Melbourne: Australia's Cultural Capital

May 16, 2017
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

This past weekend, I took a three-day trip to Melbourne, Victoria. The flight from Gold Coast Airport in Coolangatta to Melbourne Airport in Tullamarine was only about two hours, which I would compare to flying from New York to Florida in the United States.

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, making it the second-largest city in Australia. With a population of more than 4.6 million people, residents are known as Melburnians.

After arriving at Melbourne Airport, I took a bus to Southern Cross Station, which took about 30 minutes. From there, it was another 20-minute walk to my hostel, Nomads Melbourne.

One of the first things I noticed was how different the weather was compared to Surfers Paradise. While Queensland was still relatively warm, with temperatures ranging from 70 to 77°F, Melbourne felt much more like autumn back home in New York. The leaves were beginning to change, there was a cool breeze in the air, and temperatures ranged from about 50 to 67°F.

Out of all the cities I've visited in Australia, Melbourne reminded me the most of New York City, although it felt less crowded, quieter, and more relaxed. Despite being a relatively young city by world standards, Melbourne has a rich history that I really enjoyed learning about.

One of the main reasons Melbourne grew so quickly was because of the Victorian Gold Rush in the 1850s. The discovery of gold transformed Melbourne into one of the wealthiest cities in the world at the time and helped establish it as a major economic and cultural center.

Interestingly, before the city became known as Melbourne, several names were proposed, including Batmania, which was named after one of the area's early settlers, John Batman. Other proposed names included Bearport, Bareheep, Barebrass, Doutta Galla, and Glenelg. Thankfully, Melbourne won out in the end!

Fun Facts About Melbourne

Melbourne isn't pronounced "Mel-Born." Australians pronounce it more like "Mel-bin."
Parts of the movie Ghost Rider, starring Nicolas Cage, were filmed in Melbourne.
One of the buildings featured in Ghost Rider was later demolished, although not because of the movie itself. It's simply one of the many stories locals like to joke about.
Melbourne was almost named Batmania.
During the Victorian Gold Rush, Melbourne became one of the richest cities in the world.
The West Gate Bridge is one of Australia's longest bridges and is one of Melbourne's most recognizable landmarks.
The West Gate Bridge has appeared in several films and television productions, including Mad Max.
Melbourne is home to one of the largest Greek populations outside of Greece.
Melbourne is often considered Australia's most culturally diverse city.
The city has consistently been recognized as one of the world's most livable cities due to its quality of life, infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
Vegemite, one of Australia's most famous foods, was invented in Melbourne in 1922.
Melbourne served as Australia's capital city from 1901 to 1927 before the national capital was moved to Canberra.

What I enjoyed most about Melbourne was its mix of history, culture, architecture, and atmosphere. The city felt very different from the beach-oriented lifestyle I've become accustomed to on the Gold Coast. Between the historic buildings, vibrant neighborhoods, and cooler autumn weather, Melbourne offered a completely different side of Australia that I hadn't experienced before.

Overall, it was a fantastic weekend getaway and a great opportunity to experience another part of Australia. While Surfers Paradise will always feel like home during my study abroad experience, Melbourne quickly became one of my favorite cities I've visited so far.