Melbourne is the capital of the Australian state of Victoria. The city derived its name from the Old English meaning, "mill stream". The European settlement in Melbourne was founded in 1835. Earlier it was a separate colony of Victoria and with the discovery of gold in Victoria in 1850s, it developed into a port and service center. It later turned out to be the manufacturing center of the country and in 1880 the city became the second largest city in the British Empire entitled 'Marvelous Melbourne'. It became the capital of Australia in 1901. The seat of government and the national capital was in Melbourne till 1927, the year when it was shifted to the new capital city of Canberra. Due to the various sports events held in the city, it gained the title 'the sporting capital of Australia.' It is also the largest city in Victoria.
Tourist Attractions: Melbourne is a popular tourist destination. With many skyscrapers and monuments, the city welcomes millions of tourists every year. The frequently held sports events in the city draws in plenty of tourists from far and wide.
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| COUNTRY |
Australia |
| LOCATION |
Located in the southeastern corner of mainland Australia. Located around Port Phillip Bay in Australia's south-east, Melbourne is the state capital of Victoria.
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| GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES |
Latitude 37°49' S, Longitude 144°58' E
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| AREA |
8,831 sq. km |
| POPULATION |
3,806,092 |
Transportation: Melbourne International Airport, Avalon Airport, Moorabbin Airport and Essendon Airport are the four airports in the city that handles domestic and international flights. Tram network, bus routes and train system constitute the public transport system in the city. The Port of Melbourne helps in trade. The highways. freeways and bridges link the city with other regions.
Hotels: The various hotels and restaurants in the city serve as host to millions of tourists visiting the city. The tasty food and comfortable accommodation give the tourists a home away from home feeling. The Hatton Hotel, The Como Melbourne, Langham Hotel Melbourne, Hotel Causeway, Crown Promenade Hotel, Marriott Melbourne Hotel, Crown Towers and The Sebel Melbourne are such hotels. The restaurants serve high quality food and Flower Drum in the city is considered as the finest restaurant in the city.
Places of Attraction: The Fitzroy Gardens in East Melbourne, National Gallery of Victoria, the Shrine of Remembrance-the War Memorial, King's Domain and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Carlton Gardens and Royal Melbourne Zoo are must visit sites in Melbourne. The city is known for its skyscrapers like Eureka Tower, which is 300m above street level and the Rialto Towers that is 251m above street level.
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