government coalition led by Jeff Kennett came to power. The new administration launched a campaign to rejuvenate the city's economy, launched numerous investment projects, launched a campaign to develop Melbourne as tourist center. The city has hosted many world-famous festivals and events such as the Formula 1 race. Major projects of this period were the renovation and construction of the Melbourne Museum, Federation Square, Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, Crown Casino, City Link (toll highway, passing through the city center). At the same time, some of Melbourne's infrastructure was privatized, including electricity and public transport systems, and the funding systems for many public areas, including health and education, were changed.

Since 1997, Melbourne has experienced significant population and job growth. Significant international investments are being made in the development of the city, primarily in industry and the real estate market. According to 2006 data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Melbourne has been ranked first among the largest cities in Australia since 2000 in terms of economic growth and population growth.

Geography

Topography

Melbourne is located on the southeastern tip of the Australian mainland. Geologically, the city stands on the site of convergence of Quaternary lava fields to the west, Silurian mudstone to the east, and Holocene sandstone deposits to the southeast along Port Phillip Bay.

The eastern part of Melbourne is located on the banks of the Yarra River and along its valley, stretching from the coast of Port Phillip Bay to the Dandenong and Yarra mountains. In the northern direction, the city stretches along the valley formed by the tributaries of the Yarra (Mouni Ponds Creek, Merry Creek and Plenty rivers), and ends with the outlying areas of Craigieburn and Whittlesea. To the south and southeast, Melbourne stretches along the coast of Port Phillip Bay and the Dandenong Mountains. The urban areas then turn south, following the shore of the bay, and reach the Patterson River and the Mornington Peninsula. Melbourne, which expanded in this direction, swallowed up the city of Frankston and reached almost the very tip of the Mornington Peninsula in the town of Portsea. In the west, Melbourne extends along the valley of the Maribyrnong River and its tributaries up to the foothills of the Macedon Mountains, as well as relatively flat lava fields along Melton in the west, Werribee at the foot of the volcanic hills of Yu Young and Geelong in the southwest.

The largest beaches of Melbourne are located along the shores of Port Phillip Bay along the south-eastern districts of the city, such as Port Melbourne, Albert Park, St. Kilda, Ilwood, Brighton, Sandringham, Menton and Frankston, however, in the western areas of Alton and Williamstown there are their beaches. The nearest beaches suitable for surfing are located about 85 kilometers from the central part of the city in the areas of Rye, Sorrento and Portsea.

Climate

Melbourne is located in the Köppen temperate maritime climate zone and is known for frequent and unexpected weather changes. This is due to the fact that Melbourne is mainly located on a plain, which is framed on one side by the Dandenong Mountains, and on the other, it borders the waters of Port Phillip Bay. This creates conditions when air masses from the sea and mountains constantly replace each other, making the weather in the city very changeable. The expression "four seasons in one day" has become the hallmark of the city.

Winter temperatures in Melbourne tend to be cooler than other metropolitan cities in mainland Australia. The absolute minimum temperature was recorded in the central part of the city on July 21, 1869, when it was minus 2.8 °C. Snowfall in Melbourne, however, is extremely rare. The last one was recorded in the city center on August 10, 1986. In the foothill areas in the east of Melbourne, snow falls more often. The last snowfalls in the area of ​​Mount Dandenong were recorded on August 10, 2005, November 15, 2006 and December 25, 2006. Frost and fog can be seen much more often in the city.

In spring, the weather in Melbourne is mostly warm, and this period of the year is characterized by low rainfall. The city is also known for very hot and dry summers. At this time of the year, the temperature often rises above 40 °C. The highest temperature of 46.46 °C was recorded in the city on February 7, 2009

Despite the fact that the climate of Melbourne is considered temperate, the city often witnessed unusual and sometimes even extreme natural phenomena. In 1891, Melbourne experienced a severe flood during which the Yarra spilled up to 305 meters wide. In 1897, a massive fire destroyed an entire city block between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane, Swanston Street and Elizabeth Street. In 1908, the city experienced an intense heat wave. On February 2, 1918, the most powerful tornado ever to hit a major Australian city passed through Brighton, one of Melbourne's seaside areas. It has become known in modern Australian history as the Brighton tornado, and is rated an F3 event on the Fujita scale. On January 13, 1939, a high temperature of 45.6 °C was recorded in the city, which occurred during a four-day period extreme heat observed throughout the country. One of the consequences of this phenomenon was the so-called "Black Friday", during which entire villages surrounding Melbourne burned out (now they are areas of the city). In 1951, a snowfall was recorded in Melbourne, covering the central part of the city and the surrounding areas with a deep layer of snow. In February 1972 in Melbourne happened severe flood, as a result of which Elizabeth Street turned into a continuous stream. On February 8, 1983, a dust storm covered the city. On February 16, 1983, Melbourne was surrounded by wildfires, which are considered the worst fires in the history of Australia of the 20th century. This phenomenon has gone down in history as Ash Wednesday. Hurricanes of great strength were observed in the city in January 2004 and February 2005. On December 9, 2006, due to forest fires around Melbourne, the city experienced the worst smog in the history of the city. At this moment, visibility in the central part of Melbourne was no more than 200 meters. Another drought and associated fires overtook Melbourne in 2008.

Demography

Modern Melbourne is a multinational and multicultural community. Almost a quarter of Victoria's population is made up of people born outside of Australia, and Melbourne is home to people from 233 countries who speak 180 languages ​​and profess 116 different religions. The city hosts the second largest Asian community in Australia, which includes the largest Vietnamese, Indian and Sri Lankan communities in the country.

The first people who inhabited the territory of modern Melbourne were Australian Aborigines, in particular, representatives of the Banarong, Wurungeri and Watarong tribes. And now the city is an important center of Aboriginal life. The total number of indigenous inhabitants of Australia in Melbourne is more than 20,000 people (0.6% of the city's population).

The first European inhabitants of the city were the British and Irish. It was to them that all the first settlers who arrived in Victoria during the gold rush belonged, and made up the majority of immigrants until the outbreak of World War II. The discovery of gold and the beginning of the gold rush in the 50s of the XIX century was the beginning of the rapid development of Melbourne. Within the first few months of the discovery of gold in Victoria, Melbourne's population increased by nearly 75%, from 25,000 to 40,000. This growth continued, not declining over the next decades, and by 1965 Melbourne overtook Sydney in terms of population. During the subsequent years of the gold rush, significant groups of immigrants from China, Germany and the United States began to arrive in Victoria and Melbourne.

Post-war immigration

Melbourne's Chinatown, founded in 1854, is not only one of the oldest in Australia, but throughout the world.

After the end of World War II, Melbourne was flooded with immigrants from the Mediterranean countries, mainly from Greece and Italy, but also from Turkey and Cyprus. According to the 2001 census, there were 151,785 ethnic Greeks in the Greater Melbourne area. 47% of the Greek population of Australia lives in Melbourne. The city is often referred to as "the largest Greek city outside of Greece.

The demographic situation in Melbourne is characterized by a more or less even distribution of representatives of various ethnic groups in the districts of the city, however, in some of them, representatives of certain groups historically have an advantage. It is generally accepted that Italians live in Carlton and Brunswick, Macedonians - in Thomastown, Indians and immigrants from Sri Lanka - in the southeastern regions, Greeks - in Oakley, Northcote and Huesdale, Vietnamese - in Richmond, Springvale and Footscray, Maltese - in Sunshine, Serbs in St. Albans, Turks in Cobourg, Lebanese in Broadmeadows, Russians in Carnegie, Spaniards in Fitzroy, representatives North Africa- in Flemington.

The number of Melbourne residents who were born outside of Australia is 34.8% (the national average is 23.1%). The UK is home to 4.7% of the city's residents, followed by Italy (2.4%), Greece (1.9%) and China (1.3%).

The 2006 census showed that 28.3% of Melbourne's population (1,018,113) identified themselves as Catholic. In second place is the group of the population that recognizes itself as atheists - 20.0% (717,717), followed by Anglicans - 12.1% (433,564), Orthodox - 5.9% (212,887) and representatives of the United Church - 4, 0% (143,552). The total number of people practicing Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and Hinduism is 7.5%. According to statistics, four out of ten Jews in Australia live in Melbourne. The city is also home to the largest number of people who are victims of the Holocaust among other Australian cities.

Density and population growth

While Victoria's overall demographics are subject to fluctuations, Melbourne's statistics office has noted a steady increase in the city's population of around 50,000 a year since 2003. Melbourne is now the top destination for new immigrants from abroad, overtaking Sydney in this indicator. In addition, the city is currently growing due to immigrants from other major cities in Australia, due to more affordable housing prices and relatively low cost of living. Over the past few years, Melbourne's areas of Melbourne, Wyndham and Casey have had the highest population growth among local municipalities in Australia. According to forecasts, if Melbourne's population growth continues at the same pace, then the city could again become the largest in Australia by 2028.

Melbourne's population density began to decline after the Second World War due to the development of new territories for residential areas, the development of a public transport network and an increase in the fleet of personal vehicles. During these years, the development of the city took place mainly in the eastern direction. After numerous public discussions in the 1980s and an economic downturn in the 1990s, the decision was made to develop the city in a westerly direction and at the same time increase the population density in the central areas.

Urban structure and management

Melbourne was founded on the north bank of the Yarra River in 1835 on a site of 1.6 km by 0.8 km. Construction in the city was carried out in accordance with the Hoddle Grid Plan, developed by Robert Hoddle, who was then the surveyor of the colony. All the main streets of the central part of Melbourne still pass in strict accordance with this plan. The city center is known for its historic streets and arcades, the most famous of which are Block Place and Royal Arcade, which are home to numerous shops and cafes. The central part is replete with numerous historical and architecturally interesting buildings, such as the Royal Exhibition Centre, the Victorian Parliament Building, Melbourne Central Hall. And although the place where the construction of the city began is still considered the center, it is not a demographic center due to the fact that in the 20th century Melbourne mainly grew in an easterly direction.

Melbourne in many respects can be called a typical Australian city, since its development, especially in the 20th century, was determined by the development of sleeping areas, where every Australian family's dream of owning a separate house with a small plot of land could come true. Most of Metropolitan Melbourne is characterized by a relatively low population density. The laying of a network of radial railways and tramways contributed precisely to this development of the city, when people preferred to settle in areas with a relatively low price of land and near the so-called "transport corridors".

Due to the huge number of parks, gardens and boulevards, Melbourne is often called the "Garden City", and the state of Victoria has been known as the "Garden State" since the 19th century. Most of the most famous gardens and parks are located in close proximity to the city center. Melbourne is home to five of the six most tall buildings Australia, the tallest of which is the Eureka Tower.

According to The Economist magazine's most livable city survey, Melbourne has been ranked number one three times in 2002, 2004 and 2005. This study takes into account factors such as culture, climate, cost of living, crime rate, health care. In recent years, rapidly rising house prices have pushed Melbourne to the 36th position in the list of the most expensive cities in the world and to the 2nd position among Australian cities.

The Melbourne government governs central part city, which includes the Central Business District and some surrounding areas. However, the head of administration, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, is often (especially when traveling abroad) seen as representing Greater Melbourne, which includes the entire metropolitan area. The current Lord Mayor of Melbourne, John So, was awarded the prestigious World Mayor Award in 2006.

The rest of the Greater Melbourne area is divided into 30 local municipalities. All of them have the status of city administrations, with the exception of four districts, which have the status of suburban districts. District governments form councils and are responsible for a range of functions (transferred to them by the Victorian Government under the Local Government Act 1989), such as urban planning and waste collection.

Most city-wide events are hosted by the Victorian Government, which sits in the Victorian Parliament House on Spring Street. Government responsibilities include: public transport, main roads, traffic control, police, education, planning and management of urban infrastructure. With two thirds of Victoria's population living in Melbourne, the state government has traditionally big influence in city affairs. This situation is not unique to Australia, as in many states state governments run even larger metropolitan areas.

Economy

Melbourne is home to Australia's largest seaport. Its annual turnover is about AUD$75 billion. Also, the Melbourne Seaport accounts for 39% of the national container turnover.

Most of the Australian automotive industry is located in Melbourne, which is represented by Ford and Toyota assembly plants, as well as the Holden car engine plant. The city is also the base for many other industries, and at the same time is the largest financial and commercial center.

Melbourne is a center of modern technology. Industries related to computers or information technology employ more than 60,000 people, which is the third largest in Australia. This industry has a turnover of AUD$ 19.8 billion, of which AUD$ 615 million is exported.

Melbourne is the largest banking center in the Asia-Pacific region. Two of Australia's four Big Four banks, NAB and ANZ, are headquartered in the city. Melbourne occupies a leading position among the largest cities in Australia in terms of the number of pension funds. It houses Australia's largest pension fund, the Federal Fund for the Future.

Tourism is currently one of Melbourne's main economic sectors. In 2004, the city was visited by approximately 4.6 million Australian tourists and 1.88 million tourists from abroad. For the past period of 2008, Melbourne took the palm from Sydney as the main tourist center of Australia.

Melbourne is home to many of Australia's largest corporations, including five in the top ten (by total turnover), namely ANZ, BHP Billiton, National Bank of Australia, Rio Tinto and Telstra. Here are the head institutions of such organizations as the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Melbourne is ranked 34th in the list of the world's 50 largest financial centers according to the Mastercard World Commercial Centers Index and second in Australia, behind only Sydney.

The city is becoming increasingly important as a center for international meetings and conferences. In February 2006, the construction of the largest conference center for 5,000 seats began. The investment cost of the project is estimated at AUD$ 1 billion.

Transport

Melbourne's transport system is unified under the single Metlink brand. It originates in the second half of the 19th century, when trams and trains were the main means of public transport. Since the 1950s, due to the sharp increase in the number of private cars, roads and highways have been built at a rapid pace. This trend continued over the following decades, leading to the fact that the number of people who constantly used public transport decreased from 25%, as was the case in the 1940s, to 9%. In 1999 public transport in Melbourne was privatized.

The tram network in Melbourne is considered the third largest in the world and the largest outside of Europe. It is the only tram network in Australia that has more than one line. Tram in Melbourne is not only a means of transportation, but also an element cultural heritage and an important tourist attraction. In the central part of the city there is a free circular route, mobile restaurants are widespread.

Melbourne's local train network consists of 17 lines. All of them are radial lines, with the exception of a partially underground ring section that runs through the city's Central Business District. Railways mostly electrified. The largest station in the city is Flinders Street Station. In 1926, this station was considered the largest in the world in terms of the number of passengers. Railways connect Melbourne with many cities within the state of Victoria, as well as with Sydney and Adelaide. Intercity trains depart from Southern Cross Station.

Melbourne's bus network consists of approximately 300 routes that primarily serve the outlying suburbs and fill in the gaps between rail and tram lines.

Melbourne is characterized by a high degree of dependence on personal transport: only 7.1% of the population uses public transport, but Lately this share increased slightly, mainly due to higher gasoline prices. Melbourne has approximately 3.6 million private cars and 22,320 kilometers of road, one of the highest per capita rates in the world.

The Port of Melbourne is Australia's largest seaport. In 2007, about 2 million containers were transported through the port in 12 months, which put it in fifth place among the ports of the Southern Hemisphere. Melbourne is the most important cruise port Australia along with Sydney. Regular ferries operate from the city connecting mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania.

Melbourne has four airports. The largest is Melbourne International Airport, located in Tullimarine. The airport is home to airlines such as Jetstar Airlines and Tiger Airwais Australia, cargo airlines Australian Air Express and Toll Priority, and a major hub for Qantas and Virgin Blue. Avalon Airport is located between Melbourne and Geelong and is the second largest home base for Jetstar. It is planned to begin international flights from this airport to Kuala Lumpur soon, which will be operated by AirAsia X. In addition, this airport is used by a number of airlines as a transport and repair base. All this makes Melbourne the only Australian city that has two international airports. Moorabbin Airport, located in the south-eastern part of the city, is a major center for small aviation and, in addition, receives a limited number of commercial flights. Issendon Airport, which was Melbourne's main airport until the completion of the Tullimarine airport, now receives commercial and transport flights, and is also a major center for small aviation.

Education

The education system in Melbourne, as well as throughout the state of Victoria, is overseen by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). This organization acts as an advisor to two Victorian ministries involved in the management of the education system, namely the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Children and Early Childhood Development.

The education system is built according to a three-stage scheme: primary education (eng. primary school), secondary education (eng. secondary schools or eng. secondary colleges) and higher education.

School education is compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 15. Up to two-thirds of schoolchildren study in public schools, the rest is in private schools. Education in public schools up to the age of 12 is free, but this does not apply to foreign students. Regardless of which school they study in, public or private, upon graduation, students must have a certain level of knowledge and confirm this by passing unified exams.

The largest universities in Melbourne and at the same time one of the largest in Australia are the University of Melbourne and Monash University. In 2006 the University of Melbourne was named second best university Australia. In addition, according to a study by the British Journal The Times Higher Education Supplement The University of Melbourne is ranked 22nd among the best educational institutions in the world, and Monash University is ranked 38th in this list. In the same study, Melbourne is named the fourth best university city in the world after London, Boston and Tokyo.

Melbourne is home to the oldest institutions of higher education in Australia, including a law school (1857), a technical school (1860), a medical school (1862), a dental school (1897), and a music school (1891). All of them are part of the University of Melbourne. The University of Melbourne is thus the oldest university educational institution state of Victoria and Australia's second oldest.

Also in Melbourne, the Australian Space Research Institute was established in the early 1990s.

The academic year usually runs in Melbourne, as throughout Victoria, from late January to mid-December for primary and secondary schools and colleges, and from late February to late November for universities.

healthcare

The Government of Victoria operates approximately 30 public hospitals and hospitals throughout Melbourne, as well as another 13 organizations providing medical service. In addition, the city has a large number of private clinics and hospitals. Melbourne is the most important center of medical science in Australia.

culture

Melbourne is the cultural and sporting capital of Australia. The city hosts a large number of annual cultural events and is home to many of Australia's largest museums and exhibitions. The local architecture is also unique.

musical culture has deep roots in the city. Many famous Australian musicians come from Melbourne. In recent years, the city has gained popularity in the world as one of the main centers of street art. This type of modern urban art has become popular in Melbourne so much that it is reflected in the guidebooks. The city is considered one of the world's major centers of Victorian architecture (1837-1901), with a large number of buildings of this style preserved. The architectural appearance of the city is also inconceivable without beautiful examples. modern architecture that have appeared in Melbourne since the middle of the 20th century.

Theatrical life in Melbourne is very diverse. The city is home to the National Ballet of Australia. The Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in the city in 1853 and is Australia's oldest professional orchestra and the only one to hold the title "Royal". Melbourne has more theaters than any other city in Australia. The city is also the main center of Australian fashion. The Melbourne Fashion Festival is held here every year.

Sport

Melbourne is widely known as the cultural and sports capital of Australia. Every year it hosts a large number of national and international sports competitions. The most significant of them are:
Australian Open (tennis), this tournament is one of the stages of the Grand Slam;
Australian Grand Prix (Formula 1);
Melbourne Cup (horse racing);
Australian Football League season finale.

In addition, Melbourne hosted the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Melbourne hosted Rugby World Cup games in 2003; In 2001, Melbourne became the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to host the World Polo Championship. In 2007, the city hosted the World Aquatics Championship, and in early 2008, Melbourne hosted the Asia-Pacific Games.

Melbourne is the birthplace of Australian football (a game that combines elements of rugby and football) - the most popular sport in Australia in terms of the number of spectators attending competitions. The city is home to nine of the sixteen teams that play in the Australian Football League (AFL). The AFL season final is considered Australia's largest domestic sporting event and is held in the city on the last Saturday in September.

Melbourne has 29 sports facilities that can accommodate more than 10,000 people in their stands. In 2000, the construction of the largest stadium in the city, Telstra Dom, was completed, capable of accommodating 56,000 people. This stadium was the first sports facility in the world to host football and cricket matches under a roof.

In 2006, London-based research and consulting company ArcSport named Melbourne the best city in the world for sports competitions. This allowed Melbourne to be considered the unofficial sports capital of the world.

Mass media

Melbourne's largest newspapers are Herald Sun, owned by Rupert Murdoch, and The Age, owned by Fairfax, and the evening tabloid mX, also published by Murdoch. The national newspaper The Australian is published in Melbourne as a special issue for Victoria. This paper is also owned by Murdoch. The Murdoch News Group publishes several weekly magazines and owns over 50% of Fairfax, so all Melbourne-based dailies are part of Murdoch's empire. Australia's largest municipal media company, Leader Newspapers, publishes 33 local weekly newspapers that cover the problems of Melbourne's boroughs and municipalities.

Melbourne has three commercial TV channels: Seven, Nine and Ten, as well as three public channels: ABC, SBS and the municipal channel C31. Melbourne has a large number of radio stations, which are mainly owned by the city's three main networks: DMG Radio Australia, Austereo and Southern Cross Broadcfsting.

Tourism

Tourism is a vital component of Melbourne's economy. As of 2004, 7.6 million Australian tourists and 1.88 million foreign tourists visited the city this year. Among the tourists visiting the city, a significant part are young people traveling as backpackers. Thanks to the holding of a large number of international sports competitions in the city, there is a widespread sports tourism. In 2008, Melbourne overtook Sydney for the first time in terms of the amount of money spent in the city by Australian tourists.

Main Attractions

View of South coast Yarra River and Eureka Tower
The State Library of Victoria is one of the largest libraries in Australia. The library building is an outstanding example of colonial classicism. It is not only a book depository, but at the same time an important center of the cultural life of the city. Many exhibitions, conferences, meetings with writers are held here.
The building of the station Flinders Street Station - located in the heart of the city, the station building is a kind of hallmark of the city. His image can be seen on numerous posters, postcards and badges dedicated to Melbourne. The station is the oldest railway station in Australia, is now considered a listed building and is under the protection of the Victorian government.
The Victorian Parliament Building is one of the outstanding examples of civic architecture not only in Australia but throughout the world. This building housed the Federal Parliament of Australia from 1901 to 1927.
Royal Exhibition Center - the building is located in Carlton Garden, built in 1880. A fine example of Victorian architecture. The building was the first in Australia to receive UNESCO World Heritage status. This building hosted the first meeting of the Australian Parliament on May 9, 1901, at which the independence of Australia was proclaimed.
Captain James Cook's Cottage - a small stone cottage formerly owned by the family of Captain James Cook, moved to Melbourne from England in the first half of the 20th century. This building is a national shrine in Australia and a major tourist attraction in the city.
Crown Casino
Melbourne Aquarium - located in the heart of the city, on the banks of the Yarra River. It has an interesting collection of marine and river life Australia, as well as adjacent parts of the oceans.
The Melbourne Museum is the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere. The expositions of the museum are devoted to the history of Australia, the state of Victoria and the city of Melbourne itself. The museum building is an interesting example of modern architecture. In addition to museum expositions, the building houses an auditorium, a theater, and an IMAX cinema.
The Monument of Remembrance is one of the largest monuments in Australia to soldiers, participants in all military conflicts in which the country took part. The legendary Mausoleum at Helicarnassus, one of the seven wonders of the world, was used as an idea for the design of the main building.
Museum of Immigration
Yarra waterfront
National Gallery of Victoria
Federation Square is one of the main places of public meetings and events in the central part of the city. It is famous for its modern and in many ways controversial architecture. Numerous exhibition premises, cinemas, restaurants, cafes and bars are located here. big open space The square connects the central part of Melbourne, the Yarra embankment and adjacent parks.
The Rialto Tower is one of the tallest buildings in the city and in Australia. On the 55th floor of the building, at a height of 234 meters, there is Observation deck, which is considered one of the main attractions of Melbourne.
St. Paul's Cathedral is Melbourne's main Anglican cathedral. It is located in the heart of the city, forming the architectural axis of the central part of Melbourne. Famous for its organ and the highest spire, among Anglican churches, outside of England.
St. Patrick's Cathedral is the largest Catholic cathedral in the city. It is an outstanding example of neo-gothic style. The cathedral is the largest church building built in the world in the 19th century.
Melbourne Arts Center
Eureka Tower

Melbourne is considered one of the main commercial, industrial and cultural centers of Australia. The city is also often referred to as the "sports and cultural capital" of the country, as it hosts many of the sporting and cultural events in Australian life. Melbourne hosted the Summer Olympics in 1956 and the Commonwealth Games in 2006. Here, in 1981, the meeting of the heads of state of the British Commonwealth of Nations was held, and in 2006, the G20 summit, in which the leaders of 19 most developed countries took part.

Melbourne was founded by free settlers in 1835 as an agricultural settlement on the banks of the Yarra River, 47 years after the first European settlement in Australia. Thanks to the gold rush in Victoria, the city quickly turned into a metropolis and by 1865 became the largest and most important city in Australia. But already at the beginning of the 20th century, he lost the palm to Sydney.

Between 1901, when the Federation of Australia was formed, and until 1927, when the city of Canberra became the capital of the state, Australian government offices were located in Melbourne.

In 2008, Melbourne overtook Sydney for the first time in terms of the amount of money spent in the city by Australian tourists.

detailed information

Surrounded by vineyards, beaches and forests, the city is a contender for the title of "Australia's most ideal place to live" and the title of "cultural capital". From neo-Gothic temples to elegant shopping arcades, world-class restaurants, bars, clubs, multicultural theatres, contemporary fashion and design houses, exquisite art galleries, contemporary architecture and vibrant culture, there is something for everyone here. The history of the city, the incredible wealth during the gold rush, and the role of the city as the capital from 1901 to 1927 are reminded old houses downtown.

The city is lively all year round: some festivals and carnivals are held here all the time. Graceful trams add a special charm to the atmosphere. Melbourne has the largest tram network in the world. You can get to any corner of the city, enjoying its beauties and great weather, and high gas prices or a stuffy subway with crowds of people will not spoil your mood.

Melbourne is a major sports center. There are nine major professional football clubs. Melbourne hosts the Australian Open. The Melbourne Cup is the biggest horse race in the country. It is a matter of honor for every Australian to bet at least 10 dollars on a horse he likes. So if you want to get along with local residents, do not neglect this tradition, besides, if you win, it will be doubly pleasant. Just don’t get too carried away, after all, horse racing is a gambling sport ...

Also, a huge number of sports complexes have been built for the residents of the city, so being here, you will be simply ashamed, finally, not to fulfill the promise you made to yourself for a long time and not to go in for sports. Although the Ozzies themselves, as the Australians call themselves, prefer to do it on TV, watching a sports channel.

The population of the city is a motley mosaic of national communities. I think there will even be a Russian community. This diversity is reflected in bustling markets, restaurants, gourmet shops and bakeries.

Melbourne will forever win the hearts of beautiful ladies, because this city is also the fashion capital of Australia! Here is the largest shopping center in the Southern Hemisphere - Myers, and as many as 4 blocks are occupied by the best boutiques and shops. Chapel St. famous for its designer shops.

IN business center Melbourne, known locally as CBD, futuristic skyscrapers blend harmoniously with sandstone facades of the Victorian era.

In the Fitzroy district, Melbourne bohemians love to spend time in cafes. In addition, there are concentrated bookstores with non-traditional literature.

Richmond is teeming with jumbled drugstores, family-run grocers, fruit stands, and carcasses hung in butcher shops. This is the place to come for groceries with the whole family.

The Carlton area is a small Melbourne Italy, where Italian restaurants, ordinary cafes and ice cream parlors are crowded.

Praran is a pretentious area. Here along the boulevards are lined with cool jazz bistros, antique shops and boutiques with flashy windows.

By the bay is the area of ​​St. Kilda, famous for its many different entertainments. This is where the nightlife gathers. The area is also popular with lovers of sweets. Here are the best bakeries in the city.

The most prestigious and wealthy suburbs of Melbourne are South Yarra and Toorak. Their streets are full of greenery, and luxurious mansions are hidden behind high fences, limousines are parked near expensive shops.

If you manage to drag the female half of your family away from the shops, then you can enjoy yourself and please your children by visiting the following places.

Visiting the Koala Zoo and the penguin colony, you can watch an amazing picture: immediately after sunset, dwarf penguins line up and head along the beach to their home. I think your child will never forget this. But the growing boys will probably be interested in visiting Sovereign Hill - the village of gold miners. After watching westerns, they will be able to feel like real cowboys here.

You can get to know nature better and take a country walk in the Yarra Valley. You can admire green forests, mountain ranges and vineyards. Giant ash trees up to 100m high grow here, and dense ferns create a reliable habitat for kangaroos, wombats and platypuses. And in the Grimpiens National Park, you can escape from the gray days and watch the picturesque waterfalls.

Melbourne is unique in that it is pleasant to live and relax here. You will not have problems with spending exciting leisure time with the whole family, and individually, each member of “your clan” will be able to spend time on the streets of this city with pleasure.

Story

The area adjacent to the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay, on which Melbourne is currently located, was inhabited by representatives of the Wurungeri tribe of Australian Aborigines before the arrival of Europeans. It is generally accepted that Aboriginal people have lived in this area for at least 40,000 years. The first attempt to establish a European colony here was made by the British in 1803, when they formed a convict settlement in the Sullivan Bay area, but this settlement was abandoned after only a few months.

In May and June 1835, what is now the center and north of the city was surveyed by John Batman, one of the founders of the Port Phillip Association, who entered into an agreement with eight chiefs of the Wurungeri tribe for the sale of 600,000 acres (2,400 km²) of adjacent land . He chose the north coast of the Yarra for settlement and announced that "a village will be built on this site", after which he returned to the city of Launceston in Tasmania, which was then called Van Diemen's Land. However, when the settlers sent by the Association arrived at the site to found the village, they discovered that there was already a settlement there, formed by a group of people led by John Pascow Fawkner, who arrived here aboard the Enterprise on August 30, 1835. In the end, both groups came to an agreement on the joint development of the territory. The contract that Batman concluded with the natives was soon canceled by the administration of New South Wales, which at that time controlled the entire territory of continental Australia. This meant that the land became the property of the Crown, but the rights of the people who lived here were secured, and the newly formed city was given the right to exist.

In 1836, Governor Bourke declared the city the capital of Port Phillip, part of the colony of New South Wales, and in 1837 approved the first city plan, known as the Hoddle Plan. At the end of the same year, the city was given the final name - Melbourne, in honor of the British Prime Minister, William Lam, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, whose family estate was located in Melbourne, Derbyshire, England. Melbourne was declared a city after the announcement on 25 June 1847 of the charter of Queen Victoria.

When the state of Victoria became an independent colony in 1851, Melbourne became its capital. Since the discovery of gold in the state in the 1850s and the beginning of the gold rush, the city has developed rapidly, providing the region with everything necessary and serving as the main port of the south-east of Australia. During the rapid development of Melbourne in the 50s and 60s of the 19th century, many of the city's most famous buildings were built, such as: the Victorian Parliament Building, the Treasury Building, the State Library, the Supreme Court, the University, the Central Post Office, the Government Building, as well as Cathedrals of Saint Paul and Saint Patrick. The central city blocks were well planned, numerous boulevards were laid out in the city and gardens and parks were laid out. During these years, Melbourne became the main financial center of the country: the headquarters of several major banks were located in it. In 1861, Australia's first exchange was established in the city.

By the 80s of the XIX century, the rapid development of Melbourne continued. The city became one of the largest cities in the British Empire, at the same time being considered one of the richest cities in the world. During these years of prosperity, Melbourne hosted several international exhibitions in the Exhibition Center built specifically for this purpose. One of the journalists who visited the city in 1885 called the city "Amazing Melbourne". This phrase stuck, and the city continues to be called that throughout the 20th century. Rapid urban development led to a boom that culminated in 1888. At this time, real estate prices were fueled by optimistic forecasts of industrial development. As a result, a large number of high-rise buildings, offices, "coffee palaces", tenement houses were built. Not all of them survived as a result of the subsequent development of the city, the development of modern high-rise buildings, and also after the demolition of many buildings of that era due to the tightening of fire safety rules. However, despite this, Melbourne is still famous for its Victorian architecture. This period is also characterized by the extensive development of public transport and, in particular, the network of radial tram tracks.

The period of prosperity came to an end when, in 1891, a severe economic crisis began in the city, which led the city's finances to complete chaos: during this period, 16 small banks and investment communities closed in Melbourne, and 133 companies announced their liquidation. The Melbourne financial crisis triggered an economic crisis throughout Australia that continued throughout the 1990s, as well as the Australian banking crisis of 1893. The effect the depression had on the city's economy cannot be overestimated. And although the city continued to develop slowly, the consequences of the crisis affected during the first decades of the 20th century.

Since the formation of Australia as an independent state on January 1, 1901, Melbourne has been declared the provisional capital of the country. The first federal parliament began its meetings in the building of the Royal Exhibition Center on May 9, 1901. The Australian government moved to Canberra in 1927, but Melbourne continued to be the seat of the Governor General of Australia until 1930. Many of the most important government institutions remained in Melbourne throughout the 20th century.

The city was also the headquarters of the Allied forces led by US General Douglas MacArthur in the Pacific theater during World War II from 1942 to 1944. During the war period, Melbourne's industry received numerous military orders, which turned the city into the main industrial center of Australia. After the war, the city continued to grow at a rapid pace, mainly due to a sharp increase in immigration, as well as the prestige of the city as the organizer of the 1956 Summer Olympics. In the following decades, the motorway network was actively developed, and a significant increase in the personal car park allowed the development of areas adjacent to the city. Central Melbourne has become more modern thanks to the implementation of numerous projects to modernize urban infrastructure. The beginning of the economic recovery and development of the mining industry in the late 60s and early 70s of the XX century had a beneficial effect on the city. The headquarters of many of the largest companies, as well as the Australian Reserve Bank, were moved to Melbourne. The city remained the financial and business capital of Australia until the end of the 70s, after which, however, it gradually began to give way to Sydney.

Melbourne's economy was hit hard during the economic downturn in Victoria between 1989 and 1992. During this period, many economic institutions of the city ceased to exist. In 1992, a government coalition led by Jeff Kennett came to power. The new administration launched a campaign to rejuvenate the city's economy, launched numerous investment projects, and launched a campaign to develop Melbourne as a tourist destination. The city has hosted many world-famous festivals and events such as the Formula 1 race. Major projects of this period were the renovation and construction of the Melbourne Museum, Federation Square, Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, Crown Casino, City Link (toll highway, passing through the city center). At the same time, some of Melbourne's infrastructure was privatized, including electricity and public transport systems, and the funding systems for many public areas, including health and education, were changed.

Since 1997, Melbourne has experienced significant population and job growth. Significant international investments are being made in the development of the city, primarily in industry and the real estate market. According to 2006 data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Melbourne has been ranked first among the largest cities in Australia since 2000 in terms of economic growth and population growth.

Urban structure and management

Melbourne was founded on the north bank of the Yarra River in 1835 on a site of 1.6 km by 0.8 km. Construction in the city was carried out in accordance with the Hoddle Grid Plan, developed by Robert Hoddle, who was then the surveyor of the colony. All the main streets of the central part of Melbourne still pass in strict accordance with this plan. The city center is known for its historic streets and arcades, the most famous of which are Block Place and Royal Arcade, which are home to numerous shops and cafes. The central part is replete with numerous historical and architecturally interesting buildings, such as the Royal Exhibition Centre, the Victorian Parliament Building, Melbourne Central Hall. And although the place where the construction of the city began is still considered the center, it is not a demographic center due to the fact that in the 20th century Melbourne mainly grew in an easterly direction.

Melbourne in many respects can be called a typical Australian city, since its development, especially in the 20th century, was determined by the development of sleeping areas, where every Australian family's dream of owning a separate house with a small plot of land could come true. Much of the Melbourne metropolitan area is characterized by a relatively low population density. The laying of a network of radial railways and tramways contributed precisely to this development of the city, when people preferred to settle in areas with a relatively low price of land and near the so-called "transport corridors".

Due to the huge number of parks, gardens and boulevards, Melbourne is often called the "Garden City", and the state of Victoria has been known as the "Garden State" since the 19th century. Most of the most famous gardens and parks are located in close proximity to the city center. Melbourne is home to five of Australia's six tallest buildings, the tallest of which is the Eureka Tower to date.

According to The Economist magazine's most livable city survey, Melbourne has been ranked number one three times in 2002, 2004 and 2005. This study takes into account factors such as culture, climate, cost of living, crime rate, health care. In recent years, rapidly rising house prices have pushed Melbourne to the 36th position in the list of the most expensive cities in the world and to the 2nd position among Australian cities.

Melbourne's government administers the central part of the city, which includes the Central Business District and some surrounding areas. However, the head of administration, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, is often (especially when traveling abroad) seen as representing Greater Melbourne, which includes the entire metropolitan area. The current Lord Mayor of Melbourne, John So, was awarded the prestigious World Mayor Award in 2006.

The rest of the Greater Melbourne area is divided into 30 local municipalities. All of them have the status of city administrations, with the exception of four districts, which have the status of suburban districts. District governments form councils and are responsible for a range of functions (transferred to them by the Victorian Government under the Local Government Act 1989), such as urban planning and waste collection.

Most city-wide events are hosted by the Victorian Government, which sits in the Victorian Parliament House on Spring Street. Government responsibilities include: public transport, main roads, traffic control, police, education, planning and management of urban infrastructure. With two-thirds of Victoria's population living in Melbourne, the state government traditionally has a great deal of influence in city affairs. This situation is not unique to Australia, as in many states state governments govern even larger metropolitan areas.

Transport

Melbourne's transport system is unified under the single Metlink brand. It originates in the second half of the 19th century, when trams and trains were the main means of public transport. Since the 1950s, due to the sharp increase in the number of private cars, roads and highways have been built at a rapid pace. This trend continued over the following decades, leading to the fact that the number of people who constantly used public transport decreased from 25%, as was the case in the 1940s, to 9%. In 1999 public transport in Melbourne was privatized.

The tram network in Melbourne is considered the third largest in the world and the largest outside of Europe. It is the only tram network in Australia that has more than one line. Tram in Melbourne is not only a means of transportation, but also an element of cultural heritage and an important tourist attraction. In the central part of the city there is a free circular route, mobile restaurants are widespread.

Melbourne's local train network consists of 17 lines. All of them are radial lines, with the exception of a partially underground ring section that runs through the city's Central Business District. Railways are mostly electrified. The largest station in the city is Flinders Street Station. In 1926, this station was considered the largest in the world in terms of the number of passengers. Railways connect Melbourne with many cities within the state of Victoria, as well as with Sydney and Adelaide. Intercity trains depart from Southern Cross Station.

Melbourne's bus network consists of approximately 300 routes that primarily serve the outlying suburbs and fill in the gaps between rail and tram lines.

Melbourne is characterized by a high degree of dependence on personal transport, with only 7.1% of the population using public transport, but this proportion has increased somewhat recently, mainly due to increased gasoline prices. Melbourne has approximately 3.6 million private cars and 22,320 kilometers of road, one of the highest per capita rates in the world.

The Port of Melbourne is Australia's largest seaport. In 2007, about 2 million containers were transported through the port in 12 months, which put it in fifth place among the ports of the southern hemisphere. Melbourne is Australia's most important cruise port along with Sydney. Regular ferries operate from the city connecting mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania.

Melbourne has four airports. The largest of which, Melbourne International Airport, is located in Tullimarine. Airlines such as Jetstar and Tiger Airwais Australia are based at this airport, and it is also a major hub for Qantas and Virgin Blue.

culture

Melbourne is the cultural and sporting capital of Australia. The city hosts a large number of annual cultural events and is home to many of Australia's largest museums and exhibitions. The local architecture is also unique.

The musical culture has deep roots in the city. Many famous Australian musicians come from Melbourne. In recent years, the city has gained popularity in the world as one of the main centers of street art. This type of modern urban art has become popular in Melbourne so much that it is reflected in the guidebooks. The city is considered one of the world's major centers of Victorian architecture (1837-1901), with a large number of buildings of this style preserved. The architectural appearance of the city is also inconceivable without the excellent examples of modern architecture that have appeared in Melbourne since the middle of the 20th century.

Theatrical life in Melbourne is very diverse. The city is home to the National Ballet of Australia. The Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in the city in 1853 and is Australia's oldest professional orchestra and the only one to hold the title "Royal". Melbourne has more theaters than any other city in Australia. The city is also the main center of Australian fashion. The Melbourne Fashion Festival is held here every year.

Demography

Modern Melbourne is a multinational and multicultural community. Almost a quarter of Victoria's population is made up of people born outside of Australia, and Melbourne is home to people from 233 countries who speak 180 languages ​​and profess 116 different religions. The city hosts the second largest Asian community in Australia, which includes the largest Vietnamese, Indian and Sri Lankan communities in the country.

The first people who inhabited the territory of modern Melbourne were Australian Aborigines, in particular, representatives of the Banarong, Wurungeri and Watarong tribes. And now the city is an important center of Aboriginal life. The total number of indigenous inhabitants of Australia in Melbourne is more than 20,000 people (0.6% of the city's population).

The first European inhabitants of the city were the British and Irish. It was to them that all the first settlers who arrived in Victoria during the gold rush belonged, and made up the majority of immigrants until the outbreak of World War II. The discovery of gold and the beginning of the gold rush in the 50s of the XIX century was the beginning of the rapid development of Melbourne. Within the first few months of the discovery of gold in Victoria, Melbourne's population increased by nearly 75%, from 25,000 to 40,000. This growth continued, not declining over the next decades, and by 1965 Melbourne overtook Sydney in terms of population. During the subsequent years of the gold rush, significant groups of immigrants from China, Germany and the United States began to arrive in Victoria and Melbourne.

Melbourne is the capital of the Australian state of Victoria and the second largest city in the country. He has also established himself as a Cultural Center countries where many international concerts, exhibitions and sporting events are held, such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Melbourne has always been considered a fairly rich city - gold deposits were found not far from it. After that, immigrants from all over the world began to flock here, so today almost 1/3 of Melbourians have a wide variety of ethnic roots. With such a diverse population, roaring trams and monumental European architecture, a tourist can easily forget that he is in Australia.

Climate and weather

The climate in Melbourne is similar to South European - maritime and mild, at the junction of subtropical and temperate, with rather cool winters and hot summers. The coastal location of the city saves it from long periods of drought. All seasons of the year are clearly defined here. The best time to visit Melbourne is from October to April. Summer in the city is quite hot +40°C. The Australian winter is relatively cold, sometimes freezing at night until -2.8°C.

The water in the ocean in the Melbourne area does not warm up too much, as South coast Australia is washed by cold currents. The water temperature in summer is +21.5°C, and in winter +10.5 °С.

Nature

Melbourne is located in the southeast of the Australian mainland. His East End It is located on the banks of the Yarra River and along its valley leading to the Dandenong Mountains. To the north of the city is a valley formed by the Yarra's tributaries, the Plenty, Merry Creek and Mooney Ponds Creek. In the south and southeast of Melbourne, there is the coast of Port Phillip Bay, then the city buildings turn even further south and reach the Mornington Peninsula and the River Patterson. To the west lies the Maribyrnong River Valley with the Geelong and Yu Yang volcanic hills.

The largest beaches in Melbourne lie on the shores of Port Phillip Bay. The beaches equipped for surfing are located 85 kilometers from the city center, in the areas of Sorrento, Paradise and Portsea.

Attractions

The main attractions of Melbourne were built at the time of its foundation, in the Victorian era. Among the most famous buildings city ​​stands out State Library of Victoria, which is not only of historical value, but is also the center of the cultural life of the city. All major exhibitions and conferences are held here.

Melbourne is rightly proud of its oldest in Australia zoo. It is divided into several climatic zones, which contains a variety of animals that correspond to these zones.

It also attracts tourists old melbourne prison, which has now become one of the most visited museums in the city. His many exposures deal with the crimes and villains of early Australia. No less interesting is the giant Melbourne Aquarium And Melbourne Museum, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.

Also among the main attractions, it should be noted that it has an unusual shape Federation Square, the oldest train station in the country Flinders Street Station And Queen Victoria Market. And the city buildings of Parliament, the Treasury and the Mint are generally considered one of the best examples of the architecture of the British Empire. Of all the temples of Melbourne, it is worth highlighting the neo-Gothic St. Patrick's Cathedral, which is one of the iconic symbols of Australia.

Other attractions of Melbourne are also interesting:

• Immigration Museum;
• Monument of memory;
• National Gallery of Victoria;
• Yarra waterfront;
• Eureka Tower;
• Captain James Cook's cottage;
• Melbourne Arts Centre.

Nutrition

Melbourne has always been considered the culinary capital of the country. National Australian cuisine was formed under the influence of English, but it included features of other world cuisines (especially Japanese, Chinese and Malay). Therefore, many famous English dishes have changed so much that it is no longer possible to recognize them. The most popular recipes in Melbourne are:

• "pay" (meat pie);

• beef fillet with spinach;
• huge steak "Kapit";
• grilled chicken "Melbourne";

• kangaroo steak with mushrooms;
• various charcoal-cooked dishes, such as bush tacker.

Also very popular in Melbourne Greek cuisine. This is due to the fact that many Greek communities live here, who added a dish called “vegemite” to the national cuisine of Australia - a thick dark mass of dough and vegetables spread on bread.

Recipes from the Aboriginal diet are very popular with visitors to the city - opossum, crocodile and emu meat, macadamia nut, kwandong (dessert peach) and Australian tomato.

In addition, Australia is famous for its wines. In Melbourne, you can appreciate local wine in any restaurant or cafe. And Australia is also known for its beer brands, such as Queen Victoria, Fosters, etc.

Accommodation

Melbourne has an excellent tourism infrastructure, so finding housing here is never a problem. A variety of hotels and campsites are literally scattered around the city, which occupies a rather impressive area. Not a bad option for accommodation of tourists is the Victoria Hotel located in the city center - if you stay in it for more than a week, a significant discount is given, up to 20%. The most luxurious and expensive hotels in Melbourne are Crown Metropol Southbank Melbourne, Crown Towers Hotel Melbourne and many others. The price of accommodation here is from $ 150 per night.

Also in the city there are many motels and hostels with two-, four- and even eight-bed rooms, with shared showers and toilets. This option is ideal for young people who love big companies. A day's stay in such motels or hostels costs from $20.

Entertainment and recreation

Melbourne provides an unprecedented number of activities and entertainment for the most demanding taste. For sports fans, many sports complexes, tennis courts, stadiums and hippodromes have been built here. lovers nightlife awaits the pretentious area of ​​St. Kilda, known for its bars, dance floors, clubs and casinos. The city also hosts various festivals: Melbourne International Film Festival, Melbourne International Festival comedy and others. Theatrical life here is also diverse, since Melbourne is the birthplace of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Ballet of Australia. In addition, the city is considered the main center of Australian fashion. Every year passes here fashion festival.

Melbourne is famous for its street performances. During the summer, there is a program of theatrical performances and concerts, a traditional musical event is organized in every park, and itinerant musicians traveling around the world are often found on the streets.

If these entertainments are not enough, go to philip island(reserve with unique penguins) - ride the old steam locomotive "Puffing Billy" or go for a tasting in the Yarra Valley (Victoria's wine-growing center).

Purchases

A wide variety of shops are located in the business center of Melbourne. Most of them are branches of well-known retail chains and points of sale of branded brands. Less well-known shops are more often located in alleys and passages. Some of the city's streets are known for specializing in the sale of certain types of goods. For example, high street famous for antique boutiques, and Victoria Street- Vietnamese and Middle Eastern stores.

Shoppers are advised to visit the Myers Mall, which occupies 4 blocks of the city and is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Also, any goods can be found in the two largest department stores David Jones and Melbourn, which are open seven days a week.

In addition, Melbourne has a huge variety of markets, the best of which are K. Mart And target. And every Sunday, on the outskirts of the city, a huge swap meet and a local crafts market.

Transport

The most popular public transport in the business center of Melbourne are trams, and outside it - buses and metro (underground and surface).

The whole city is divided into two unequal zones. Zone-1 (center) is indicated in the diagrams in yellow, and zone-2 (outskirts) in blue. Tickets are bought either for a certain zone (if the route lies within it), or for two, and the ticket is the same for all types of public transport. In addition, subscriptions for 2 hours and for the whole day are sold here. There are also travel cards for 10 trips, for a decade, for a month and even for the whole year. Tickets cost $2 or more. They make their way in special turnstiles, and at certain stations there is no way to get out if the ticket is not broken.

Connection

There are no problems with communication in Melbourne. You can always make a call from a bar, hotel, street phone booth, as well as at the post office. Local calls cost from $0.25 and up, depending on the location of the outgoing call. The most economical way is to call from local payphones.

The mobile network in Australia operates according to GSM communication standards with a frequency of 900 and 1800 MHz, so roaming calls are available to all visitors. However, the best option for tourists is to buy a SIM card for about $30. Calls in this case will cost 0.25-0.30 $ for 0.5 minutes.

Internet access in Melbourne is also no problem. The city abounds with Internet cafes (from $4-5 per hour) and Wi-Fi points.

Safety

In Melbourne, crime is kept to a minimum. The only danger here may be snakes, spiders and other poisonous animals. Therefore, it is better to always walk in shoes here, especially after sunset. We also recommend that you protect yourself from direct sunlight, which is most active from December to February. Don't forget your hat and glasses.

It should also be remembered that swimming in Melbourne is allowed only in specially designated places for this and be afraid not only of sharks, but also of other marine life.

Business climate

Melbourne is not only one of the main commercial and industrial centers countries, but major port with a turnover of more than 75 billion dollars annually. Toyota and Ford automobile plants are located here, all branches of modern technologies are also well developed. The most successful and profitable investment option when starting your own business in Melbourne is any investment in tourism.

Real estate

Since recently, the average house prices in Melbourne have been steadily increasing ($593,000), catching up with Sydney, which is considered the most expensive property in Australia. The suburban quarters of Canterbury, Kew and Hawthorne are considered the most attractive and elite areas for living in Melbourne.

Much of Australia, including cities like Melbourne, is at risk of fire each year in the summer. Moreover, fires often occur through the fault of a person. Therefore, a cigarette butt thrown from a car window can lead to imprisonment. In addition, the state fire departments have introduced a ban on the use of open flames in nature.

Melbourne is the second largest city in , the capital of Victoria. It is located on the banks of the picturesque Yarra River, in the southeast of the continent. The population is about 4.17 million inhabitants. Many sporting and cultural events in Australia take place here. This is the southernmost million-plus city in the world!

The city of Melbourne was founded in 1835 as an agricultural settlement. It got its name in honor of the Prime Minister of Great Britain, whose estate was located in the town of Melbourne in Derbyshire (). The gold rush quickly turned the city into a metropolis. By 1865 Melbourne had become one of the most important cities in Australia. The city has a mild climate average temperature from October to April is about +24°С. Despite the cold currents, the water temperature in the ocean in summer is about + 21 ° C, so you can afford to swim with pleasure.

In our time Melbourne more than once recognized as "the best city in the world to live in."

Melbourne - video

Landmarks of Melbourne

Many tourists come to Melbourne to enjoy the views of its picturesque streets, quaint interweaving of modern and Victorian architecture, gardens and parks. While in Melbourne, you should look into the Royal Botanic Gardens, go to Phillip Island, take a walk along Federation Square.

Federation Square opened since 2002 and very quickly became the center of the city. It hosts various exhibitions, concerts, festivals. The square is surrounded by modern buildings of unusual shapes, which will be interesting to look at for architecture lovers. On the square are the Museum of Horse Racing, the Center for Cinematography, the Museum of Art of Australia.

Founded in 1862, it is one of the largest in the world. The territory of the zoo is divided into bioclimatic zones in which the corresponding animals live. The park covers an area of ​​22 hectares and accommodates 350 species of animals. Throughout its existence, the zoo offers visitors interesting entertainment. Today, here you can organize a picnic, a marriage ceremony, hold a scientific conference or business negotiations. In addition, you can go to the animal pen in Australia and chat - kangaroos, ostriches, and koalas are very peaceful and almost do not pay attention to visitors.

The island is located 120 km from the city. Named after the first governor, Arthur Phillip. A park-reserve has been created on the territory of the island, where the largest colony of penguins lives. Most tourists visiting the island hope to see the so-called "penguin parade" - when hundreds of birds line up one after another and go to the sea to dive and go in pursuit of nimble fish. At sunset, the penguins return to their sandy habitats to rest and recharge. Here, on the island, there is a koala reserve. In addition to koalas and penguins, on the island you can find emus, wombats, kangaroos, including a dwarf variety - wallabies.

Located in Carlton Gardens, opposite the Royal Exhibition Centre. Consists of seven galleries, which housed the main exposition. "Science and Life" enjoys great popularity. Some of the most significant objects are the skeletons of the giant lizards Diprotodon, Pteranodon, Hypsilophodon and others. Here are the exhibitions "Live Beetles" and "Sea Life". For kids and schoolchildren - Children's Gallery. The "Forest" exhibition will introduce guests to the fauna and flora of the state of Victoria, the exposition even has live birds and reptiles. For those interested in history - Gallery dedicated to the life of Australian Aborigines. The museum regularly hosts international exhibitions.

In addition, in Melbourne you can ride along the picturesque forest road on a special Puffing Billy train, visit the "gold rush city" and the Marine Aquarium.

1. The weather in Melbourne is changeable. Going out for a walk, it's a good idea to take an umbrella and warm clothes with you. Even if the sun is shining and quite hot.

2. Travel in a rented car in Melbourne pretty hard. The traffic in the city is quite dense and there are some features when maneuvering, which are better to be familiar with in advance. The speed limit within the city is 40 km/h.

3. The optimal mode of transport is a tram.

4. Melbourne is rightly called a "culinary paradise" - many restaurants offer a variety of dishes for city guests.

5. Shoppers should pay attention to local boutiques and shops. In Melbourne there are many shopping centers where high-quality clothes of famous brands can be purchased at low prices.

Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria. This city is the second largest in the state. According to the Wikipedia portal, on the map the city is located around Port Philip Bay on southeast coast Australia.

Geologically, at this place there are lava convergences in the western part of the city, and its eastern part stands on mudstone accumulations. southeastern part the territory where Melbourne is located consists of sandstone deposits.

From the coast of Port Phillip Bay to the Yarra and Dandenong Mountains, the Yarra River valley stretches on the map, to which the eastern part of Melbourne adjoins. Northern part The city is surrounded by tributaries of the Yarra River, and the southeast is adjacent to the bay.

Melbourne - history and modernity

City of Melbourne was founded in 1835 as a farming community on the banks of the Yarra. This happened 47 years after the first settlement of Europeans was founded in Australia.

During the reign of Queen Victoria, Australia was flooded with a colossal number of gold miners and other adventurers looking for easy prey. The notorious gold rush, which swept many countries of the world, gradually turned a small settlement into a large city of great commercial and political importance. At this time, Melbourne was the capital of the Australian Federation. And to this day, monuments of that time have been preserved in the city - the treasury, which today is a museum, and many other ancient buildings and structures.

However, at the beginning of the 20th century, the dominant position was given to the city of Sydney. Today's - this is a very busy metropolis on the map of Australia.

In addition to sporting events, there are regular all kinds of carnivals, festivities, festivals.

Melbourne attractions today

Cultural and historical sights

Despite its relatively young age, the city of Melbourne boasts mass of cultural and historical objects which will be very interesting for a tourist visit:

Museums and theaters melbourne

Going to visit Melbourne, you should remember about some features of this city and the country as a whole:

The city is rich in shopping malls and boutiques where you can buy high quality clothing from the world's leading brands. The prices of goods in these boutiques may pleasantly surprise you.

Melbourne - the cultural capital