Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, is said to be the second largest city in Australia, in terms of population. It is situated in the south-east of the country, around Port Phillip Bay. Since the city is home to a number of major cultural and sporting events and institutions, it is often called the ‘Sporting and Cultural Capital of Australia'. Two things that you will never find lacking in Melbourne are sports and art. Apart from that, the city is known for its contemporary architecture, extensive tram network and Victorian parks and gardens. We have provided more information about Melbourne in the following lines, to help you know the city better.
Fun & Interesting Facts About Melbourne
- Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria, Australia.
- Melbourne is located in south-east Australia.
- A person from Melbourne is called a Melburnian.
- ‘The Story of the Ned Kelly Gang’, made in Melbourne in 1906, is recognized as the first feature film of the world, running to five reels.
- About 90 tonnes of dog poo is left on the streets of Melbourne every day.
- According to the RSPCA, Melbourne is the "Fox Capital" of the western world, with 6-23 foxes every square kilometer in the metropolitan area.
- Before Melbourne came to be known as the ‘City of Melbourn’e, it was called Batmania, Bearbrass, Bearport, Bareheap and Bearbury.
- Loughborough University group recognized Melbourne as a Gamma World City, under the 1999 inventory.
- Luna Park, in Melbourne's bayside suburb of St Kilda, is the oldest amusement park in the world under private management.
- Melbourne had the first gay and lesbian radio station in the world.
- Melbourne holds the world record for the highest attendance at a cricket match.
- Melbourne is home to eight of top ten spenders on research and development (R&D), in Australia.
- Melbourne is the eighth largest telecommunications market in the world.
- Melbourne is the only city in the world that has five international standard sporting facilities on the fringe of its central business district.
- Melbourne served as the home of the Australian parliament for 26 years.
- Melbourne was the largest city in Australia at the time of Federation (1901).
- Melbourne’s famous beer, Foster’s Lager, was actually produced by two Americans.
- Melbourne's first census, conducted in 1836, showed a population of just 145 men and 35 women.
- One of the earliest feature-length films of the world, ‘Soldiers of the Cross’, was made in Melbourne, in 1900.
- The expression 'call girl' that is used for a prostitute, was invented in Melbourne.
- The first Olympic Games hosted by Australia were held in Melbourne, in 1956.
- The first traffic lights of Australia were installed in Melbourne, on the Collins and Swanston Streets intersection.
- The largest stained glass ceiling of the world is in Melbourne, at ‘The National Gallery of Victoria’.
- The tramway system of Melbourne is the largest outside the European continent and the fourth largest in the world.
- Tunnels run almost everywhere in Melbourne.
- Until 1966, the pubs in Melbourne closed down at 6.00 pm.
