Written by Kim
Our drive from Phillip Island to Melbourne was about 2 hours. After a quick stop at TK Maxx to check out the Black Friday sales and buy a suitcase to take back some things we’ve bought we arrived in Melbourne. Our hotel, Veriu, is right across the street from the Queen Victoria Market which is a super busy spot in the city right near the tram. It is a great location full of hustle and bustle.
After settling in we ventured out to an Irish pub, The Drunken Poet, for a few beers and stopped for some schnitzel for dinner.
Our first day in the city we took the tram, which is free within the Central Business District (CBD) and did a VoiceMap self guided tour to learn about the city.
The area of Melbourne has been home to Aboriginal Victorians for over 40,000 years. Of the five peoples of the Kulin nation, the traditional custodians of the land encompassing Melbourne are the Boonwurrung, Woiwurrungand the Wurundjeri peoples. In 1803, a short-lived British penal settlement was established at Port Phillip, then part of the Colony of New South Wales. Melbourne was founded in 1835 with the arrival of free settlers from Van Diemen’s Land (modern-day Tasmania). It was incorporated as a Crown settlement in 1837 and declared a city by Queen Victoria in 1847.
We started in Federal Square. The Christmas tree was lit last night so we avoided this area because it was crazy busy. The tree is electronic. Lol. The federal buildings were built in their unique style to compete with their rival, Sydney, who has the iconic Opera House landmark. In my opinion, the Federal buildings can’t shine Sydney’s shoes!
During the 1850s Victorian gold rush, the city entered a lengthy boom period that, by the late 1880s, had transformed it into Australia’s, and one of the world’s, largest and wealthiest metropolises. Today, Melbourne is culturally diverse and, among world cities, has the seventh-largest foreign born population. It is a leading financial centre in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Block Arcade is a historic shopping arcade in the central business district of Melbourne. Constructed between 1891 and 1893, it is considered one of the late Victorian era’s finest shopping arcades and ranks among Melbourne’s most popular tourist attractions.
Since the late 1990s, Hosier Lane has become a popular tourist attraction due to its street art. Hosier Lane is a long-standing de facto ‘free-to-paint’ area that does not require permits or permission.
Busking is a key part of Melbourne’s identity, with many performers using the city streets to showcase their skills. We call them street performers but here in Melbourne you audition for the best spots and it’s a very lucrative start for musicians.
The Queen Victoria Market is a major landmark and iconic marketplace in the central business district (CBD) of Melbourne. It covers over seven hectares (17 acres), it is the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere. You can find fresh meats, seafood, produce and dairy as well as prepared foods and a huge flea market selling everything from souvenirs to shoes, handbags, clothing, spices and so much more. It’s an incredible place.
We had a busy first day. We’re here for 5 nights so will post again in a day or so. Until then….
