“Eight meters? Is that all?” you might ask yourself standing here at Christopher Brotchie Park. That’s right the park spans eight meters. Christopher Brotchie Park is a modest but lovely green space in Victoria.
Let’s explore some Melbourne facts. Melbourne was once called Batmania. This was after John Batman who claimed to be the founder. Later the city was named after British Prime Minister Lord Melbourne.
Melbourne’s weather is famous. You can experience all four seasons in a single day. Pack layers and always carry an umbrella.
Major streets in Melbourne are wide. They are 99 feet wide. This design allowed a 16-horse carriage to make a U-turn.
Melbourne’s Chinatown is historic. It is the oldest Chinatown in the Southern Hemisphere. It was founded during the Gold Rush.
Melbourne loves coffee. It has the most cafes per capita worldwide. The coffee culture began after WWII. Italian migrants brought their coffee tradition.
Wild penguins live near Melbourne. Visit St Kilda pier at sunset. You can watch them return to their rocky homes.
Reusable coffee cups are popular here. Melburnians care about reducing waste. The KeepCup was invented in Melbourne.
Coffee names differ in Melbourne. An Americano is usually called a Long Black. Be sure to try one.
Melbourne has hidden bars tucked in laneways. Discovering these is a fun adventure. Explore the city’s geometrical grid.
St Paul’s Cathedral has two stone types. The steeples were added later. They couldn’t find matching stone.
“Under the clocks” is a meeting place. It refers to the clocks at Flinders Street Station. It’s a popular local saying.
Flashing lights are in the footpaths. These help phone-focused pedestrians. They match the pedestrian lights.
Melbourne is known as the fox capital. There are about 23 foxes per square kilometer. This is unusual for a city.
Streets are named after British monarchs. They follow the order of reign. King Street precedes William Street.
Melbourne was once Australia’s capital. It served as interim capital from 1901 to 1927. Canberra was founded later.
The world’s first feature film was made here. “The Story of the Kelly Gang” debuted in 1906. It was about Ned Kelly.
Melbourne first hosted the Olympics outside Europe and North America. This happened in 1956. It was a significant event.
The black box flight recorder was invented in Melbourne. David Warren created it in 1953. His father’s death in a plane crash inspired him.
Melbourne’s tram system is the largest. It has 250 km of tracks. Trams will soon be solar-powered.
The first traffic lights in Australia were installed in Melbourne. They were at Collins and Swanston Streets in 1928. Sydney followed in 1933.
Lonely Planet’s headquarters are in Melbourne. The famous travel guides started here. Two Brits founded it.
Melbourne was “most liveable city” for seven years. It held the top spot from 2010 to 2017. It still ranks high.
Melbourne has the largest Greek population outside Greece. About 200000 Greeks live here. It is twinned with Thessaloniki.
Melbourne was the richest city in 1880. The Gold Rush boomed the economy. It was second-largest in the British Empire.
Over a third of Melbournians were born overseas. It is a very cosmopolitan city. It has large Italian Chinese and Greek communities.
The State Library of Victoria is the oldest free public library. It opened in 1856. It’s a stunning building.
Kylie Minogue was born in Melbourne. She is the highest-selling female Australian artist. She has sold 70 million records.
Luna Park in St Kilda is the oldest theme park. It opened in 1912. The scenic railway is one of the oldest roller coasters.
Flinders Street Station is Australia’s busiest. It was once the world’s busiest. This park may be small. But Melbourne is full of big surprises.