Melbourne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melbourne Victoria
Melbourne's tall buildings and Kings Domain Flinders Street Station Shrine of Remembrance Melbourne Cricket Ground Royal Exhibition Building Melbourne CBD and Princes Bridge
Map of Melbourne (printable and editable)
Melbourne Location in Australia
Population	5,207,145 (2023) (2nd)
• Density	521.079/km2 (1,349.59/sq mi)
Established	30 August 1835; 189 years ago (1835-08-30)
Elevation	31 m (102 ft)
Area	9,993 km2 (3,858.3 sq mi)(GCCSA)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT (UTC+11)
Location	466 km (290 mi) SW of Canberra 654 km (406 mi) SE of Adelaide 713 km (443 mi) SW of Sydney 1,374 km (854 mi) SW of Brisbane 2,721 km (1,691 mi) SE of Perth
LGA(s)	31 municipalities across Greater Melbourne
County	Bourke, Evelyn, Grant, Mornington
State electorate(s)	55 electoral districts and regions
Federal Division(s)	23 divisions
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 20.2 °C 68 °F 9.7 °C 49 °F 515.5 mm 20.3 in
Localities around Melbourne: Loddon Mallee Hume Hume Grampians Melbourne Gippsland Barwon South West Port Phillip Bay Gippsland

Melbourne is a big city in Australia. It is the capital of the state of Victoria. It is also the second-largest city in Australia and Oceania, after Sydney. When people say "Melbourne," they usually mean the whole city area, which is called Greater Melbourne. This area covers about 9,993 square kilometers. It includes 31 local government areas. Sometimes, "Melbourne" can also mean just the central part of the city, known as the City of Melbourne.

The city is mostly located along the northern and eastern shores of Port Phillip Bay. It also reaches into the Mornington Peninsula, parts of West Gippsland, and areas near the Yarra Valley, Dandenong Ranges, and Macedon Ranges. In 2023, about 5.2 million people lived in Melbourne. This is about 19% of Australia's total population. People who live in Melbourne are called "Melburnians."

The land where Melbourne now stands has been home to Aboriginal Victorians for over 40,000 years. It was an important meeting place for the local Kulin nation clans. The Boonwurrung, Woiwurrung, and Wurundjeri peoples are the traditional owners of this land. In 1803, the British tried to set up a small penal settlement (a place for prisoners) at Port Phillip. But it did not last long.

Melbourne was officially started in 1835 by free settlers from Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania). It became a Crown settlement in 1837. It was named after William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the time. In 1847, Queen Victoria declared it a city. In 1851, it became the capital of the new Colony of Victoria.

During the Victorian gold rush in the 1850s, Melbourne grew very quickly. By the late 1880s, it was one of the largest and richest cities in the world. After Australia became a country in 1901, Melbourne was the temporary capital until Canberra was built in 1927.

Today, Melbourne is a very diverse city. Many people from different countries live here. It is a major financial center in the Asia-Pacific region. The city has a mix of old Victorian buildings and modern skyscrapers. Famous landmarks include the Royal Exhibition Building, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the National Gallery of Victoria. Melbourne is known for its culture, including Australian rules football, Australian impressionism, and street art. It also hosts big sports events like the Australian Grand Prix and the Australian Open. Melbourne was named the world's most livable city for many years in the 2010s.

Melbourne Airport is Australia's second busiest airport. The Port of Melbourne is the busiest seaport in the country. The main train station for city travel is Flinders Street Station. For regional and long-distance trains, it is Southern Cross Station. Melbourne also has a large network of freeways and the biggest urban tram network in the world.

Melbourne's Past: A Brief History

First Peoples of Melbourne

Aboriginal Australians have lived in the Melbourne area for at least 40,000 years. When Europeans arrived in the 1800s, about 20,000 Kulin people lived here. They belonged to three main language groups: the Wurundjeri, Bunurong, and Wathaurong. This area was an important meeting place for the Kulin nation. It also provided important food and water.

In 2021, the boundaries between the Wurundjeri and Bunurong lands were agreed upon. The city center, Richmond, and Hawthorn are on Wurundjeri land. Albert Park, St Kilda, and Caulfield are on Bunurong land. The name Narrm is often used by Aboriginal people to refer to Melbourne. It comes from the traditional name for the city center.

How British Settlers Arrived

The first British settlement in Victoria was in October 1803. It was at Sullivan Bay, near Sorrento. But the settlers moved to Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) the next year. They founded the city of Hobart. It took 30 years for another settlement attempt.

In 1835, John Batman explored the Melbourne area. He claimed to have bought a large piece of land from eight Wurundjeri elders. However, this "treaty" is debated. The groups did not speak the same language. The elders likely saw it as a gift exchange, not a permanent sale of land. Batman chose a spot on the Yarra River, saying it would be a good place for a village.

Another group of settlers arrived in August 1835. They set up a settlement where the Melbourne Immigration Museum is today. Batman and his group arrived later and agreed to share the settlement. It was first called Dootigala.

The Governor of New South Wales, Richard Bourke, cancelled Batman's treaty. He declared the area the administrative capital of the Port Phillip District. In 1837, the first plan for the city, the Hoddle Grid, was made. The settlement was named Melbourne on April 10, 1837. It was named after the British Prime Minister, William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne.

Between 1836 and 1842, British colonists took much of the Aboriginal land. In 1840, Aboriginal people were banned from living near Melbourne. Despite this, many still lived in camps around the city. By 1845, a small number of wealthy Europeans owned most of the land. Queen Victoria officially declared Melbourne a city in 1847. On July 1, 1851, the Port Phillip District became the Colony of Victoria, with Melbourne as its capital.

The Gold Rush Era

In mid-1851, gold was discovered in Victoria. This started a huge gold rush. Melbourne, being the main port, grew very fast. In just a few months, the city's population almost doubled. By 1865, Melbourne had more people than Sydney.

Many people came from other parts of Australia and from overseas. They came from Europe and China. This led to crowded areas and temporary "tent cities." After the Eureka Rebellion in 1854, there was strong public support for the miners. This led to important political changes and better working conditions.

The wealth from the gold rush led to many grand public buildings being built. In the 1850s and 1860s, work started on Parliament House, the Treasury Building, the Old Melbourne Gaol, and the State Library. Many of these took decades to finish.

Melbourne quickly became a major financial center. It had banks, the Royal Mint, and Australia's first stock exchange. In 1855, the Melbourne Cricket Club got its famous ground, the MCG. In 1859, members of the Melbourne Football Club created the rules for Australian football. The first Melbourne Cup horse race was held in 1861.

Boom and Bust: The 1880s

The 1880s were a time of amazing growth for Melbourne. People were confident, money was easy to get, and land prices went up a lot. This led to a huge amount of building. During this "land boom," Melbourne was said to be the richest city in the world. It was also the second-largest city in the British Empire, after London.

The Melbourne International Exhibition was held in 1880 at the Royal Exhibition Building. Electric lights were installed in the Eastern Market in 1881. The Melbourne cable tramway system opened in 1885. By 1890, it was one of the largest tram systems in the world.

In 1885, a visiting journalist called Melbourne "Marvellous Melbourne." This name stuck for a long time. It described the rich and energetic feeling of the 1880s. Many large commercial buildings, hotels, banks, and mansions were built. The city also built a huge network of railways.

The land boom ended in 1888. The financial and property markets crashed. This led to a serious economic depression. Many banks and companies failed. The city saw almost no new major construction until the late 1890s.

Melbourne as Australia's First Capital

When Australia became a country on January 1, 1901, Melbourne became the first seat of government. The first federal parliament met in the Royal Exhibition Building. Later, it moved to the Victorian Parliament House. It stayed there until the capital moved to Canberra in 1927. The Governor-General of Australia lived in Government House in Melbourne until 1930. Many important national groups stayed in Melbourne for a long time.

During World War II, American military forces were based in Melbourne. The government even used the Melbourne Cricket Ground for military purposes.

After the Wars: Modern Melbourne

After World War II, Melbourne grew very fast. Many immigrants came, especially from Southern Europe. In 1958, rules about building height in the city center were removed. This led to the building of skyscrapers and changed the city's skyline. New shopping centers like Chadstone Shopping Centre were built in the suburbs.

The city center and St Kilda Road were also modernized. Many older buildings were either knocked down or changed. To stop the city from spreading out too much, the government started building public housing towers in inner areas. As more people bought cars, new freeways were built. This made the city more car-focused.

In the late 1960s and 1970s, Australia's economy boomed. Many big companies, like BHP and Rio Tinto, set up their main offices in Melbourne. Melbourne was Australia's main business center until the late 1970s. Then, Sydney started to become more important.

Melbourne faced an economic downturn between 1989 and 1992. In 1992, the new government started a plan to boost the economy. They built many public works and promoted the city for tourism and major events. The Australian Grand Prix moved to Melbourne. Big projects included the Melbourne Museum, Federation Square, Crown Casino, and the CityLink tollway.

Melbourne Today

Since the mid-1990s, Melbourne has continued to grow in population and jobs. Many international companies have invested in the city. Inner-city areas like Southbank, Port Melbourne, and Melbourne Docklands have been redeveloped. From 2001 to 2004, Melbourne had the fastest population and economic growth of any Australian capital city.

From 2006, the city started to grow into new areas. In 2009, Melbourne was not as affected by the Great Recession as other Australian cities. More new jobs were created in Melbourne than in any other Australian city. Property prices remained high.

Since the 2010s, the Victorian Government has started many big infrastructure projects. These include the Metro Tunnel, the West Gate Tunnel, and the Suburban Rail Loop. These projects aim to reduce traffic and help the economy grow. New development zones were created in inner-city areas. Suburbs like Box Hill became denser with more apartments. Between 2010 and 2020, 34 new skyscrapers were built in the city center.

Melbourne was the most affected major Australian city by the COVID-19 pandemic. It had six lockdowns, totaling 262 days. This caused a small drop in population from 2020 to 2022. However, Melbourne's population is expected to reach 6.4 million people by 2033-34.

Melbourne's Location and Climate

Where is Melbourne Located?

Melbourne is in the southeastern part of mainland Australia. It is located within the state of Victoria. The city is built on a mix of old lava flows, mudstones, and sand. The southeastern suburbs are on a fault line called the Selwyn fault.

Melbourne stretches north through valleys of the Yarra Valley's rivers. These include Moonee Ponds Creek (towards Melbourne Airport), Merri Creek, and Plenty River. To the southeast, it reaches towards Pakenham and West Gippsland. To the west, it extends along the Maribyrnong River towards Sunbury.

Melbourne has many beaches along Port Phillip Bay. These are in suburbs like Port Melbourne, St Kilda, Brighton, and Frankston. The closest surf beaches are about 85 kilometers south of the city center. They are in areas like Rye and Sorrento.

Melbourne's Weather: Four Seasons in One Day

Melbourne has a mild oceanic climate. This means it has warm summers and cool winters. Melbourne is famous for its changeable weather. This is because it is located between hot inland areas and the cool southern ocean. This difference in temperature can cause strong cold fronts. These fronts can bring gales, thunderstorms, hail, and sudden temperature drops.

Winters are often drizzly and cloudy. Melbourne gets less rain in winter than other parts of southern Victoria. This is because of a "rain shadow" effect from the Otway and Macedon Ranges. These mountains block much of the rain coming from the north and west.

The water in Port Phillip is often warmer than the ocean, especially in spring and autumn. This can cause "bay effect rain," where showers become stronger near the bay. Sometimes, heavy showers can affect the same areas for a long time. Meanwhile, other parts of Melbourne stay dry.

Melbourne also gets sudden, isolated showers. These often happen when cold air crosses the state, especially on warm days. These showers can be heavy and include hail and strong winds. But they often pass very quickly, and the sun comes out again. This can happen many times in one day. This is why Melbourne is known for having "four seasons in one day." This phrase is a popular part of local culture.

The lowest temperature ever recorded in Melbourne was -2.8°C on July 21, 1869. The highest was 46.4°C on February 7, 2009. Snow is sometimes seen in the higher areas outside the city. But it has not been recorded in the city center since 1986.

The sea temperature in Melbourne is warmer than the surrounding ocean in summer. It is colder in winter. This is because Port Phillip Bay is a shallow, enclosed bay. It is mostly protected from the open ocean. This causes bigger temperature changes throughout the year.

Average sea temperature (St Kilda)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
21.1 °C (70.0 °F)	21.4 °C (70.5 °F)	20.2 °C (68.4 °F)	17.9 °C (64.2 °F)	15.1 °C (59.2 °F)	12.7 °C (54.9 °F)	11.1 °C (52.0 °F)	10.9 °C (51.6 °F)	12.3 °C (54.1 °F)	14.5 °C (58.1 °F)	17.1 °C (62.8 °F)	19.2 °C (66.6 °F)

Melbourne's City Layout and Buildings

How Melbourne is Organized

Melbourne's city area covers about 2,704 square kilometers. This makes it the largest urban area in Australia. The heart of Melbourne's city center is the Hoddle Grid. This is a grid of streets that is about 1 by 0.5 miles in size. The southern edge of the grid faces the Yarra River.

Newer office and commercial buildings have been built in Southbank and Docklands. These areas have become like extensions of the city center. A special feature of the city center is its network of small lanes and arcades. Examples include Block Arcade and Royal Arcade.

Melbourne's city center is Australia's most densely populated area. It has about 19,500 residents per square kilometer. It also has more skyscrapers than any other Australian city. The tallest building is Australia 108 in Southbank. A new skyscraper, Southbank By Beulah, is planned to be the tallest in Australia by 2025.

The city center and nearby areas have many important historic buildings. These include the Royal Exhibition Building, the Melbourne Town Hall, and Parliament House. Even though it is called the "center," the city center is not where most of Melbourne's population lives. The population center is actually in Camberwell, due to the city's growth to the southeast.

Like many Australian cities, Melbourne grew with the idea of each family having a "quarter acre home and garden." This is often called the Australian Dream. After 1945, cars became very popular. This led to the city spreading out, with people living in suburbs and driving to work. So, much of Melbourne has low-density housing. But inner-city areas have more medium-density housing. The city center, Docklands, and Southbank have high-density buildings.

Melbourne is often called Australia's "garden city." The state of Victoria is known as "the garden state." Melbourne has many beautiful parks and gardens. Many are close to the city center. They have many different plants, walking paths, and tree-lined streets. Melbourne's parks are often thought to be the best in Australia. There are also many parks in the suburbs. Several national parks are located around Melbourne.

Homes in Melbourne

Melbourne has very little public housing. There is a high demand for rental homes, and they are becoming expensive for some people. The Victorian Government manages public housing.

Melbourne's population is growing fast, which means there is a high demand for homes. This housing boom has increased house prices and rents. New housing areas are often built in the outer parts of Melbourne. Developers offer house and land packages there. However, since 2002, city planning has encouraged more medium- and high-density housing. This is happening in existing areas that have good public transport. As a result, many older areas in Melbourne's middle and outer suburbs are being redeveloped.

Residential architecture in Melbourne is a mix of styles. There are large "McMansion"-style houses in new areas. There are also apartment buildings, condos, and townhouses in inner-city neighborhoods. Freestanding houses with large gardens are common outside the inner city. Victorian terrace houses, townhouses, and historic mansions are common in inner-city areas like Carlton and Fitzroy.

Melbourne's Architecture: Old and New Buildings

After the gold rush in the 1850s and the land boom in the 1880s, Melbourne became famous for its Victorian-era buildings. Many well-preserved Victorian buildings can be found in inner suburbs like Carlton and East Melbourne. Great examples include the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building (1880), the General Post Office (1867), and the Block Arcade (1891).

Not many buildings from before the gold rush remain. St James Old Cathedral (1839) and St Francis' Church (1845) are some of the few left in the city center. Many tall Victorian buildings in the city center were demolished after World War II. Now, heritage listings protect many historic buildings.

As the city grew in the early 1900s, suburbs like Hawthorn and Camberwell were built in Federation and Edwardian styles. The City Baths, built in 1903, is a good example of the Edwardian style. The 1926 Nicholas Building shows the Chicago School style. The Manchester Unity Building, completed in 1932, shows the influence of Art Deco. The city also has the Shrine of Remembrance, a memorial to Australians who served in wars.

Homes in Melbourne have a mix of styles. There are large "McMansion"-style houses in new areas. There are also apartment buildings, condos, and townhouses in inner-city neighborhoods. Freestanding houses with large gardens are common outside the inner city. Victorian terrace housing, townhouses, and historic mansions are common in inner-city neighborhoods.

Melbourne's Vibrant Culture

Melbourne is often called Australia's cultural capital. It is known for its music, theater, and art scenes. It also has many cultural events and festivals. These include the Melbourne International Arts Festival and Moomba. Moomba is Australia's largest free community festival. For much of the 2010s, Melbourne was ranked as one of the world's most livable cities. This was partly because of its cultural attractions.

State Library Victoria, founded in 1854, is one of the world's oldest free public libraries. In 2018, it was the fourth most-visited library globally. Many famous writers have written about Melbourne. Contemporary authors like Peter Carey and Helen Garner have set novels in the city. Melbourne has Australia's widest range of bookstores. It also has the country's largest publishing industry. The city hosts the Melbourne Writers Festival. In 2008, it became the second UNESCO City of Literature.

Melbourne has many theaters. Eight of them are in the East End Theatre District. These include the Victorian-era Athenaeum, Her Majesty's, and Princess theaters. The Arts Precinct in Southbank is home to Arts Centre Melbourne. It also has the Melbourne Recital Centre and the Southbank Theatre. The Melbourne Theatre Company is Australia's oldest professional theater company. The Australian Ballet, Opera Australia, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra are also based here. Many of Melbourne's theaters host the annual Melbourne International Comedy Festival. This is one of the world's three largest comedy festivals.

Melbourne has been called "the live music capital of the world." One study found it has more music venues per person than any other city. Australia's first global music star, opera singer Nellie Melba, took her stage name from Melbourne. Composer Percy Grainger also became very famous. The Sidney Myer Music Bowl hosted the largest music concert crowd in Australia in 1967. The TV show Countdown helped launch the careers of artists like AC/DC and Kylie Minogue. Many independent music acts from Melbourne have become famous worldwide. Melbourne is also a center for EDM. It gave its name to the Melbourne Bounce music style and the Melbourne Shuffle dance.

The National Gallery of Victoria was started in 1861. It is Australia's oldest and largest art museum. It has collections at two locations: NGV International and NGV Australia. Several art movements started in Melbourne. The most famous is the Heidelberg School of impressionists. They painted outdoors in a suburb called Heidelberg. The city is also home to the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.

In the 2000s, street art became very popular in Melbourne. Banksy said Melbourne's graffiti scene "leads the world." "Laneway galleries" have become major tourist spots. Hosier Lane, for example, is very popular on Instagram. Melbourne has many public artworks.

The oldest film in Australia's National Film and Sound Archive is of the 1896 Melbourne Cup. Melbourne filmmakers helped start Australia's first movie boom. The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906) is recognized as the world's first feature-length story film. Many films have been shot and set in Melbourne. These include Mad Max (1979) and Animal Kingdom (2010). The Melbourne International Film Festival started in 1952. Docklands Studios Melbourne is the city's largest film and TV studio.

Melbourne: Australia's Sporting Capital

Melbourne has long been known as Australia's sporting capital. This is because of its role in developing Australian sport. It has many great sporting events and venues. Many people watch and play sports here. In 2016, Melbourne was named 'Sports City of the Decade'.

The city has hosted many major international sports events. These include the 1956 Summer Olympics, the first Olympics held outside Europe and the United States. Melbourne also hosted the 2006 Commonwealth Games. It is home to several big annual events. These include the Australian Open, one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments. The Melbourne Cup horse race, first held in 1861, is known as "the race that stops a nation." The Formula One Australian Grand Prix has been held in Melbourne since 1996.

Cricket was one of the first organized sports in Melbourne. The Melbourne Cricket Club formed within three years of the city's settlement. The club manages the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This is one of the world's largest stadiums, holding 100,000 people. The MCG hosted the first Test match and the first One Day International. It is also home to the National Sports Museum.

Australian rules football is Australia's most popular spectator sport. Its origins trace back to games played near the MCG in 1858. The Melbourne Football Club created its first rules the next year. The Australian Football League (AFL) is the sport's top professional competition. Eight other Melbourne-based clubs play in the AFL. The city hosts many AFL matches each week. The AFL Grand Final, held at the MCG, is the highest-attended club championship event in the world.

In soccer, Melbourne has teams like Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City FC in the A-League. In rugby league, the Melbourne Storm team plays in the National Rugby League. Other sports like basketball, ice hockey, and baseball are also popular. Rowing is also a big part of Melbourne's sporting identity. Many Australian Olympians have trained on the Yarra River.

Melbourne's Economy and Tourism

How Melbourne Makes Money

Melbourne has a very diverse economy. It is strong in finance, manufacturing, research, IT, education, and tourism. Many of Australia's largest companies have their main offices in Melbourne. These include ANZ, BHP, and Telstra. The city is home to Australia's second busiest seaport. Melbourne Airport is Australia's second busiest airport.

Melbourne is also an important financial center. It is ranked as having one of the most competitive financial centers in the world. Two of Australia's "big four" banks, ANZ and National Australia Bank, are based in Melbourne. The city is a leading center for superannuation (pension) funds. Melbourne is also Australia's second-largest industrial center.

Many major manufacturers have their Australian bases in Melbourne. These include Boeing Australia, Cadbury, and Alstom. The city also has research and design centers for car companies like Ford Australia and General Motors.

CSL, one of the world's top biotech companies, is based in Melbourne. The city has an important ICT industry. More than half of Australia's top 20 technology companies are here. Tourism is also a big part of Melbourne's economy. In 2018, 10.8 million Australian tourists and 2.9 million international tourists visited Melbourne. The city is attracting more and more international conferences.

Visiting Melbourne: Top Attractions

Melbourne is the second most visited city in Australia. The most popular attractions include Federation Square, Queen Victoria Market, Crown Casino, and Southbank. Other popular spots are the Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne Aquarium, and the National Gallery of Victoria. The State Library of Victoria is the fourth most visited library in the world. Luna Park, a theme park, is also a popular place for visitors. Melbourne is considered one of the safest cities for travelers.

Melbourne has a famous food scene that attracts international tourists. Lygon Street is a popular dining area with many Italian and Greek restaurants. Food festivals are very popular in Melbourne. The most famous is the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.

Melbourne also hosts many annual events and festivals. The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is held every year. It is one of the three largest international comedy festivals in the world. Other notable festivals include the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show and the Melbourne Royal Show.

Melbourne's People and Languages

Country of birth (2021)
Birthplace	Population
Australia	2,947,136
India	242,635
Mainland China	166,023
England	132,912
Vietnam	90,552
New Zealand	82,939
Sri Lanka	65,152
Philippines	58,935
Italy	58,081
Malaysia	57,345
Greece	44,956
Pakistan	29,067
South Africa	27,056
Iraq	25,041
Hong Kong SAR	24,428
Afghanistan	23,525
Iran	20,922
United States	20,231

Melbourne is expected to become Australia's most populated city between 2032 and 2046. After a period of fewer people living in the city center, Melbourne has seen more people moving into the inner and western suburbs. This is partly due to government plans to reduce urban sprawl. As of 2018, the city center is the most densely populated area in Australia.

Who Lives in Melbourne?

In the 2021 census, the most common backgrounds people identified with were:

• English (24.8%)
• Australian (22.5%)
• Chinese (8.8%)
• Irish (8.2%)
• Scottish (6.9%)
• Italian (6.7%)
• Indian (5.5%)
• Greek (3.6%)
• German (2.8%)
• Vietnamese (2.5%)

In the 2021 census, 0.7% of Melbourne's population identified as Indigenous. This includes Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. In Greater Melbourne, 59.9% of residents were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were India (4.9%), Mainland China (3.4%), and England (2.7%).

Languages Spoken in Melbourne

In 2021, 61.1% of Melburnians spoke only English at home. The most common other languages spoken at home were:

• Mandarin (4.3%)
• Vietnamese (2.3%)
• Greek (2.1%)
• Punjabi (2%)
• Arabic (1.8%)

Religions in Melbourne

Melbourne has many different religions. The most common is Christianity. This is shown by the city's two large cathedrals: St Patrick's (Roman Catholic) and St Paul's (Anglican). Both were built in the Victorian era and are important city landmarks. In recent years, the number of people in Melbourne who say they have no religion has grown.

According to the 2021 Census, 36.9% of the population said they had no religion. Christianity was the most popular religion at 40.1%. The largest Christian groups were Catholicism (20.8%) and Anglicanism (5.5%). The most popular non-Christian religions were Islam (5.3%), Hinduism (4.1%), and Buddhism (3.9%).

Over 258,000 Muslims live in Melbourne. Muslim religious life is centered around about 25 mosques. As of 2000, Melbourne had the largest population of Polish Jews and Holocaust survivors in Australia.

Learning in Melbourne: Schools and Universities

Five of Australia's top twenty high schools are in Melbourne. The number of international students studying in the city has grown quickly. Melbourne is considered the 4th best city in the world for studying abroad.

Eight public universities operate in Melbourne:

• University of Melbourne
• Monash University
• Swinburne University of Technology
• Deakin University
• Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University)
• La Trobe University
• Australian Catholic University (ACU)
• Victoria University (VU)

Melbourne universities have campuses across Australia and some internationally. The University of Melbourne is the second oldest university in Australia. It is the highest-ranked university in Australia in major global rankings. Monash University also ranks among the top 50 globally. Both are members of the Group of Eight, which are leading Australian universities.

As of 2024, RMIT University is ranked 18th in the world for Art & Design and Architecture. The Victorian Department of Education oversees education in Melbourne.

Media and Government in Melbourne

Media in Melbourne

Melbourne has three daily newspapers: the Herald Sun (a tabloid), The Age (a compact paper), and The Australian (a national paper). There are six main free-to-air digital television stations in Melbourne. These include ABC Victoria and SBS Victoria.

Many AM and FM radio stations broadcast to Melbourne. These include public stations like ABC and SBS. There are also many commercial stations. Youth stations include ABC Triple J and SYN. 3MBS and ABC Classic FM play classical music. Light FM is a Christian station. AM stations include 3AW (talk radio) and Magic (easy listening). SEN 1116 broadcasts sports coverage.

How Melbourne is Governed

Melbourne is governed by two main bodies. The government of Victoria and the 27 cities and four shires that make up the metropolitan area. There is no single official head of Melbourne. But the Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne often acts as a representative.

Local governments are responsible for things like urban planning and waste management. Most other government services are provided by the Victorian state government. These include public transport, main roads, policing, education, and planning for big projects. The state government works from Parliament House in Spring Street.

Getting Around Melbourne: Transport

Roads and Driving

Like many Australian cities, Melbourne relies a lot on cars for transport. This is especially true in the outer suburbs. There are 3.6 million private vehicles using 22,320 kilometers of road. Melbourne has one of the highest lengths of road per person in the world. In the early 1900s, cars became popular. This led to the city spreading out, with people living in suburbs and driving to work.

The road network in Victoria is managed by Vicroads. They plan and integrate the roads. Local governments maintain local roads. Vicroads is responsible for secondary and main roads. The Federal Government oversees major national freeways.

Today, Melbourne has a large network of freeways and main roads. These are used by private cars, trucks, buses, and taxis. Major highways include the Eastern Freeway, Monash Freeway, and West Gate Freeway. The West Gate Freeway includes the large West Gate Bridge. Other freeways include the Calder Freeway and Tullamarine Freeway, which goes to the airport. The Hume Freeway connects Melbourne to Canberra and Sydney. Melbourne's middle suburbs are connected by the M80 Ring Road.

Out of Melbourne's twenty freeways, six are electronic toll roads. These include the M1 and M2 CityLink (with the Bolte Bridge), Eastlink, and the West Gate Tunnel. Most toll roads in Melbourne are run by Transurban. Tollways in Melbourne have blue and yellow signs, while free roads have green signs.

Public Transport in Melbourne

Melbourne has a public transport system that includes trains, trams, buses, and taxis. Flinders Street Station was the world's busiest train station in 1927. Melbourne's tram network became the world's largest in the 1940s.

From the 1940s, fewer people used public transport. This was because of the rapid growth of roads and freeways. The decline became faster in the early 1990s due to cuts in public transport services. In 1999, Melbourne's public transport system was privatized. Private companies were given licenses to run the train, tram, and bus networks.

After 1996, more people started using public transport. This was due to more jobs in central Melbourne. The government set a goal for 20% of trips in Melbourne to be by public transport by 2020. Since 2006, public transport use has grown by over 20%. Several projects have started to expand public transport.

Train Travel in Melbourne

The Melbourne metropolitan rail network started in the 1850s during the gold rush. Today, it has 222 suburban stations on sixteen lines. These lines spread out from the City Loop, an underground subway system in the city center. Flinders Street Station serves the entire network. It is a famous Melbourne landmark and meeting place.

Melbourne has train connections to regional Victorian cities through V/Line. There are also direct interstate train services from Southern Cross Station in Docklands. The Overland goes to Adelaide twice a week. The XPT goes to Sydney twice daily. In 2017–2018, the Melbourne metropolitan rail network had 240.9 million passenger trips.

New railways are being built in Melbourne. The Metro Tunnel is a new heavy rail line through the inner city. It is expected to open by 2025. This will help reduce congestion on the City Loop. The Level Crossing Removal Project is removing many level crossings and rebuilding older stations. Work has also started on the Suburban Rail Loop. This will be a 90-kilometer underground orbital line around Melbourne's middle suburbs. An airport rail connection to Tullamarine is also planned.

Tram Travel in Melbourne

Melbourne's tram network started in the 1880s. As of 2021, it has 250 kilometers of double track, 475 trams, 25 routes, and 1,763 tram stops. This makes it the largest tram network in the world. In 2017–2018, 206.3 million passenger trips were made by tram.

About 75% of Melbourne's tram network shares road space with other vehicles. The rest of the network is separated. Melbourne's trams are seen as iconic cultural symbols and a tourist attraction. Historic trams operate on the free City Circle route around the city center. Trams are free within the central city Free Tram Zone. They run 24 hours on weekends.

Bus Travel in Melbourne

Melbourne's bus network has more than 400 routes. These mainly serve the outer suburbs. They fill in the gaps between train and tram services. In 2013–2014, 127.6 million passenger trips were made on Melbourne's buses. This was a 10.2% increase from the previous year.

Airports in Melbourne

Melbourne has four airports. Melbourne Airport, at Tullamarine, is the city's main international and domestic airport. It is the second busiest in Australia. It had over 37 million passengers in 2018–19. The airport is a home base for Jetstar and a major hub for Qantas and Virgin Australia.

Avalon Airport, located between Melbourne and Geelong, is a secondary hub for Jetstar. It is also used for freight and maintenance. Buses and taxis are the only public transport options to and from the main airports. A rail link to Tullamarine is planned to open in the 2030s.

Melbourne also has a significant general aviation airport, Moorabbin Airport. This airport handles a small number of passenger flights. Essendon Airport, once the city's main airport, also handles passenger flights and cargo.

Water Transport in Melbourne

Ship transport is an important part of Melbourne's transport system. The Port of Melbourne is Australia's largest container and general cargo port. It is also the busiest. In 2007, the port handled two million shipping containers. This made it one of the top five ports in the Southern Hemisphere. Station Pier on Port Phillip Bay is the main passenger ship terminal for cruise ships. Ferries and water taxis run along the Yarra River and across Port Phillip Bay.

Melbourne's Infrastructure: Utilities

Water and Energy Supply

Water storage and supply for Melbourne are managed by Melbourne Water. This organization is owned by the Victorian Government. It also manages sewerage and the main water catchments. It is responsible for the Wonthaggi desalination plant and the North–South Pipeline. Water is stored in reservoirs within and outside Greater Melbourne. The largest dam, the Thomson River Dam, can hold about 60% of Melbourne's water. Smaller dams like the Upper Yarra Dam and Yan Yean Reservoir hold secondary supplies.

Gas is provided by three companies:

• AusNet Services: provides gas from Melbourne's inner western suburbs to southwestern Victoria.
• Multinet Gas: provides gas from Melbourne's inner eastern suburbs to eastern Victoria.
• Australian Gas Networks: provides gas from Melbourne's inner northern suburbs to northern Victoria, and most of southeastern Victoria.

Electricity is provided by five companies:

• Citipower: provides power to Melbourne's city center and some inner suburbs.
• Powercor: provides power to the outer western suburbs and all of western Victoria.
• Jemena: provides power to the northern and inner western suburbs.
• United Energy: provides power to the inner eastern and southeastern suburbs, and the Mornington Peninsula.
• AusNet Services: provides power to the outer eastern suburbs and all of northern and eastern Victoria.

Images for kids

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  Melbourne skyline and Kings Domain

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  Flinders Street Station

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  Shrine of Remembrance

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  Melbourne Cricket Ground

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  Royal Exhibition Building

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  Melbourne CBD and Princes Bridge

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  Map of Melbourne (printable and editable)

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  Greater Melbourne Region

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  A late 19th-century artist's depiction of John Batman's treaty with a group of Wurundjeri elders

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  Melbourne in 1840

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  South Melbourne's "Canvas Town" provided temporary accommodation for the thousands of migrants who arrived each week during the 1850s gold rush.

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  A large crowd outside the Victorian Supreme Court, celebrating the release of the Eureka rebels in 1855

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  Elizabeth Street lined with buildings from the "Marvellous Melbourne" era

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  The Big Picture, the opening of the first Parliament of Australia on 9 May 1901, painted by Tom Roberts

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  Orica House (formerly ICI House), a symbol of modernity in post-war Melbourne

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  The skyline of Melbourne from Port Melbourne, 2023

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  A panoramic view of the Docklands and city skyline from Waterfront City, looking across Victoria Harbour

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  Map of Melbourne and Geelong urban areas

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  Storm passing over the CBD in August. Melbourne is said to have "four seasons in one day" due to its changeable weather.

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  Melbourne population density by mesh blocks (MB), according to the 2016 census

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  The CBD as viewed from above Kings Domain

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  19th-century terrace houses are common in the inner suburbs.

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  Victorian era buildings on Collins Street, preserved by setting skyscrapers back from the street

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  Melbourne is home of 77 skyscrapers, the tallest being Australia 108 (centre-right), the Southern Hemisphere's only 100-plus-storey building, and Eureka Tower (right), February 2021.

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  La Trobe Reading Room, State Library Victoria

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  Founded in 1854, the Princess Theatre is the oldest theatre in the East End Theatre District.

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  St Kilda's Crystal Ballroom, famed for hosting local and international post-punk and new wave bands

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  NGV International, home of the National Gallery of Victoria's international collection

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  The Capitol, built in 1924, was Melbourne's first major picture palace.

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  Statue at the MCG of Australian rules football founder Tom Wills umpiring an 1858 football match. The first games of Australian rules were played in adjacent parklands.

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  Melbourne hosts the Australian Open, the first of four annual Grand Slam tennis tournaments.

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  The 19th-century Coop's Shot Tower enclosed in Melbourne Central, one of the city's major retail hubs

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  The Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex contributes AU$2 billion to the Victorian economy annually.

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  Known for its bars, street art and coffee culture, the inner city's network of laneways and arcades is a popular cultural attraction.

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  Queen Victoria Market is the Southern Hemisphere's largest open air market.

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  Established during the gold rush, Chinatown is the longest continuous Chinese settlement outside Asia.

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  St Patrick's Cathedral

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  Ormond College, part of the University of Melbourne

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  The Melbourne offices of the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), located at Federation Square

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  Parliament House, Melbourne

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  The Bolte Bridge is part of the CityLink tollway system.

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  Situated on the City Loop, Southern Cross station is Victoria's main hub for regional and interstate trains.

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  A C-class tram in suburban Box Hill, 14 km east of the CBD. The city's tram network consists of 493 trams and is the largest in the world.

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  Sugarloaf Reservoir at Christmas Hills in the metropolitan area is one of Melbourne's closest water supplies.

See also

In Spanish: Melbourne para niños