Melbourne is known as the ’sporting and cultural capital’, it’s a major centre of industry, commerce and cultural activity, has as one of its characteristics the sophistication, the interest of its citizens about the music, theater, fashion and sports making of Melbourne a cosmopolitan and cultural city where the restaurants, shopping and nightlife are at the level of the main cities around the world.
Melbourne’s districts are: the City Centre, Albert Park, Carlton, Fitzroy, Prahran, Richmond, South Melbourne, South Yarra, St Kilda and Yarraville. The most visited part in Melbourne is the Melbourne city centre, most of the important buildings in this city are located here as the Supreme Court, the Parliament and the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens considered the best in their kind around the world with more than 12000 different kind of plants.
There are aso many other buildings as the Forum Theatre which has a Moorish exterior and was built in 1929. The night makes of Melbourne a very romantic city, its reflect can be seen in the Yarra River and the lights of the skyscrapers give a special appearance to it.
The weather in Melbourne is absolutely varied, is very cold in winter, not so many snowfalls but with many fog and frost. The summers here used to be just spectacular, there are hot and dry days, but sometimes excessively hot with temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius.
Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, is the second largest city in Australia. Its multicultural atmosphere is set amongst Victorian-era buildings and gorgeous parkland. It has a population of just over 3 million people, and is a picturesque place with so much to offer the visitor and resident alike.
It’s hard to believe that such a fantastic location was abandoned by the first settlers who had arrived in 1803 and then departed to Tasmania after staying for less than one year. Being such a diverse place, Melbourne offers everything for the tourist from tennis and bikeriding to fishing and windsurfing.
There are also many accommodation types to chose from, including apartments, hotels, motels, campsites, bed and breakfasts and hostels. For a listing of hostels in the whole of Victoria visit the Victoria hostel directory.
The city centre, also known as the Central Business District (CBD), is on the north bank of the Yarra River. It is approximately 5 kilometres inland from Port Phillip Bay, where most of the pretty suburbs are situated.
The city is divided into two parts by the Yarra River, creating predominantly working class areas in the North and West regions, and more affluent areas in the South and the East. The CBD used to be known as the ‘Golden Mile’, as it is 1 mile long and 1/2 mile wide.
Southgate gives access across the Yarra River to the south of the city, Victoria Street marking the north. To the east you’ll find Fitzroy Gardens and Federation Square, and to the west Spencer Street and the docklands.
The heart of the city is marked by Bourke Street Mall which is situated between Swanston Street and Elizabeth Street, running north to south. Bourke Street and Collins Street are the main roads running west to east.
Melbourne was originally settled by graziers, John Batman being the first. He claimed land just north of Port Phillip Bay, whilst other graziers also decided to occupy areas near the Yarra River, but without the necessary permission to colonise.
Captain William Lonsdale was sent from Sydney to oversee the land sales. The township being established in 1835 and named after the British Prime Minister at the time, Lord Melbourne. Having been originally considered part of New South Wales, Victoria was established as a separate colony in 1851.
Information by http://www.justaustralia.org