Melbourne Attractions

Directly on the banks of the Yarra River is Flinders Street Station (1905), the hub of the city's suburban lines and a good starting point for a tour of the city center. Princes Bridge spans the Yarra, heading south, while Swanston Street leads north into the central area.

Works of European artists and Australian painting of the 19th and early 20th centuries are on show in the art gallery, as well as Aboriginal art. The Great Hall has a remarkable glass mosaic ceiling by Leonard French, whose kaleidoscope of colors creates a magical effect.

In Chinatown in Choen Place is the Museum of Chinese Australian History which features the history of Chinese settlers in Australia.

The re-planned City Square features a semicircular depression, fountains and a monument to Burke and Wills, who set out from Melbourne in 1860 on their unsuccessful attempt to cross Australia from south to north.

In March Melbourne celebrates the Moomba Festival, which lasts 10 days and nights, with elaborate parades and other events. Also in March the Formula One Australian Grand Prix takes place on the Albert Park circuit. In September there is the Royal Agricultural Show; and in the second half of September there are the many events that make up the Spoleto Melbourne Arts Festival (music, dance, drama, film, literature, art).

The Princess Theatre, with an ornate neo-Baroque façade of 1887, is complete with a trumpet-blowing angel over the pediment and wrought-iron crowns topping the roof.

Along the south bank of the Yarra, immediately below the Princes Bridge, are the Queen Victoria Gardens and Alexandra Gardens. From here there is a fine panoramic view of the central area. Opposite, on the north bank, are the Ferry Wharves, from which there are cruises on the river.

At least two or three days should be allowed for seeing the sights of Melbourne and surroundings. A convenient way of seeing the principal sights is to take the double-decker City Explorer Bus which leaves Flinders Street Station (Swanston Street side) hourly. Passengers can get off at any one of the seven stops and later continue with the next bus. The ticket also gives reductions on admission charges to museums and the Zoo. There is also the City Circle Tram, a free service with old-time tramcars, introduced in 1994, which runs round the city center every 10 minutes, taking in the main sights. Brochures, city plans and information of all kinds can be obtained from the Melbourne Tourist Information Centre, 230 Collins Street, which also provides information about Victoria.

Southgate is a popular meeting place, with several art galleries, many good cafés and restaurants, as well as shops and an aquarium. A big draw on Sundays is the crafts market. From the Yarra River promenade there is a fine view of the Melbourne skyline.

The Summer Olympics of 1956 were staged in Melbourne. The principal stadium was Melbourne Cricket Ground, southeast of the city center. The great event of Melbourne's sporting year is the final of the Australian football tournament, held annually in September.

The National Tennis Centre in Flinders Park is the venue in January of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. An event which has all Australia holding its breath is the race for the Melbourne Cup on Flemington Racecourse on the first Tuesday in November. The Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix is to be held in Melbourne each March - until 1995 it was held in Adelaide.

St James's Old Cathedral is a bluestone and sandstone building begun in 1839 which is one of Melbourne's oldest surviving buildings.

St Patrick's Cathedral (RC; 1858-68) is the largest church in Australia.

The first Mass was celebrated on the site in February 1858 in a former partially completed church, some of which was incorporated into the south aisle of the present building.

St Paul's Cathedral (Anglican) is on the site of an earlier parish church of 1850 (the pews from which have been preserved). The foundation stone of the present neo-Gothic church was laid in 1880. It has a richly decorated façade with pointed gables, bell towers and a massive tower over the crossing.

In William Street are the former Royal Mint and the Supreme Court and Law Courts, built between 1877 and 1884 (not, as originally planned, as a plain brick building but as an imposing sandstone edifice).

The Windsor Hotel (1883) is one of the last of the old grand hotels, patronized by many celebrities.