Melbourne
Melbourne is a city in Australia that is located on the bay of Port Phillip. Its the capital city of the State of Victoria and is the most heavily populated of all Australian cities. Melbourne covers an area of thirty-four hundred square miles and has a population of over four million people. The area of Melbourne has been occupied for over thirty thousand years by the indigenous tribes of the area, the Boonwurrung, Wathaurong and the Wurundjeri. These tribes thrived in the area by hunting and gathering from the land. The first European settlement wouldn’t arrive to the area until 1803, at Sullivan Bay. This initial colony faced hard times, however, due to the perception that the area had little resources to sustain it and it was eventually abandoned. Then in 1835, John Batman came to the area and negotiated for a parcel of land that measured over six hundred thousand acres from the Wurundjeri elders. Mr. Batman then traveled back to his residence in Tasmania. He dispatched a settlement party to set up a village in the area, but a seperate group led by John Pascoe Fawkner had already set up a colony there. These groups would eventually strike a deal and agree to share the area.
Eventually the treaty between John Batman and the aboriginees would be voided by the Governor of New South Wales, Richard Bourke and the village would become property of the crown. The name of the village was then changed to Melbourne and Queen Victoria would incorporate it into a city in 1847. Melbourne would then experience a period of rapid growth due to the Victoria Gold Rush of 1851. The entire state of Victoria were filled with miners and prosepectors who needed supplies for their mining operations. Melbourne was more than happy to oblige and as a result manufacturing in the city increased dramatically. With the influx of gold into the city Melbourne was able to work on massive civic building projects which produced landmarks such as the Parliament House, Melbourne Town Hall and St. Patrick’s cathedrals. This level of prosperity continued into the 1880s and the city became the second largest city in the British Empire. It would all come to an end in 1891, however, when a depression hit the city. In 1901, the city would become a part of the Commonwealth of Australia when Victoria joined the Federation of Australia. Melbourne is a popular tourist destination with over six million domestic visitors and one and a half million foreign visitors each year.
This city has a wide range of attractions to interest tourist. One of the more popular attractions in the city is Federation Square. This cultural district has a large number of historical buildings, museums, art galleries, restaurants and bars. Located in this district is the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (or ACMI) is a museum dedicated to moving images. This large facility has two cinemas which can play movies in every imaginable format and with the latest THX sound. Also located in the district is the Ian Potter Centre, BMW Edge Amphitheatre, National Design Centre and the The Melbourne Tourist Information Centre. Another popular attraction in Melbourne is the Eureka Tower. This nine hundred and eighty-four foot skyscraper was constructed in 2006 in the Southbank precinct. Its the highest residential skyscraper in the world and its main feature is its observation platform Eureka Skydeck 88. The Melbourne Museum is a favorite among internation tourist to the city. It was built in 1854 and features seven main galleries. This museum has many exhibits which cover the human body, dinosaurs, the Aborigines of Victoria and insects. There is also a childrens museum located inside.
The Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex is another popular venue in the city. The Crown Casino was established in 1994 and is visited by over sixteen million people each year. This casino has a license to operate twenty five hundred slot machines and over three hundred table games. Games located in this casino include Blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Poker, Roulette, Baccarat and Pai Gow. Also located in this complex are both fine dining and fast food restaurants, shops, arcade games, laser tag and a bowling alley. There is a hotel complex located here and a ballroom as well. Art lovers visiting Melbourne should check out the National Gallery of Victoria. This art museum was founded in 1861 and is the largest and oldest art gallery in Australia. This museum contains Australian Aboriginal art, modern art and impressionist art. Located here are works by artist such as Marco Palmezzano, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, Paolo Uccello, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and Tintoretto. The Melbourne Aquarium is another prime attraction in the city. It was built in 1999 and contains a two million litre aquarium. Luna Park is the premier amusement park in Melbourne. It is one of two amusement parks in Australia, the other one being located in Sydney.
It was built in 1912 and is situated on Port Phillip Bay in St Kilda. The park consist of several features which include “Mr Moon” gateway, carousel, Big Top, Coney Island and Dodgem’s Building. Luna Park host a wide range of different rides which include roller coasters, ferris wheels and various themed rides. Another popular attraction is the Royal Exhibition Building. This is a World Heritage Site that was built in 1880. It was built to host the Melbourne International Exhibition. Today, the building is used for various events such as the Other prominent attractions in Melbourne include the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Park, Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, State Library of Victoria on Swanston Street, Victorian Arts Centre, Shrine of Remembrance, Docklands and Glow Golf at Dockland. The city also has a large variety of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and cafes. The most famous cafe strips include Fitzroy’s Brunswick Street, Collingwood’s Smith Street, Richmond’s Bridge Road and St Kilda’s Fitzroy Street. |
