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Melbourne Australia History
The History of Melbourne, Australia dates back to the 1930’s. Melbourne is the second largest City in Australia, with a population of approximately 3.7 million inhabitants. The area of the Yarra River and Port Philip (present Melbourne) was first established by the British in 1935. The area was already inhabited by indigenous Kulin people.
In 1836, Melbourne was declared as the administrative capital of the Port Phillip District of New South Wales, by Governor Bourke. He commissioned the first plan for the Hoddle Grid in 1837. The settlement was named Melbourne in the same year after the British Prime Minister William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne. On June 25, Melbourne was declared as a city of Australia, by Queen Victoria.
With the discovery of gold in Victoria in the 1850s, Melbourne started growing rapidly, providing the majority of service industries and serving as the major port for the region. Melbourne became the capital of the Victorian state, with its establishment in 1851, as a separate colony. With no time at all, the city became a major financial hub, home to several banks and first stock exchange to Australia. Melbourne became the largest city in the British Empire during 1880s. This period experienced the construction of many high-rise Victorian buildings, Coffee Palaces, terrace housing, grand boulevards and gardens throughout the city
Unfortunately the rapid progress of Melbourne suddenly had a stale when a world economic depression hit the city's economy, in 1891, sending the finance and property industries into chaos. The effects of the depression on the city were profound, although it did continue to grow slowly during the early 20th century.
Melbourne remained the national capital until 1927, until the Federal parliament was moved to the planned city of Canberra. As General Douglas MacArthur established Australia as a launch base for Pacific operations, Melbourne became the Allied Pacific Headquarter, from 1942 to 1944. During World War II, Melbourne industries thrived on wartime production and the city became Australia's leading manufacturing centre.
Melbourne expanded rapidly, after the war, with its growth boosted by the prestige of hosting of the Olympic Games. Melbourne remained Australia's business and finance capital until the late 1970s, when it began to lose this primacy to Sydney.
In 1992, the newly elected Victorian government began campaign against the restoration of the economical growth of Melbourne. The Government aimed to promote Melbourne as a beneficial tourist destination. Major projects, for the development of Melbourne are as follows.
Melbourne Museum,
Federation Square,
Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre
Crown Casino and City Link toll way
The refined beauty and serene atmosphere of Melbourne can surely be a pleasurable tourist destination.
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