Melbourne - Australia - Travel Guide

Melbourne - Australia

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia after Sydney. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater geographical area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater geographical area had an approximate population of four million. Inhabitants of Melbourne are called Melburnians.



Brief History

Lithograph of Melbourne from Princes Bridge in 1862.

Melbourne began as a collection of tents and huts on the banks of the Yarra. The river was used for bathing and drinking water. The river had by the 1850s become quite polluted and was the cause of an epidemic of typhoid fever which hit the town resulting in many deaths.

Until the building boom which followed the gold rushes, most of Melbourne was built of timber, and almost nothing from this period survives. Two exceptions are St James Old Cathedral (1839) in Collins St (now relocated to the Flagstaff Gardens), and St Francis Catholic Church (1841) in Elizabeth St.

The discovery of gold led to a huge influx of people to Victoria, most of them arriving by sea at Melbourne. The town's population doubled within a year. In 1852 75,000 people arrived in the colony and this, combined with a very high birthrate, led to rapid population growth



Activities

Melbourne Where there's a festival for everything!

Yak 52 Aerobatic Adventure Flight

Experience the aerobatic capability of the awesome Yak 52, a genuine Russian military aircraft. Turn Melbourne's skyline upside down as you fly inverted at 430km/h or just sit back and feel the powerful supercharged radial engine as you cruise around with the canopy open.

Yarra Valley Food and Wine Journey

Begin your Yarra Valley Food and Wine Journey by visiting De Bortoli Winery, a third generation, Italian family owned winery. Be seated in the Trophy Room for a private tasting with cheese and fruit. Visit the historic Yering Station Winery for wine tasting and the Yering Station Produce Store and Art Gallery showcasing regional produce.

NASCAR Ride Of Your Life - VIC

Experience a ride of a lifetime in an American NASCAR. Travel around the Thunderdome at race speed as a passenger in a left hand drive American Chevrolet, VT, Pontiac or Lumina race prepared NASCAR. This is an awesome experience on the high banked oval Super Speedway!