The City of Melbourne is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the central city area of Melbourne. By world standards, Melbourne is a young city. But it has layers of history, it was founded in 1835, during the reign of King William IV, with the arrival of the schooner Enterprize near the present site of the Queen's Wharf, as a barely legal, speculative settlement that broke away from New South Wales. Unlike other Australian capital cities, Melbourne did not originate under official auspices, instead forming through the foresight of settlers from Tasmania.
Melbourne's climate has an unfortunate reputation: wet, windy, unpredictable and liable to extremes - very hot or very cold and often both on the same day! On the plus side, Melbourne's multitude of parks makes it a beautiful place to witness the changing seasons. New futuristic designs add to the fascinating mix of architecture and ensure the skyline is constantly changing. Melbourne is very much about lifestyle. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) survey ranked Melbourne as the best cities for expatriates to live.
The central city mainly holds service activities such as banking, retailing, insurance, public accommodation, entertainment and railway transportation. The port of Melbourne occupies an area of level excavated land at the mouth of the Yarra River, southwest of the central business district. It is the nation’s largest general-cargo port.
The University of Melbourne plays a significant position in the cultural life of the city, by hosting many cultural related activities and associations. The study center of Melbourne is the capital city of the second smallest state of Australia known as Victoria and has become a study-destination choice of lots of international students. The education system of Melbourne opens doors to the best of the international career-opportunities and further education in Australia and abroad. Melbourne city has a contemporary, flexible and world-class education system with excellent schools, vocational training and universities.
The city centre is laid out in a simple grid pattern, the long, wide north-south streets gently sloping down to the Yarra River, crossed by a mix of narrow lanes, and the main shopping streets such as Bourke and Collins Streets. Public transport consists of trams, trains and buses and tends to be efficient and useful - as long as your trip is along one of the spokes of the wheel. Public transport across suburbs can be a problem. Melbourne culture is vibrant and alive. The city is home to the world's second largest tram and light rail network. The tram network is the only remaining network in an Australian capital city, and is being constantly extended to serve the outer suburbs.
Melbourne possesses an inspiring collection of museums dedicated to the city’s people, places and events. Melbourne Museums depict the 1956 Olympics, policing, fire fighting, Melbourne’s immigration history and the maritime industry. There are a large number of excellent theatres in the Melbourne and Victoria area, with regular theatrical productions, operas, concerts, ballets, pantomimes, musicals and general Melbourne events. Melbourne’s style is many things: sophisticated, playful, unconventional and multi-cultural. Melbourne culture comes as naturally as the next latte – it is the undisputed art and music capital of Australia.
Melbourne is a haven for special events. Sport or entertainment, Melbourne has much more to offer than you will have time to enjoy. It is home to the country's richest horse race, the world-famous Tooheys Blue Melbourne Cup, the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Australian Open Tennis Championship, and the birthplace of Australian Rules Football. The Melbourne Cricket Ground is the best in the world. The sporting options are limitless for all visitors to Melbourne and Victoria. For sport of a different kind, Crown Casino is the biggest and best in Australia. Pubs in and near the city feature live entertainment and a chance to meet the locals. There are plenty of places to hang out late. Melbourne is home to some of the world's most stunning, sandy beaches, many of which are close to city centre.
Around the city, within an hour's drive, there are numerous places worth visiting, including the Macedon Ranges, which is Australia's spa capital with its world-renowned mineral springs, as well as the spectacular Great Ocean Road along the coast, which passes stunning rock formations such as the Twelve Apostles.
