Melbourne

capital city of Victoria, Australia

Melbourne (Woiwurrung: Narrm) is the second-largest city in Australia. It is the capital of Victoria, a state in the south-east of Australia. The population of Melbourne was just over five million in 2020.[8]

Melbourne
Narrm
Victoria
Map of Melbourne, Australia, printable and editable
Map of Melbourne, Australia, printable and editable
Melbourne is located in Australia
Melbourne
Melbourne
Map
Coordinates37°48′49″S 144°57′47″E / 37.81361°S 144.96306°E / -37.81361; 144.96306
Population3,720,300 (2006)[1] (2nd)
 • Density372.309/km2 (964.28/sq mi)
Established30 August 1835
Elevation31 m (102 ft)
Area9,992.5 km2 (3,858.1 sq mi)(GCCSA)[2]
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10)
Location
LGA(s)31 Municipalities across Greater Melbourne
CountyGrant, Bourke, Mornington
State electorate(s)54 electoral districts and regions
Federal division(s)23 Divisions
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
19.9 °C
68 °F
10.2 °C
50 °F
648.3 mm
25.5 in
Flag of Melbourne
Coat of arms of Melbourne

"Melbourne" is an ambiguous name. The local City of Melbourne is quite small, as the City of London is. But the metropolitan area of Melbourne is nearly 9,993 km2 square kilometers (3,858 sq mi).

Melbourne is a multicultural city (it welcomes people and cultures from all over the world). It is famous for its trams. In the centre of Melbourne is a river called the Yarra River. Melbourne also has many big parks and gardens and some beaches.

There are many things to do in Melbourne. Visitors in Melbourne can go to museums, look at art, eat food at restaurants, go to shops and visitors can enjoy of international events like Australian Open and Formula One both in the early year.

Melbourne has been the winner of the Economist's 'World's most liveable city' award seven times in a row (winner 2010–2017).

History change

Melbourne was founded in 1835 by John Batman and John Pascoe Fawkner. In 1851, some people found gold near Melbourne.[9] Melbourne grew very quickly because people came from all over the world to look for gold. At the end of the 19th century, Melbourne was called "Marvellous Melbourne". Melbourne was the biggest and most important city in Australia for many years, but now Sydney is larger (but perhaps not more important). The first Australian government was in Melbourne from 1901 to 1927, when it moved to Canberra.

Facilities change

There is a lot of industry (factories) and commerce (buying and selling) in Melbourne. Many of Australia's largest companies and many large companies from other countries work there. It is home to Australia's largest seaport.

There are a number of universities (the University of Melbourne, Monash University, Deakin University, Victoria University, La Trobe University, RMIT University, Swinburne University and the Australian Catholic University).

Much of Australia's automotive (car) industry is there, for example the engine maker "Holden", and "Ford" and "Toyota" car builders, Although all three of these companies have announced plans to move their manufacturing plants overseas with Ford already shutting down its manufacturing plant in Broadmeadows.

Population change

Many people from different countries live in Melbourne. In fact 43% of the people living in Melbourne were born outside Australia or have parents from another country. All together people from 233 countries live in Melbourne and people with 116 different religions. The population (1991) is 3,156,700, and has grown in 2006 to 3,720,300.

Melbourne
Population by year
1836 177
1851 29,000
1854 123,000 (gold rush)
1860 140,000
1880 280,000
1890 490,000
1895 900,000 (economic collapse)
1956 1,500,000
1981 2,806,000
1991 3,156,700 (economic slump)
2001 3,366,542
2004 3,592,975
2006 3,720,300 (2006 estimate)

Events change

Sister cities change

Melbourne has six sister cities. They are:

Climate change

Melbourne has a moderate oceanic climate (Cfb) with warm summers and cool, damp and often cloudy winters. The weather is changeable, especially in summer, giving Melbourne a name for having "four seasons in one day". This is because it is located between the hot inland areas in the north and the cool Southern Ocean.

Cold fronts in the area can bring gales, thunderstorms and hail in spring and summer. Even though it gets severe weather, the city is actually not very rainy with an annual rainfall total of 648.3 mm (25.52 in). Extreme heat can occur in Melbourne, with the highest temperature recorded being 46.4 °C (115.5 °F), on 7 February 2009. Last time Melbourne saw snow was in 1986.

Climate data for Melbourne Airport (1991–2020 averages, 1970–2022 extremes)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 46.0
(114.8)
46.8
(116.2)
40.8
(105.4)
34.5
(94.1)
27.0
(80.6)
21.8
(71.2)
21.3
(70.3)
24.6
(76.3)
30.2
(86.4)
36.0
(96.8)
41.6
(106.9)
44.6
(112.3)
46.8
(116.2)
Average high °C (°F) 27.0
(80.6)
26.7
(80.1)
24.4
(75.9)
20.6
(69.1)
16.7
(62.1)
14.0
(57.2)
13.4
(56.1)
14.7
(58.5)
17.1
(62.8)
20.0
(68.0)
22.6
(72.7)
24.8
(76.6)
20.2
(68.3)
Average low °C (°F) 14.2
(57.6)
14.4
(57.9)
12.8
(55.0)
10.1
(50.2)
8.3
(46.9)
6.4
(43.5)
5.8
(42.4)
6.0
(42.8)
7.2
(45.0)
8.7
(47.7)
10.6
(51.1)
12.3
(54.1)
9.7
(49.5)
Record low °C (°F) 6.0
(42.8)
4.8
(40.6)
3.7
(38.7)
1.2
(34.2)
0.6
(33.1)
−0.9
(30.4)
−2.5
(27.5)
−2.5
(27.5)
−1.1
(30.0)
1.0
(33.8)
0.9
(33.6)
3.5
(38.3)
−2.5
(27.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 39.3
(1.55)
41.4
(1.63)
37.5
(1.48)
42.1
(1.66)
34.3
(1.35)
41.5
(1.63)
32.8
(1.29)
39.3
(1.55)
46.1
(1.81)
48.5
(1.91)
60.1
(2.37)
52.5
(2.07)
515.5
(20.30)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 8.3 7.5 8.4 9.9 12.0 13.0 14.0 14.8 13.9 12.5 10.8 9.9 135.0
Mean monthly sunshine hours 272.8 231.7 226.3 183.0 142.6 120.0 136.4 167.4 186.0 226.3 225.0 263.5 2,381
Source: [10]

Places to visit change

Related pages change

References change

  1. "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2015–16". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017. ERP at 30 June 2016.
  2. "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2015–16: Population Estimates by Statistical Area Level 2 (ASGS 2016), 2006 to 2016". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2016.
  3. "Great Circle Distance between MELBOURNE and CANBERRA". Geoscience Australia. March 2004.
  4. "Great Circle Distance between MELBOURNE and ADELAIDE". Geoscience Australia. March 2004.
  5. "Great Circle Distance between MELBOURNE and SYDNEY". Geoscience Australia. March 2004.
  6. "Great Circle Distance between MELBOURNE and BRISBANE". Geoscience Australia. March 2004.
  7. "Great Circle Distance between MELBOURNE and PERTH". Geoscience Australia. March 2004.
  8. "A tale of three cities: Populations soar in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane". ABC News. 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  9. Cultural Heritage Unit, Department of History. "Gold in Melbourne - Concept - Electronic Encyclopedia of Gold in Australia". www.egold.net.au.
  10. "Melbourne Airport". BOM. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.