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Visit Melbourne, Australia

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Melbourne - Australia's Greatest City

I love Melbourne! It's been my home for 40 years and it's a great city to live in. Many Aussies consider it to be the sporting capital of Australia and being a musician, I can safely say that Melbourne offers the best live music scene as well. Get to know Melbourne from the eyes of a local...

Visit Melbourne: Table of Contents

  1. Melbourne City (Downtown)
  2. Melbourne - The Sporting Capital
  3. The "G"
  4. AFL Football
  5. I Played With Billy Joel In This Hotels Jazz Bar
  6. Shopping In Melbourne
  7. Summer In Melbourne
  8. Some Useful Links about Melbourne
  9. Favourite Australian City
  10. Links to Places to See, Places To Visit
  11. Any Comments, Wishes or Thoughts about Melbourne?
  12. Travel To Melbourne

Melbourne City (Downtown)

Central Business District & Shopping


Melbourne (pronounced 'mel-burn' by locals) has a metropolitan area population of approximately 3.8 million (2007 estimate) and is Australia's second largest populated city, next to Sydney. Located at the mouth of the Yarra River and on the northern and eastern shorelines of Port Phillip Bay, in Australia's south-east, Melbourne is the state capital of Victoria. If you live in Melbourne, you're a Melburnian.





Melbourne is a major centre of commerce, industry and cultural activity. The city is often referred to as Australia's 'sporting and cultural capital'and it is home to many of the nation's most significant cultural and sporting events and institutions. We'll look at these further down.


One of my favourite views of the city from the Yarra River



When I was growing up, I used to love trips into the city. As a child, my grandma would take me, my sister and her 3 other grandchildren to the movies and then she used to love to shop at the city Myer Store. The Melbourne Myer Store is one of the oldest department stores in Melbourne and used to have that 'magic' especially at Christmas when they themed their windows. The queues were long and then there would be an elevator ride to the top floor to visit Santa and a rooftop wonderland. Ah Memories...Thanks Gam (passed Feb 2008)

Melbourne - The Sporting Capital

GrandPrix, AFL, Cricket, Tennis Grandslam, Commonwealth Games 2006 & more

You might find some proud Sydney-siders arguing with you when you tell them that Melbourne is Australia's Sporting Capital. Here's a hint: When they start to fire up, don't speak - just eyeball 'em for a few seconds with a kinda "C'mon mate" look on your face... and most of them will say "Yeah OK...you got me there, BUT We've still got the harbour!" (That'll be fun when we get to that :-)

The "G"

The MCG - Melbourne Cricket Ground

The Melbourne Cricket Ground or simply The"G" to Melburnians, is probably what most would call the home of sport in Melbourne. It's famous for both Australian Rules Football (AFL)(from March to September) and International Cricket (Late October to early March. It was the main venue for the 2006 Commonwealth Games and home to the 1956 Olympic Games. There are big name rock concerts here as well. I saw Billy Joel / Elton John & Michael Jackson in concert here. But overall it's mainly a sporting venue.

AFL Football

Aussies are mad about their 'footy'

And bloody passionate too! Go The Tigers!!!
There are AFL 16 teams (soon to be 17) that compete for the prized AFL premiership. 2 teams from Perth, 2 from Adelaide, 1 from Sydney, 1 from Brisbane and the rest from Melbourne... that's 10 (see told ya, Melbourne's the best!). Visit AFL website



Richmond Tigers crashing through a banner at The "G"

I Played With Billy Joel In This Hotels Jazz Bar

True Story!

Yes... Way back in 1997 when Billy Joel And Elton John did a world tour, Billy cruised into the Deco Bar where I was playing a regular Thursday & Friday Night with a jazz quartet. He got up and jammed with us. He also gave us 'Premo' seats to his concert at the MCG (pic above)for the following night. Billy Joel is a real gentleman, very funny and a really great guy. Thanks for contributing to the soundtrack of my life Billy!

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Shopping In Melbourne

From the city centre to out of the way places

Melbourne's historic network of laneways and arcades boasts the unique, the exotic and the quirky. Discover an eclectic and delightful mix of small boutiques selling everything from Melbourne designed fashion to Russian dolls and lollipops.

Find and explore the Block, Cathedral and Royal arcades, Degraves and Crossley streets, Presgrave and Centre places and more.

Bourke Street Mall and city centre offer lots of large and small retailers.

Brunswick St, Brunswick to the North and Ackland St, St.Kilda to the South East are great for their quirky shops that sell anything from fashion, art, odds and ends, crafts and homeware.



Acland Street, St Kilda



Chadstone Shopping Centre is a plaza style centre, 20 mins south east from city centre. The centre promotes itself as "The Fashion Capital". This centre is very busy and contains hundreds of high quality retailers and design labels. In Melbourne it's famous for it's all night trading each 23rd December. At 2am in the morning it takes a long time to find a park on that night!



Boxing Day Sale - Chadstone Shopping Centre



Chapel St, South Yarra is home to the major fashion labels and is a must for women who love to shop. It's very close to the city centre.

Sprinkled all over Melbourne on weekends are lots of arts & craft markets as well as farmers markets where you can buy fresh fruit & veggies direct from the growers.

Great website for more info < a href="http://www.visitmelbourne.com/displayobject.cfm/objectid.3795E161-E20D-4468-BDB496F24E21D678/">Melbourne Shopping

Summer In Melbourne

Summer of Tennis & Cricket

The first tennis grand slam event for the year attracts hundreds of thousands to Melbourne. Just across the railway line is The "G" where you can see Australia play international cricket.



Australian Open 2008 - Men's Final





Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes




A beautiful view of Melbourne's fabulous skyline from St Kilda Pier, as the sun sets.




An incredible view of the city of Melbourne and the Yarra River from up high in the city's new observation wheel.

Some Useful Links about Melbourne

Visit Melbourne
The official site for Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Visit Victoria
The official travel website for Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Find out about destinations, accommodation, festivals and events, attractions and touring routes in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. This site also provides accommodation information and booking services
That's Melbourne City
What's on | Places to go | Dining and nightlife | Shopping | Getting around the city
Melbourne Restaurants
Great lens by daoine. Dine in Melbourne!
Melbourne is the wining and dining capital of Australia, with one restaurant for every 30 people who live here. That means, even with a population of 4 million, you can still find a restaurant that can take a last minute booking.

Favourite Australian City

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Links to Places to See, Places To Visit

Melbourne Landmarks and Hot Tourist Spots

Melbourne Museum
Explore life in Victoria, from our natural environment to our culture and history.
Imax Theatre - Melbourne
The screens in IMAX Theatres are the biggest in the world. Up to eight storeys high, they are ten times larger than a tradtional cinema screen and fill the whole field of human vision.
Penguin Parade at Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia
Phillip Island is a popular destination for families, and lovers of water sports and wildlife 90 minutes from Melbourne. See the penguin parade at Phillip Island Nature Park, take to the water to see seals and birds, or head to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia
The Great Ocean Road offers stunning ocean views, beachside activities, laidback coastal towns and maritime villages. You will find limitless opportunities to leave everyday life behind.
Yarra Valley Wine Region - Wineries, Victoria, Australia
Discover the wineries of the Yarra Valley. From small family owned vineyards to the famed Chateau Yering and Domaine Chandone, you'll taste fantastic pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling.
The Arts Centre - The Home of the Performing Arts in Melbourne
The Arts Centre is the flagship of the performing arts in Victoria and the focal point of Melbourne's cultural precinct. Visit the Arts Centre site to find out What's on, book tickets, view our collections and exhibitions and marvel at the unique diversity of arts and entertainment choices all year
The Old Melbourne Gaol Tour
Step back in time and walk the road to the gallows in a 19th century prison, be arrested in a modern-day Police Station or put yourself on trial in court. A ticket to the Old Melbourne Gaol Crime & Justice Experience grants you visiting rights to the past, present and future of crime and justice in Australia.
Queen Victoria Market - Melbourne's Market
Queen Victoria Market is Victoria's premier open-air market. It's a thriving and vital place pulsating with life.

The friendly competition between stallholders, and their concern for customers, is what gives the Market its Old World charm and the addictive power to draw millions of visitors each year.
Melbourne Visitor Centre
Discover from a local what Melbourne really has to offer
Town Hall Tours
Free tours of Melbourne's historic Town Hall give visitors the chance to learn about its architectural, social and political significance.
Melbourne International Arts Festival - 2008 Program
Opening Night Celebration - On Opening Night we celebrate artists, audiences and Melbourne itself. Rain or shine, it all kicks off at 6pm and gracing the stage at Federation Square are various bands, musicians and singers whose cultural backgrounds and musical influences make for a remarkable global tour and celebration: ska, reggae, jazz, Latin-fusion, brass, percussion, choral, hip hop, traditional and contemporary music by musicians whose contribution to Australia's music scene is ever-expanding and not to be missed.

Any Comments, Wishes or Thoughts about Melbourne?

We'd love to hear any stories or your thoughts about Melbourne!!

  • BigGirlBlue Jan 1, 2011 @ 4:04 pm | delete
    Looks like a beautiful place to visit. One more place to add to my list.
  • BigGirlBlue Jan 1, 2011 @ 4:04 pm | delete
    Looks like a beautiful place to visit. One more place to add to my list.
  • sylvester88 Sep 18, 2010 @ 10:38 am | delete
    Melbourne is an amazing place to visit or live. The music scene there is just outstanding! I highly recommend checking out some bands while there. It's a superb location for a wedding too, whether you're a local, or want a destination wedding. Cheers! http://bit.ly/btSPOd
  • SidneyMorgan Aug 21, 2010 @ 2:28 am | delete
    I do love Melbourne and love to visit it and see its sites, usually at least once a year. Though saying it is Australia's greatest city ... may be up for debate. :) No matter your opinion though I love all the unique elements of this lens including the picture and a chance to vote.
  • Melbourne_Osteopath Dec 7, 2009 @ 1:29 am | delete
    Great overview of Melbourne. The pics are brilliant. Melbourne certainly has something for everyone (although I am biased because I have always lived there). Loved the story about Billy Joel - that's a story you'll always remember! Lens rated.
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JeremyL

Professional musician and online marketer from Melbourne Australia. I love my wife and my newborn daughter.

In the last six months I've written a bass... more »

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