Melbourne is the cultural capital of Australia. Melbourne, Australia - photo of Melbourne, attractions, map, beaches, rest, tourist reviews

Webb Bridge - serpentine bridge, one of Melbourne's landmarks

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. In 1956 Melbourne hosted the summer Olympic Games, and in 2006 the Commonwealth Games. 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 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.

From 1901, when the Federation of Australia was formed, to 1927, when Canberra became the capital of the state, the 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.

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The city is surrounded by vineyards, beaches and forests and claims to be the "most perfect place for Life in Australia" and the title of "Culture 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 reminiscent of the old houses in the city center.

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 excellent weather, and you will not be spoiled high prices on gasoline or a stuffy subway with a pandemonium of people.

Melbourne is a major sports center. Nine of the most important professional football clubs are located here. 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 and for the residents of the city, so being here, you will simply be ashamed to finally not fulfill the promise you made to yourself a long time ago and not 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 downtown Melbourne, known locally as CBD, futuristic skyscrapers blend harmoniously with Victorian-era sandstone façades.

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 immersed in greenery, and luxurious mansions are hidden behind high fences, expensive shops limousines are parked.

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, pygmy 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 national park Grimpiens you can escape from the gray everyday life 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 ship 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 Prime Minister of Great Britain, 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 XIX 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 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 has become one of 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, 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, as well as 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 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, 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.

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 abounds with numerous historical and architecturally interesting buildings, such as the Royal Exhibition Center, 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 ways 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 the 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".

Thanks to a huge number parks, gardens and boulevards Melbourne is often referred to as the "Garden City" and 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.

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. The district administrations 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

Transport system Melbourne is merged 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, 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.

Melbourne Port is the largest seaport Australia. 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 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 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.

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(Eng. Melbourne) - the second largest city in Australia, the capital of the state of Victoria, located around Port Phillip Bay. The metropolitan population is about 3.8 million (2007 estimates).

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.

From 1901, when the Federation of Australia was formed, to 1927, when Canberra became the capital of the state, the Australian government offices were located in Melbourne.

Story

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 ship 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.

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 stock 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, as well as 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 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 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.

Geography

Topography

Melbourne is located on the southeastern tip of the Australian mainland. Geologically, the city stands at 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 strongest tornado ever to hit the major Australian cities passed through Brighton, one of coastal areas Melbourne. 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 took place during a four-day period of intense heat that was 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 (they are currently districts 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, Melbourne experienced a severe flood that turned Elizabeth Street 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

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 south-eastern 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, North Africans 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 prices housing and a 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.

Due to the huge number of parks, gardens and boulevards, Melbourne is very 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.

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 ranks 34th in the list of the 50 largest world 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 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.

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 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 magazine The Times Higher Education Supplement, the University of Melbourne ranks 22nd among the best educational institutions in the world, and Monash University ranks 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 about 30 public hospitals and hospitals in Melbourne, as well as another 13 organizations providing medical care. 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

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.

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 championship in water sports Sports, 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, company-owned Fairfax, as well as the evening tabloid mX, which is 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 the south bank of the Yarra River and the 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 the status World Heritage UNESCO. 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 in Australia, as well as adjacent parts of the world's 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. The large open space of the square links the central part of Melbourne, the Yarra waterfront 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 viewpoint, 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 tallest 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 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 the southeast coast of Australia.

Geologically, at this place there are lava convergences in the western part of the city, and its eastern part stands on mudstone accumulations. The southeastern part of 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. The northern part of the city is surrounded by tributaries of the Yarra River, while the southeastern part 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 that swept many countries of the world gradually turned a small settlement into Big 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 shopping malls and boutiques where you can buy high quality clothes from leading world brands. The prices of goods in these boutiques may pleasantly surprise you.

Melbourne - the cultural capital

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 that 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

Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, the capital of the state of Victoria, located around Port Phillip Bay. The metropolitan population is about 3.8 million (2007 estimates). Melbourne is the southernmost millionaire city in the world. Area: 8806 km². Coordinates: 37°49′14″ S sh. 144°57′41″ E e. Time zone: UTC+10, UTC+11 in summer. City official website - melbourne.vic.gov.au

Melbourne map

History of Melbourne

Before the arrival of Europeans, these lands were inhabited by the Australian Aborigines Wurungeri. In 1803, the British made the first attempt to establish a colony here. However, this idea was not successful.

In 1835, Europeans again began to develop these lands. In 1836, the city was declared the seat of Port Phillip County. The following year, the city received modern name. In 1851 Melbourne became the capital of the state of Victoria. The "Gold Rush" contributed to the influx of people and money into the city. In 1861, Melbourne boasted the country's first stock exchange.

In the 1980s, Melbourne was one of the largest cities in the British Empire. But in 1891 the city was overtaken by a crisis. In 1901, Melbourne was declared the provisional capital of Australia. During the Second World War, the city received many orders, which made it possible for the economy to develop. The growth of the city continued after the war.

Melbourne today

Melbourne is one of the main industrial, commercial and cultural centers of Australia. The city is also major port with an annual turnover of around AUD$75 billion. Melbourne is home to Ford and Toyota car factories, and the modern technology industry is well developed. Tourism is an important source of income for the city. Melbourne is ranked 34th in the list of global financial centers according to the Mastercard World Commercial Centers Index.

Public transport of the city is represented by: trams, trains, buses. But it is worth noting that only 7.1% of Melbourne's population travels by public transport. There are four airports in the city, but only two of them operate international flights.

Landmarks of Melbourne

The city is full interesting places. A striking example of colonial classicism is the building of the State Library. calling card Melbourne is considered to be the Flinders Street Station building. This is the oldest railroad station continent, which is under the protection of the Victorian government. Civic architecture can be viewed on the example of the Victorian Parliament building.

Popular is the Royal Exhibition Center (1880). This building has UNESCO World Heritage status. The small stone cottage of Captain James Cook is interesting. Gambling fans will love Entertainment Center Crown Casino.

In the center of the city is the Melbourne Aquarium, which presents the marine and river life of the continent.

The Melbourne Museum is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. It houses a collection dedicated to the history of Australia and the city of Melbourne. In the same building there is a theater, an auditorium, an IMAX cinema.

Other Melbourne attractions include: Monument of Remembrance, Immigration Museum, Yarra Quay, National Gallery of Victoria, Rialto Tower, St. Paul's Cathedral, Eureka Tower, Melbourne Arts Center, Queen Victoria Market, St. Patrick's Cathedral.