Melbourne Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
capital city of Victoria, Australia
About Melbourne
The British settlement of Melbourne commenced in 1835 when settlers fromTasmanialed by John Batman "purchased" land on Port Phillip Bay and the Yarra River from the localAboriginal people. The streets of central Melbourne were carefully laid out in 1837, with some streets 30 metres wide. Initially dubbed Batmania after its founder, the settlement was soon renamed Melbourne after William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, the British Prime Minister at that time. The first British lieutenant-governor, Charles La Trobe, arrived in 1839 – his Cottage still stands and can be visited in the Kings Domain. 1851 was a landmark for Melbourne—the colony of Victoria was separated fromNew South Walesand very soon after, gold was discovered in Victoria, sparking a huge gold rush. The gold rush history can b
Melbourne Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 16 sections including: