Federation Square
Federation Square is a great square on the main transport hub of the city. The square was created in 2002 and houses the Melbourne Visitor Centre, a large screen, a theater, a cinema center, shops, restaurants and the National Gallery of Victoria. The buildings that remind of the Jewish Museum in Berlin, have been designed by Lab Architects from Melbourne.
Bourke Street Mall
Bourke Street is Melbourne's main shopping street. In the pedestrian zone you will also find the cities most famous department store the "Myer". At the corner to Elizabeth Street, stands the General Post Office of 1867, it has been transformed into an elegant shopping mall in 2004.
Melbourne Skyline
The economic metropolis Melbourne is home of the tallest buildings in Australia. There are many beautiful viewpoints on the skyline, like from the Yarra River with the Princes Bridge in front. An other great view is from Albert Park overlooking the Lake with the Skyline in the background.
Coops Shot Tower
The 50 m high chimney of Coops factory was built 1888. When the Melbourne Central Shopping Centre was built in 1991 by Kisho Kurokawa a large glass dome was built over the historic Shot Tower.
State Library of Victoria
"Free, secular and democratic" is the motto of the State Library. The library opened in 1865 and was extended in 1913 with a reading room and a massive dome. The interior of the classical building is truly spectacular.
Melbourne Chinatown
The first Chinese came to Melbourne in 1854 and made the area around Little Bourke Street their home. Here In Chinatown you will find numerous Chinese restaurants and stores. Tip: If you are in Melbourne between the end of January and the beginning of February, you should visit the "Chinese New Year" celebration in Chinatown.
Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station was the first urban railway station on the australian continent, it was opened in 1854. The representative station was built in 1909. Tip: If you want to use public transport in Melbourne, you need a "myki smart card" ask at Flinders Street Station how to get one or check the link below.
Old Magistrates' Court
The Old Magistrates' Court was opened in 1914. It gained historical significance through the trials against "Ned Kelly", a Robin Hood-like bank robber, the "Eureka Revolte", and "Squizzy Taylor", a famous gangster and murderer.
Old Melbourne Gaol
In a country like Australia, which was built up as a prison colony, prisons are a top attraction with relatively high entrance fees. In the Old Melbourne Gaol 133 executions took place, between 1842 and 1929. One of them was the famous gangster "Ned Kelly" who was hanged here.
St. Pauls Cathedral
A first St Pauls church was built on the former Cornmarket in 1848. In 1885 this church was demolished to make way for today's St Pauls Cathedral. The design of the building was made by the English architect William Butterfield, who did not want to travel to Melbourne and therefore handed over the project to Joseph Reed in 1882. St. Pauls Cathedral was completed in 1884. The towers were not built until 1926 and did not follow the design of Butterfield. The material also differs from the rest of the church.
Melbourne Town Hall
After Melbourne was founded in 1842, the first town hall was built in 1854. However, as the city grew unexpectedly fast, the construction of a new large town hall began in 1867. The Melbourne Town Hall of the architects Reed and Barnes was opened in 1887. The Town Hall is also a venue for concerts and ceremonies, a famous concert of the "Beatles" took place here.
Royal Exhibition Building
The Royal Exhibition Building was built in 1880, for the Melbourne International Exhibition. The architect was again Joseph Reed, who used Italian and French sources for the design of the exhibition hall. The formerly largest building in the country is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004.
St. Patricks Cathedral
The consecration of the cathedral of the Catholic community took place in 1858, the completion of the construction was in 1868. The elegant neo-Gothic cathedral was designed by the English architect William Wilkinson Wardell.
Yarra River Cruises
If you want to explore Melbourne from the river, you can take a boat trip on the Yarra River. The one-hour tours go either to the harbor or to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Of course you can also book both tours together.
Melbourne Star
The giant Ferris wheel in the Melbourne Docklands opened in 2013. The "Melbourne Star" offers a great view over the city from 120 m above sea level. Similar to the "London Eye" you will rotate in air-conditioned glass cabins with a 360 ° panoramic view. At the foot of the Wheel, there is a shopping center with Foodcourt.
Eureka-Tower
The highest viewpoint in Melbourne is located on the 88th floor of the 297.3 m high "Eureka Tower" built in 2006. The name of the skyscraper remindes of the "Eureka Rebellion" in Ballarat, were mine workers demonstrated against the government in 1854. The architects Fender Katsalidis from Melbourne, designed the tallest building in Melbourne.
Melbourne attractions map
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Travel Guide Melbourne
Welcome to Melbourne
With over 4 million inhabitants, Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia after Sydney. Both cities have been in competition with each other for over 100 years. The competition between the two cities eventually led to the establishment of Canberra as the capital of Australia. Melbourne has the country's tallest skyscraper and this is where the "Australian Open" takes place, one of the 4 "Grand Slam" tennis tournaments.
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Discover Melbourne
If you want to discover Melbourne, you should get a "Myki Smart Card" from the Melbourne transport company. You can get the "Myki" in kiosks, in shops and at train stations. For tourists there is a "Visitor Vale Pack" with which you get a discount at many attractions. More information and current prices are available at:
Fitzroy
Fitzroy is the coolest part of Melbourne. It lies north of the "Fitzroy Gardens". Street art and creative little shops, restaurants and bars everywhere. My tip is to take a stroll down Brunswick Street between Moor Street and Kerr Street.
Then onto the roof terrace from:
www.nakedforsatan.com.au (nothing for kids)
You can find photos of "Fitzroy" in the picture gallery.
Australian Open
Anyone interested in tennis will know when the "Australian Open" will take place. As one of the 4 "Grand Slam" tournaments, it is one of the largest sporting events in Australia. If you are not interested in tennis, you should still be interested in the date because then hotel and flight prices will rise significantly.
Australia Open 16-29. January 2017
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