Top 20 Attractions in Melbourne

In the first half of the 19th century, a huge piece of gold was found in the Australian state of Victoria - the largest piece of gold that existed at that time in the world. This event gave impetus to the beginning of the gold rush, numerous waves of emigration from Europe and the flourishing of Melbourne. For two centuries, the city grew rich and eventually turned into the most prosperous and comfortable metropolis for life in Australia.

Melbourne is compared with the well-fed and prosperous cities of Switzerland, in some respects it even surpasses its European competitors. First of all, it is the industrial, economic and financial center of the country. But the city also has something to attract tourists: the historical center, consisting of buildings of the 19th century, smoothly passes into modern quarters, museums and galleries organize interesting exhibitions, and high-class restaurants will delight gourmets with dishes of world cuisine.

What to see and where to go in Melbourne?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

Federation Square

Melbourne's central square, which hosts hundreds of events every year. The place features interesting modern architecture, cinemas, galleries, restaurants, a museum and public gatherings. The area occupies an entire city block, on one side it is bounded by the Yarra River. Active restructuring of space has been carried out since the late 80s.

Royal Botanic Gardens

The gardens are located in central Melbourne on the south bank of the Yarra River. On their territory grow species collected from all over the Australian continent, as well as brought from other parts of the world. The main activity of botanic gardens is the conservation and breeding of plants brought to Australia from other places, as well as scientific research in the field of detection and identification of unknown species.

memorial monument

A monument erected in honor of fellow citizens who died in the First World War. Behind the scenes, the monument is considered to be dedicated to all Australians who laid down their lives in armed conflicts. The building was erected in the 30s. XX century, designed by veterans D. Wardrop and F. Hudson. The classical architecture of the Athenian Parthenon was taken as a model. The monument is located on a hill in the territory of the Royal Gardens.

National Gallery of Victoria

The oldest public gallery on the Australian continent. It was founded in the second half of the 19th century. The museum was opened a decade after the proclamation of the state of Victoria as an independent colony. At that time, Melbourne was actively developing and turning into a large and rich city. Wealthy citizens used their own funds to purchase and donate works of art to the gallery. Among the exhibits are antique artifacts, paintings by European artists, and works by Australian masters.

Royal Exhibition Center

The exposition is located in a majestic Victorian building of the late 19th century, which has been awarded the status of a UNESCO monument. In the middle of the 20th century, they wanted to demolish the building, but in the end it was decided to organize an exhibition center on its territory. The prefix "Royal" center received in 1884 thanks to the English Queen Elizabeth. The premises of the complex are used for various expositions.

Melbourne Museum

A large museum divided into several thematic expositions. Also in the building is a research center, an IMAX cinema and an amphitheater. The museum presents both historical collections that tell about the history of Melbourne, and natural sciences, where you can look at the skeletons of extinct dinosaurs. Separate halls house the cultural centers of the indigenous peoples of Australia.

Princess Theater

Victorian Opera House, built in the middle of the 19th century. The building was rebuilt and reconstructed several times, the last restoration was carried out in 1989. The theater even has its own "Phantom of the Opera", for which there is always a free seat in the auditorium. According to legend, the cast came from the singer F. Baker, who died right on the stage while performing his role in the opera Faust in 1888.

State Library of Victoria

The library is considered one of the most impressive book collections in Australia. The classical style building was erected in the middle of the 19th century according to the project of D. Reed. At first it housed the Melbourne Museum and the National Gallery of Victoria, but they later moved to other locations. The library has collected about 1.5 million books. The building is surrounded by a sculpture park, where works by masters of the 19th-21st centuries are installed.

Melbourne Aquarium

A modern oceanarium located on the banks of the Yarra in the center of Melbourne. In the aquarium you can see representatives of the fauna of the southern seas and Antarctica. For the inhabitants of the Arctic waters, real harsh conditions have been created with snow and low temperatures. Sharks, penguins, turtles, tarantulas, scorpions, various types of fish live here. The oceanarium was opened in 2000 and is considered one of the best in the world.

St Paul's Cathedral

Cathedral of the Anglican Church, built in the Gothic style. The building is located in the historical center of Melbourne and, along with other buildings of past centuries, forms the cultural heritage of the city. The cathedral was erected in the late XIX - early XX centuries, at first it was the tallest building in the city, but modern high-rise buildings gradually obscured it from the views of passers-by. Especially for the temple, an organ made by master T. Lewis was delivered from England.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

The Catholic Cathedral in the neo-Gothic style, built for the needs of the Irish settlers. The cathedral was given the status of a "minor basilica", that is, the Pope can stay here in case of his arrival in Melbourne. Mosaics for interior decoration were made in Venice, instead of standard stained-glass windows, amber glass was installed on the windows. The construction of the cathedral lasted 40 years and was completed in 1939.

Eureka Tower

The second largest skyscraper on the Australian continent, it reaches a height of 297 meters. The building was completed in 2006 by a local architectural agency. The name "Eureka Tower" was given in honor of the 1854 gold digger uprising in the state of Victoria. The skyscraper consists of 92 floors. One underground floor and 9 ground floors are occupied by parking, the remaining floors are residential.

flinders street

Melbourne's main railway station, located in the central part of the city. In 1854, a wooden station was located on this site, the first in Australia. In 1882, it was decided to build a full-fledged station, and 37 years later, the first steam locomotive set off from Flinders Street. After just a few years, the station became the busiest in the world. The building was renovated in the 70s. XX century at the request of the public (initially, the authorities wanted to demolish the obsolete building).

Queen Victoria Market

A large market in the city center selling products and delicacies from all over the world, including Turkish sweets, Italian prosciutto and Russian buckwheat. There are also rows with shoes and clothes, products of local aborigines, animal skins. The market offers a wide variety of fruits, cheeses, seafood, sauces, smoked meats. The prices here are slightly lower than in the supermarket, but there are always a lot of people and quite noisy.

Captain James Cook's Cottage

A small stone mansion located in the eastern part of Melbourne. This is the home of the parents of James Cook, which was originally located in the English village of Great Ayton. In 1933, the house was purchased by the Australian government and moved to Melbourne. This event was timed to coincide with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the city. The money was provided by a local entrepreneur, R. Grimweid.

Old Melbourne Gaol

Museum complex located on the territory of the former prison. The building was built in 1841 and was used to keep prisoners and the military. In 1924, the institution was closed, and in 1972 a museum was opened in it, where prison attributes are exhibited: personal belongings of criminals, death masks and other horror. Thousands of tourists tend to visit this place because of the rumors about the ghosts that live in the gloomy corridors.

albert park

An international Formula 1 circuit that has hosted the Australian Grand Prix since 1996. In the 50s. During the 20th century, the circuit hosted the Melbourne Grand Prix, but at that time it was an unpopular event due to the high costs for the racers and the remoteness of the continent from Europe. Albert Park is an urban highway surrounded by green spaces, it is laid around an artificial lake.

Melbourne Cricket Ground

The ground was originally intended for playing cricket, but has gradually turned into a large multifunctional complex, where football matches, rugby championships, concerts and various cultural events are held. The stadium was built in the middle of the 19th century and modernized several times during the 20th century. The modern arena can accommodate about 100 thousand spectators, up to 130 thousand people gathered for some events.

Melbourne Zoo

Australia's oldest zoo, founded in 1862. At first, the zoo served as a temporary shelter for domestic animals brought from other continents. On the territory of the zoo, the animals experienced an adaptation period and later went home. Over time, exotic species began to appear, and the zoo acquired its modern look. It is home to tigers, lions, monkeys, giraffes, elephants, Madagascar lemurs, rare birds and inhabitants of the Australian savannah.

Casino Crown

One of the best gambling houses on the continent, a large entertainment complex located in the heart of Melbourne. Hundreds of thousands of tourists and locals visit this casino every year. There are more than 2.5 thousand slot machines and 350 gambling tables on the territory. There is also a restaurant, a bowling alley and nightclubs. The Korona complex houses the Palladium, the largest concert venue in the city.