Melbourne is a city with so much on offer. Here is just a glimpse of what you can experience during your visit. For more information visit here.
HISTORY AND HERITAGE
Melbourne was founded in 1835 and has a rich history of multiculturalism. The city boomed in the 1850s as a result of the gold rush, which established the city as Australia’s major financial centre.
Melbourne museum
Located in the beautiful Carlton Gardens and next to the World Heritage Listed Royal Exhibition Building, delegates can explore life in Victoria through exhibitions such as ‘The Melbourne Story’ and ‘First Peoples’.
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Koorie Heritage Trust Cultural Centre
One of Melbourne’s most iconic cultural hubs where visitors can experience Aboriginal history through more than 20,000 artefacts, artworks and photographs.
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The Old Melbourne Gaol
Located in the city centre, delegates can visit the cell of Australia’s most famous bushranger outlaw, Ned Kelly.
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The Shrine of Remembrance
The striking monument, housed in the Royal Botanic Gardens, was built to honour the lives lost in World War One and is now a memorial to all Australians who have served in war.
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THE HOME OF MAJOR EVENTS
Melbourne is the home of major events, featuring everything from sport to fashion on its year-round calendar.
Australian Rules Football
Passions run high during the seasons of Australia’s own football game, with its spiritual home at the world famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, also home to the National Sports Museum.
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Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix
The world’s fastest cars and adrenalin junkies alike head to the usually tranquil Albert Park Lake for a weekend in March sure to get the heart racing.
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Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival
Known for its consumer friendly events where the public get a chance to mingle with the fashion elite and where Melbourne’s own designers have the opportunity to showcase the city’s distinctive edge and style.
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Australian Open Tennis Championships
The biggest sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere and the first Grand Slam of the year, visitors fly in from all over the world for two weeks each January to get a slice of the action.
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Spring Racing Carnival
Famous the world over as perhaps the most stylish and revered horse racing carnival in the world, culminating in the Melbourne Cup Carnival each November.
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A HAVEN FOR FOOD LOVERS
Surrounded by the highest quality natural produce and innovative, entrepreneurial chefs, Melbourne serves up some 75 ethnic cuisines, with over 3000 restaurants, cafés, bistros and bars in the city offering the best food in the Southern Hemisphere.
South Wharf Promenade
On the doorstep of MCEC, old shipping container sheds have been converted into smart new eateries on the waterfront, with pubs and a punchy Thai restaurant just a sample of what’s on offer.
Crown Entertainment Complex
A short stroll from MCEC, Crown is home to some of Melbourne’s finest dining hot spots, including the world’s most recognised Japanese restaurant, Nobu, and seafood sensation, The Atlantic.
Budget Conscious Travellers
Delegates can choose from a wide range of affordable restaurants by heading to Lygon Street in Carlton, the city’s own ‘Little Italy’, Chinatown right in the city centre on Little Bourke Street, or Victoria Street in Richmond, where authentic and cheap Vietnamese cuisine is on just about every menu.
DESTINATIONS AFTER DARK
Melbourne’s bar culture is an adventure in discovery; as with the retail outlets during the day, some of the best bars can be found down an unassuming laneway or on the city’s rooftops.
Music and cocktails
Melbourne has been at the heart of Australia’s live music scene since the heady days of the 60s and 70s. There are hundreds of gigs offered each night across any music genre.
Melbourne Recital Centre
Part of the arts precinct, the Centre is an acclaimed music destination, combining architectural innovation and acoustic perfection to showcase the best music, artists and ensembles from around the world.
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Rod Laver Arena, MARVEL Stadium and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl
These large venues host the world’s most famous music and entertainment stars all year round.
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INSPIRING ARTS AND CULTURE
As Australia’s centre of arts and entertainment, delegates are spoilt for choice when it comes to attractions and the performing arts in Melbourne.
National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
Australia’s oldest public art gallery, the NGV showcases over 68,000 works of art from around the world and regularly hosts temporary exhibitions. The NGV also has a home in Federation Square, which exhibits remarkable Australian art.
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The Arts Centre
With its iconic spire, the Centre is the home of the performing arts in Victoria and has many live shows including musicals, ballets and orchestras each night.
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The Theatre District
The top end of town features many historic theatres such as the Regent Theatre, Her Majesty’s Theatre and Princess Theatre.
FASHION FORWARD
Melbourne is known as a well-dressed city, where shopping has been elevated to a new art form. Losing oneself amongst the laneways and arcades in the centre of town is just about the best way of getting to know the city, which is brimming with quirky boutiques, street markets, department stores and malls.
Luxury goods
The top end of Collins Street is where to head for designer brands such as Prada, Gucci, Chanel, Bvlgari, Hermes and Ralph Lauren.
Chadstone Shopping Centre
The biggest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere is known as the ‘Fashion Capital’, where just about everything can be found.
Queen Victoria Market
One of Australia’s longest running and most beloved shopping experiences, delegates can browse the aisles of fashion, shoes, leather and sheepskin goods, furniture, toys and Australian souvenirs, as well as a specialty food market.
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South Wharf Direct Factory Outlets (DFO)
Adjacent to MCEC, DFO offers brand name bargains up to 70% off.
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