Melbourne (pronounced Mel'bun) is the capital of the state of Victoria and is the second largest city in Australia.  The city has over 3 million people and is a melting pot of cultures - people from Greece, China, Italy, Vietnam, and Lebanon have settled in this cosmopolitan city, making Melbourne very diverse.  Rattling around the downtown area is one of the oldest tram systems in the world.  Melbourne dates back to the 1850's when gold was discovered in Victoria and British settlers flocked here.  The city is very eclectic, with old Victorian buildings next to new, and it is home to the Australian Open and the Formula One Grand Prix.  Melbourne is known for having all the good things in life - fashion, food, entertainment, gardens, parks and sports.   The city is truly a fusion of the old and the new. 

Federation Square brings together attractions with restaurants and galleries.  Located within the complex is the Ian Potter Centre of Australia and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.  The square also includes Melbourne's major visitor information centre, cafes, restaurants and bars.    

Melbourne is a combination of the old and the new.  It is a vibrant, exciting, cosmopolitan city.   Above is the Victoria  train station.  Right is the entrance to Chinatown.  Melbourne also has more people of Greek descent living here than in any other city in the world except Athens.   It is a melting pot of cultures and architectural styles. 

 Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria and their Parliament is an interesting place to visit.

The Gold Treasury Museum (above) tells the story of the discovery of gold in Victoria.  There are also many other museums to discover in Melbourne - the Museum of Melbourne, with its wonderful Aboriginal Gallery, and the National Gallery of Victoria among them.

Sculptures on Collins Street.

One of the fun things to do when you are in Melbourne is to dine on the historical Colonial Tram Car Restaurant (above and right) as it travels through the streets of Melbourne down to St. Kilda.  The three tramcars are the world's first tramcar restaurants. 
Reservations are necessary and we can book you for a fantastic evening!   

St. Paul's Cathedral, with one of Melbourne's trams in front.

 Shopping is fantastic in Melbourne.  Australians consider Melbourne a shopping mecca!  Collins Street is the main shopping area and there are some wonderful arcades to explore.  The photos in the middle and right are of the Royal Arcade on the outside and the inside. 
To the left is a horse and carriage just waiting to take you down Collins Street in style!  

Another popular place to shop is Queen Victoria Market on Elizabeth Street.  This is a working market with meat, fish, bakery & delicatessan sections as well as fruit and vegetable vendors and general merchandise.  There are more than 1,000 stalls and the market has a separate meat hall and a delicatessan area renowned for Greek, Italian and Polish food.  There are also cafes and restaurants surrounding the market.