Melbourne - A world-class arts scene

From cutting-edge architecture and blockbuster musicals to art exhibitions and popular festivals, Melbourne is a city where cultural pursuits are woven into the fabric of everyday life.

A 'corridor' of exciting arts and culture institutions extends across the city, from the Yarra River to the world-heritage Royal Exhibition building and Melbourne Museum in the historic Carlton Gardens. Explore on foot, starting your tour near Southbank at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in its striking building that resembles Uluru. Nearby is NGV International - the National Gallery of Victoria's headquarters,and the Victorian Arts Centre, home to theatre, opera, contemporary and classical music, ballet and visual arts.

Across the Yarra River, Federation Square is a unique and controversial public space that fuses art with architecture, exhibitions and events. It houses Australia's first major gallery devoted to Australian art, including an impressive collection of Aboriginal art - The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia - and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, the world's first gallery dedicated to the moving image in all its forms.

Melbourne also has an array of fine theatres that host leading national and international arts companies.

Melbourne laneways and precincts are filled with commercial galleries, craft and design outlets, and fashion boutiques showcasing the innovation and skill of Melbourne-based artists and designers. Small theatre companies produce edgy and innovative theatre, contemporary dance and physical theatre. And the city streets are alive with buskers and public art.

Each year Melbourne hosts a range of arts and cultural festivals and events, including the annual fashion and film festivals, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the Melbourne Fringe Festival, the Melbourne International Arts Festival, youth events and more.

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City charm

You'll barely meet a visitor who hasn't fallen in love with Melbourne. Rattling trams, parklands singing with blackbirds, stately architecture and palm trees - it's like northern Europe on the Mediterranean. more

Design

Melbourne's love of style is no more evident than in its architecture. From gorgeous Victorian public buildings to designer hotels and dozens of examples of post-Modernist constructions scattered around the city, Melbourne's architecture stands out. Interior design and arts and crafts are also visual highlights of this happening city. more

Events

Sports-mad Melbourne is home to world-famous sporting events such as the Melbourne Cup, the Australian Open Tennis and the Qantas Australia Grand Prix. As for the biggest names from the music world, as well as major theatrical productions, it's most likely you'll see them in Melbourne first. more

Fashion

Melbournites take fashion seriously, and nowhere in Australia offers a greater range of shops dedicated to looking good. Whether you're looking for something funky, or a traditional classic with a big-name label, you are sure to find more than you can ever take home in Melbourne's arcades and fashion streets. more

Food and Wine

The influence of decades of immigration from all over the world has made Melbourne a paradise for those who love food and wine. Whole streets are dedicated to food, whether it be Indian, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Greek, or a host of other styles. You can't miss the world-class wines either. more

History

Waves of immigration from all over the world - most notably the United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, China, Vietnam and Eastern Europe - have turned Melbourne into an exciting, multi-cultural city. Built with the profits of the 1850s gold rush, its cutting edge image is tempered by a stately veneer. more

Melbourne river scene

Melbourne, renowned for its cafe culture, art scene, multicultural lifestyle and splendid parks, stands on the banks of the Yarra River and the shores of Port Phillip Bay. The Yarra flows past ancient red gums and the smart mid-city Southgate complex. Take a sunset river cruise to catch the spirit.