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| GENERAL INFORMATION Visit Melbourne Melbourne is a city of world-class events, exceptional food and wine, and a fabulous arts scene. Home to some of the best shopping and nightlife in Australia, a non-stop program of film and food festivals, renowned dining, major art exhibitions and musical extravaganzas, host for the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne is one of the most enlightened and liveable cities in the world. Shopping Melbourne is famous for its great shopping, from the colour and bustle of outdoor markets to large department stores and designer boutiques. Discover Melbourne's best-kept shopping secrets in its network of historic arcades and laneways, and pick up international labels at boutiques along the leafy boulevard Collins Street. Preview the latest collections at Chapel Street, South Yarra, or head to Acland Street in St Kilda or Fitzroy's Brunswick Street for local designers, street fashion, and groovy bars and cafes. And bargain hunters should check out Bridge Road in Richmond, where many of Melbourne's most successful retail stores have their warehouses and factory outlets. Attractions Melbourne is a city of striking public spaces, state-of-the-art museums and gold rush architecture. To experience the heart of the city head to Federation Square, a dynamic mix of bars, galleries and open public spaces. Linking the city to the Yarra River, Federation Square houses the Melbourne Visitor Centre, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, featuring a comprehensive collection of Australian art. Discover the underwater world at the Melbourne Aquarium, a 2.2-million-litre oceanarium; see Australia's most famous racehorse Phar Lap at the Melbourne Museum; or wander through the recently re-opened NGV International for a cultural fix. Take in spectacular 360-degree views of the city from the Melbourne Observation Deck on level 50 of the Rialto Towers Building in Collins Street. Children’s Literature attractions include:
Australia 's premier 'wine city', Melbourne has a well-deserved reputation for offering superb food and wine. Chic restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, inspirational chefs and a lively café scene are just some of the reasons why Melbourne is considered a foodie's haven. Don't miss the late-night bustle of Chinatown, the Aegean delights of the Greek Quarter, and Lygon Street, Melbourne's 'Little Italy', where the speciality is pizza and pasta. And if the weather is good, dine alfresco beside the Yarra River at Southgate, or at the bustling harbourside NewQuay precinct. Victoria boasts more than 400 wineries, 100 of which are within an hour's drive of the city. The Yarra Valley offers cellar door tastings and sales, winery tours, vineyard restaurants and boutique accommodation; wine events and fresh local produce available at markets and direct from the grower. Art and culture Melbourne hosts a non-stop program of theatre, ballet, music and art exhibitions at world-class venues located along an easily navigable 'cultural corridor' that winds through the city. Take in a show at the Victorian Arts Centre, or cross the Yarra River to Federation Square, then continue to the Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building. The National Gallery of Victoria has two new homes - The NGV International on St Kilda Road and the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square, which holds a superb collection of Australian indigenous and non-indigenous art. Melbourne has one of the highest concentrations of commercial art galleries of any city in the world and thriving performance spaces, including historic theatres such as Her Majesty's, the Princess, and the Athenaeum. Libraries Supreme Court of Victoria Library Melbourne's historic Supreme Court Library opened on William Street in 1884. Renovations during 1999 expanded the library and reclaimed some of the library's hidden historic features. 210 William Street, Melbourne http://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au State Library of Victoria The State Library of Victoria is one of Australia's oldest cultural institutions. It is the major reference and research library in Victoria, responsible for collecting and preserving Victoria's documentary heritage and making it available through a range of services and programs. Recent renovations have transformed the famous domed reading room into a sublime, light-filled space, and reclaimed or created new galleries and annexures. 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne http://www.slv.vic.gov.au Melbourne Athenaeum Library Founded in 1839, the Melbourne Athenaeum is the oldest public institution in Victoria. The subscription library is on the top floor. With its timber bookshelves, comfortable chairs and club-like facility, the Library provides a range of activities for members and the public: author talks, readings and children’s activities. 188 Collins Street , Melbourne VIC 3000 Melbourne City Library Co-located with the CAE, Victoria's busiest public lending library has fiction and non-fiction collections in English, Chinese, Vietnamese,Indonesian and Hindi as well as excellent ESL and DVD collections. City Library hosts public lectures and arts events, and there is a nearby café - Journal. 253 Flinders Lane, Melbourne http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/libraries Bookshops The Little Bookroom Specialist children’s bookshop started by Albert Ullin, now based in North Carlton. 771 Nicholson Street, Carlton North Paperback Bookshop The Paperback is small, but you don't seem to notice once you immerse yourself in the tempting books on offer. 60 Bourke Street, Melbourne http://www.paperbackbooks.com.au/ Hill of Content Bookshop Just a little down the hill from the Paperback Bookshop, the Hill of Content is on a grander scale. It stocks hardcover volumes, and there is a floor devoted to art and design monographs upstairs. 86 Bourke Street, Melbourne Kay Craddock - Antiquarian Bookseller Visit Kay Craddock's selection of fine and rare books. It is located in a heritage building, adding to the antiquarian experience. 156 Collins Street, Melbourne http://www.kaycraddock.com/ Soundbooks This bookshop has the sort of range in audiobooks that other bookshops have in print. Established in 1982, Soundbooks has not only has the range, but the knowledge and expertise to match. 1292 Malvern Road, Malvern [Tram No 72] http://www.soundbooks.com.au/ Foreign Làngüagé Bookshop Tucked downstairs in the basement, is one of Melbourne's foreign language booksellers - fiction and non-fiction, translations and in the original language, travel literature and guides, language learning resources. 259 Collins Street, Melbourne (in the Centre Arcade) http://www.languages.com.au/ Metropolis Bookshop Take the stairs, or the elevator, up to the 3rd floor, turn right and you are in Metropolis, a haven for lovers of art and design books. Level 3, Curtin House, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne http://www.metropolisbookshop.com.au/ Minotaur Science Fiction/fantasy specialist. Comics a plenty, as well….. 121 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne http://www.minotaur.com.au Art Galleries and Museums Dromkeen Museum Dromkeen Collection Art Gallery, is housed in a beautiful colonial homestead at Riddells Creek in Victoria. The Dromkeen Collection is a priceless exhibition of original artwork and manuscripts from our continuing heritage of Australian children's literature. 1012 Kilmore Road, Riddells Creek www.scholastic.com.au/dromkeen/ Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) World leading and state-of-the-art, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image is Australia's premier engine for screen and digital culture industries. From a century of cinema, to television, computer games and interactive media arts, ACMI presents a unique program of exhibitions, film programs, talks, forums, education programs, production workshops, community activities and lending services. Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne http://www.acmi.net.au/ Immigration Museum Located in the Old Customs House in the heart of the city, the Immigration Museum explores stories of people from all over the world who have migrated to Victoria from the 1800s through to the present day. Stories are brought to life through moving images, computer interactives, voices, memories and belongings. 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne http://immigration.museum.vic.gov.au/ NGV International (National Gallery of Victoria) The National Gallery of Victoria (colloquially known as the NGV) recently divided its collections. While the Australian collection moved to Federation Square, the international collection stayed at the original gallery site on St Kilda Road. With much more exhibition space available, NGVI is now able to show off far more of its sizeable and valuable collection. 180 St Kilda Road, St Kilda http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/ngvinternational/ The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia The Federation Square annex of the NGV focuses on the Australian collection, with both permanent and changing exhibitions. The ground floor space is devoted to Aboriginal art. Regular tours and talks are held and occasional film screenings. Federation Square, Flinders Street http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/ngvaustralia/ Melbourne Museum Situated in Carlton Gardens and next to the historic Royal Exhibition Building , Melbourne Museum is an exciting and innovative attraction - including permanent and touring exhibitions, dynamic performances and events, cafés, IMAX Theatre, gift shop, and undercover parking. Carlton Gardens, Nicholson Street http://melbourne.museum.vic.gov.au/ Gold Treasury Museum, at Old Treasury City Museum combines social history with displays of historically significant objects, multimedia technology and contemporary art and craft, across a range of permanent and seasonal exhibitions. The hidden treasure of the Old Treasury Building is the historical gold vaults, which today houses the spectacular exhibition Built on Gold . Old Treasury, Spring Street http://www.oldtreasurymuseum.org.au Science works Museum Educational science based museum with Australia's only digital planetarium. Booker Street, Spotswood http://scienceworks.museum.vic.gov.au/ Time Melbourne is ten hours ahead of GMT. Weather Melbourne enjoys manageable summers, glorious springs, mild autumns and crisp winters. With its variable climate, Melbourne is mild in autumn (March to May) but cold and damp in winter (June to August). The average temperature in May is between 17 and 10 Degrees Celsius with an average rainfall of 5.6cm throughout the month. Getting Around Melbourne For information on the public transport system in and around Melbourne, please visit the Transport Information website: http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/ For more information about Melbourne and exploring the state of Victoria go to www.visitvictoria.com and www.thatsmelbourne.com.au |
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